Beaches

Here's our brief guide to the Island's differing coastline and the award winning beaches that draw visitors year after year...

East Cowes
A sand & shingle beach with seafront facilities and promenade.
Ryde
A fabulous 6 mile sandy beach with quiet bays. Popular for watersports. Close to cafes & shops.
Seaview
Beach full of rock pools, great for paddling, crabbing & shrimping. Village amenities nearby.
St Helens
Secluded beach with sand dunes behind. Good for swimming. Beach cafe/bistro open breakfast till late.
Bembridge
A collection of several beaches, a mixture of pebble, rock & sand. Best at low tide. Various cafes.
Sandown & Yaverland
Long stretch of sandy beach with clean waters. Broad promenades, amusement arcades & cafes.
Shanklin
Wonderful sandy beach accessed by fairly steep steps or cliff lift. Safe swimming with calm waters.
Bonchurch
A shingle & sand beach dotted with rock pools. Pretty cafes behind the beach.
Ventnor
Crescent shaped sandy beach at low tide. Beware of strong tides. Plenty of cafes, pubs & shops.
Steephill Cove
Accessible by foot, this pretty sandy cove is secluded with great views. Lovely crab cafe.
Compton Bay
2 mile stretch of red sand backed by cliffs. Popular for beach walks, surfing and kite surfing.
Freshwater Bay
Small bay with pebble beach. Good for swimming although beach shelves steeply.
Totland Bay
Quiet sand & shingle beach, great for sunsets. Pretty seafront promenade that links to Colwell Bay.
Colwell Bay
Unspoilt resort with waterfront cafes and watersports. Shingle & sand beach, calm waters for swimming.
Yarmouth
Shingle & sand beach for watching wildlife & yachts. Strong currents - not recommended for swimming.
Gurnard & Cowes
Both have sand and shingle beaches with plenty of cafes. Great for watching life on the water!

See our Beaches section - regularly updated with new features & articles.