Whether you have fond memories of beach combing as a child or you seek interesting shells and pebbles as holiday mementoes, the real jewel in the crown of any holiday on the Isle of Wight is finding pieces of sea glass to take home with you.

Combing for sea glass must be one of the most relaxing ways to spend time and hours can go by in a dream-like state as you scour the many beautiful beaches on the Isle of Wight for colourful pops of sea glass. But where does it come from and where can you find it? Read on for all you need to know about the art of collecting sea glass on the Isle of Wight…

Where does sea glass come from?

Sea glass happens when broken glass is tumbled around in the ocean until all the edges are worn down and smoothed. The surface loses its shine and becomes opaque with a beautiful frosted appearance, with the process taking anywhere between 20 and 40 years. At the end, you're left with a totally unique piece of sea glass, which come in a variety of incredible colours. 

Where to find sea glass

The Isle of Wight is one of the best places in the UK to find sea glass, particularly around the easterly edge of Sandown near Yaverland and Lake. Low tide is the best for sea glass hunting as the beach all but disappears when the tide is in, and the stretch near the pier is an ideal spot where you are more than likely to join other glass seekers. Bembridge is another great spot to find sea glass on the Isle of Wight as it has a fabulous 5-mile stretch of flat beach that’s been known to hold kaleidoscopic treasures. If you're staying near Yarmouth, Fort Victoria is a superb spot for some sea glass collecting, while Shanklin boasts even more beachcombing opportunities.

Tips on finding sea glass

Some beaches have no glass while others are a treasure trove so it’s worth doing some homework before you set off to look. There is a knack though! Start at the water's edge and look amongst the smallish pebbles along the tide line. It’s rare to find glass on sandy beaches so head to your favourite pebble or shingle beach for your sea glass hunt. 

Un-focus your eyes and concentrate on seeing brighter colours. As you spend more time looking, you will find pieces easier to spot. Green is one of the most common colours and comes from bottles such as beer and ink, whereas white (also common) is mainly from plates and glasses. Less common colours are blue, which come from poison bottles, and even more rare red and purple sea glass.

What to do with sea glass

Sea glass looks beautiful displayed in clear glass receptacles as the pieces can be admired from every angle. Placing them on a windowsill gives extra depth to the colours but wherever you display your collection, it is bound to bring back happy memories of time spent on your favourite beach. You can also take your favourite pieces to a jewellery-making workshop where you can create a lovely necklace or ring to display your sea glass with pride.

We have some fabulous places to stay near beaches where you can wander and search for beach treasure to your heart's content. Take a look at our portfolio of properties here on the Island and start planning your next adventure.