Beach

Location

Details

Sandown

SE

A very large beach popular with families.  Plenty to see and do including it's pier with Crazy Golf and Mini Fairground on the large pier itself which dates from 1879.  Cafe's, pubs, restaurants, beach shops and fast food galore with lots of amusements.  Heavily commercialised although it is a bit quieter at its extremeties, where it meets Lake beach and at the other end Yaverland beach.  Good for water sports.  Lots of soft sand.  Dog restrictions.

Blue Flag Water Quality Award 2007:  Excellent {The test(s) passed the higher, guideline standards which is the recommended, highest standard of bathing water}. 

Marine Conservation Society Good Beach Guide 2007 = Recommended.                  

                                         New pictures

Shanklin

Highly recommended

SE

Another large beach very popular with families, although not quite as vast as Sandown's.  Car parking is on The Esplanade itself or in a medium sized car park half way along near to The Cliff Lift or another at the East end of the beach - all pay and display.  There is a cliff lift up to the Town area.  It is also possible to park in the pay and display car park at Shanklin Old Village and walk down.  Cafe's, pubs, hotels, crazy golf, small pitch and putt and some amusements along its length.  It can get very hot here, lots of soft sand. Dog restrictions.

The quieter part is near the end of The Esplanade near to Shanklin Chine's lower entrance/Fisherman's Cottage Pub.  Some nice views from the cliff top path where there are some more larger hotels.  Popular for water sports.    Toilets are very near to The Fisherman's Cottage on the same side behind the beach huts, and also near to the Cliff Lift just off the Car Park area, deck chair/sun lounger/parasol hire.  

Blue Flag Water Quality Award 2007:  Excellent {The test(s) passed the higher, guideline standards which is the recommended, highest standard of bathing water}.

Marine Conservation Society Good Beach Guide 2007 = Recommended.

View pictures

Ventnor

Highly recommended

S

Medium sized beach.  Ideal for families but water sports are not recommended due to hidden rocks.  Pretty, commercialised Esplanade with a handful of cafe's, pubs, beach shops, Victorian hotels and some amusements.  Car parking is on The Esplanade or at the medium sized car park at the end behind The Spyglass Inn, all pay and display. 

Fresh Ventnor crab and lobster may be purchased from a fisherman's hut {Blake's} located mid way along the Esplanade.   Ventnor pier did not survive neglect and fire damage and was demolished some years ago.  Built in it's place and also covering a water treatment plant is Ventnor's Bandstand with a small harbour construction. 

Due to Ventnor's climate and Southerly location it can get very hot here, which is why it was so popular with holidaymakers in Victorian times.  70% soft sand and 30% small shingle last year, although these proportions vary yearly.  Beware that a 'slope' exists just past the waters edge {as a result of the small shingle} where the water depth gets deeper quite quickly compared to other beaches - this poses no problem for swimmers but could be for the non-swimmers.  Dog restrictions.

Blue Flag Water Quality Award 2005:  Excellent {The test(s) passed the higher, guideline standards which is the recommended, highest standard of bathing water}. Ventnor was not put forward for the Blue Flag status in 2006 for fear of not meeting up to the new standards which then specified beach facilities including Lifeguards, although good coverage was being provided by local voluteers.

Ventnor Council have since met these new standards with a purpose built Lifeguard Hut with new facilities and equipment, after much local lobbying. Ventnor will have the Blue Flag status back for 2008 season.

Marine Conservation Society Good Beach Guide 2007 = Recommended.

 View Ventnor Beach Picture gallery

Colwell bay

W

Small, quiet and unspoilt beach with a Cafe' and a couple of beach shops.  Quite a small esplanade with a dozen or so beach huts for hire.  Car parking is not possible at the beach but a car park is close by, pay and display.  Popular with families.  Good views of The Solent.  Dogs allowed.  Toilets are near the car park.

Blue Flag Water Quality Award 2005:  Excellent {The test(s) passed the higher, guideline standards which is the recommended, highest standard of bathing water}.

Marine Conservation Society Good Beach Guide 2007 = Recommended.

View Pictures