Beaches around the Isle of Wight
Shanklin Beach
Shanklin has an amazing main beach, but it would be a shame to leave our little island without experiencing some of the other coastal treats we have to offer to those enjoying caravan holidays on the Isle of Wight. Here is a look at just some of the other beaches you might want to visit during a stay in our caravan.
Small Hope Beach
You don’t even have to leave Shanklin to experience another Isle of Wight beach. Small Hope sits just to the left of Shanklin’s main seafront area and has a stunning cliff backdrop. Thanks to its gently sloping sands, it is a great place to swim or paddle with children and it is often quieter than the main beach. Small Hope is part of what is known as the Bay Area, running from Shanklin to Yaverland and there are beach huts to hire. Some even have gardens!
Sandown Beach
This is one of the most popular on the island, thanks to its soft sands and range of excellent amenities. The jewel in its crown is the pleasure pier, but this is far from the only attraction.
Sandown Beach is the ideal bucket and spade destination, where you can take a break from digging holes or making sandcastles, to grab some traditional fish and chips, enjoy an ice cream or feed some coppers into the pushers in the pier’s arcade. There’s also a crazy golf course on the pier, as well as a soft play centre for smaller children.
Ventnor Beach
This is the most southerly holiday beach on the island and is loved by both visitors and locals. You can hire a vintage beach hut or spend the day lounging on the many sun loungers and deckchairs which are available to rent. Younger children will love the paddling pool, which is formed in the shape of an Isle of Wight map.
Compton Bay
This is not one of the best-known Isle of Wight beaches but Compton in West Wight is one of the best. It reminds many people of beaches in Cornwall and offers two miles of dark and golden sands, rolling seas and tumbling cliffs.
It is popular with the island’s surfers and offers a more natural beach experience. There is an ice cream van which sells snacks, drinks and some beach toys and some toilets but that’s about it, so make sure you take along everything you need for the day.
Brook Beach
Brook Beach is right next to Compton and has beautiful golden sand. This is the ideal location for a game of beach cricket or to fly a kite. It is also a lovely beach from which to take a swim, although you do need to be careful of rocks at certain tide times.
One of the beach’s most interesting features is shown at low tide when a fossilised forest is revealed at Hanover Point. There is also a sandstone ledge beyond this where dinosaur footprints are imprinted, along with an abundance of fossils all around the beach.
