There are two types of people in this world: people who love amusement arcades and seaside candy rock shops, and people who love Compton Bay. This largely black-sanded beach is a firm favourite for local people: it is remote, it is wild, it can be tricky to get to, and it is breathtakingly spectacular. So much so that it has been named as one of the best 50 beaches in the world by the Sunday Times. 

As well as it's excellent surfing, the beach is one of the best places in the UK to find dinosaur and other fossils, and even has it's own dinosaur species named after it (Comptonatus chasei - discovered in the cliffs here in 2024; the most complete dinosaur discovered in Britain for over a 100 years). If you come here at low tide close to a full or new moon you will also be able to see dinosaur footprints in the rocks (What3Words app ///loudness.flesh.visions).

During the calm hot summer months, when the tide is low and the evening is drawing in after a wonderful afternoon on the beach, we often pinch ourselves to make sure we haven't died and gone to heaven. There is simply no better place on earth. And it's almost as beautiful on a bracing windswept winter's day.

There are two car parks: the first is at Compton Farm on the left of the road as you come from Freshwater (see map marker), and the main car park on the right hand side about half a mile further. If you are reasonably fit it’s definitely well worth parking at Compton Farm, crossing the road and walking down the steep wooden staircase to the beach. 

🌐 https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/isle-of-wight/compton-bay-and-downs/things-to-see-and-do-at-compton-bay-and-downs

Tapnell Farm Park

Chessel Pottery Café

Slightly closer to home is Colwell Bay, which recently was listed among the top 10 beaches in the UK. If you're feeling adventurous, you can walk to the beach through the woods. Turn right out of the cottage car park and walk the coastal path for about 15 mins. 

There are more shops, cafés and boat hire places here than at Compton, and plenty of rock pools for the kids to explore at low tide. The Hut, just past the main slipway is a great place to mum to grab a late afternoon strawberry mojito while dad is building sandcastles. It’s seven minutes by car but the parking may be busy in the summer.

The Hut at Colwell

The Waterfront

Freshwater Bay is a pebble beach in a pretty spectacular location, surrounded on all sides by adventure and history, and a decent enough pub. Although plenty of people do swim here, we're too soft to brave the pebble only entry and the steep drop-off into the sea. This is however one of our favourite places to visit on a blustery day. It's a thilling spot on days when other beaches are grim.

There are other bays and caves to explore on either side, which are accessible at low tide. This is where some of that naughty smuggling that the island is famous for took place. Do make sure you're very aware of what the tides are doing when you explore here. People have to be rescued all the time.

Parking is opposite the beach.

Freshwater Bay Coasteering

Dimbola Lodge

At the other side of the fort to the cottages is Fort Victoria Beach, a super place for an early morning or evening stroll. It’s also a great location for beach-combing and fossil hunting. But because of the strong tides in this narrow stretch of water, swimming is not permitted here.

Search for fossils in the shingle at the foreshore where the high tide deposits debris from the eroding coastline. Items to look for include fragments of turtle shell and alligator armour (you can check for examples in the Ranger's Office). 

At low tide you'll find shrimps, fish and crabs in the rockpools, and limpets and sea anemones on the rocks. As well as shells, look out for mermaid's purses (the egg cases of rays) and cuttlefish bones.

Imaginarium

Boathouse Café