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About
West Wight has beautiful dramatic beaches, with orange and black slopes running down to sandy beaches. The area starts at Chale, along to Compton Bay and Freshwater with spectacular downland, cliff and English Channel views. The Military Road runs along this section of coast, featuring in films and TV including Fragile with Calista Flockhart, Mrs Brown with Judi Dench, and Guest House Paradiso with Adrian Edmondson. The coast continues around to Alum Bay and the Needles, reaching the calmer territory of Totland and Colwell Bay overlooking the Solent.
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Compton Bay
Two miles of beautiful, rugged sandy beach. The jewel in the crown of the west coast, access is via a ravine in the cliffs backed by downland. Views of Compton Bay featured in Mrs Brown with Billy Connelly. Great for surfing. Car park which acts as viewing point, and ice cream van.
Location: Military Road PO30 4HF.
Freshwater Bay
Freshwater Bay is a picturesque beach in West Wight and lies just to the South of the town of Freshwater. The beach is covered in a mixture of grey flint and chalk pebbles that make a unique sound as the waves rise and fall onto the shore. There is sand below the low water mark and some sandy areas to sit if you walk to the more eastern side of the bay. There is also a rock ledge revealed at low tide at this side, which is great for rockpooling.
Colwell Bay, Totland
Calm, clear waters and a sand and shingle beach popular with families and for swimming. Cafe and beach hut shops. Sea wall walk to Totland Bay, with great views of the Solent and across to Hurst Castle and Fort Albert, and ideal for yacht spotting.
