Author Archives: manonabeach

About manonabeach

On a beach…welcome to manonabeach.com, where I’ll regularly add video of my beach visits, so you can enjoy a flavour of the beach, even when you’re not there.

Freshwater Bay

Season: summer

The beach here is set in a cove between chalky cliffs. It’s a popular visitor destination with a large car park and an esplanade. Flint and pebbles adorn the beach, clattering in the waves as they make landfall. At low tide, rock pools reveal their secrets, a wonderland for young children. The adjacent Site of Special Scientific Interest (Freshwater Marshes) derives from the dammed up end of the River Yar, which flows northwards to Yarmouth. There are caves, which were once used by smugglers. You can explore them by kayak, but take care not to be cut off by the tide.

What the beach means to Pat.

The beauty of Freshwater Bay in the summer.

Compton Bay

Season: summer

Set quietly by the coast road between Brook and Freshwater Bay, Compton Bay’s beach is wild and unspoilt, part of the Compton Down Site of Special Scientific Interest. Popular with surfers and windsurfers, you can even see dinosaur footprints at low tide. This is a great getaway beach, perfect for a walk with the wind in your hair and the sunshine on your face.

What the beach means to Marc.

A view from above the beach at Compton Bay.

Steephill Cove

Season: summer

Tucked away under the Ventnor Undercliff area, this beach is a hidden gem, accessible only by foot. There are beach huts and the atmosphere is tranquil. At low tide there are rock pools to explore and in the summer there is a cafe and a seafood restaurant. The setting is secluded, with trees and cliffs behind the beach, as well as fishermen’s cottages. It’s a place to kick back and let your mind wander, perhaps back to a time with slower rhythms of life.

What the beach means to Lewis.

Steephill Cove in the summertime.