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.

Sandown

View map of beach Parking available Toilets available Isle of Wight Coastal Path Dog friendly Beach cleaned regularly Good water quality for swimming

Season: summer

One of the most popular Isle of Wight beaches, Sandown has a pier and all the facilities that a visitor might need, including a promenade, as well as excellent shops and eateries behind the beach.  At low tide there is sand galore to play on and you can hire windbreaks for windy days.  This is a family-friendly “bucket and spade” beach, so you’ll find crazy golf, amusements and deckchairs for hire.  There are arty shops too, with trampolines and a shore side cafe to boot.  Throw yourself into it – it’s great fun!

With Jack, living a life on the beach.

Summer at Sandown beach.

Yaverland

View map of beach Parking available Toilets available Isle of Wight Coastal Path SSSI Dog friendly Beach cleaned regularly Good water quality for swimming

Season: summer

Often referred to as the best beach on the Isle of Wight, Yaverland beach faces south and offers acres of sandy space at low tide.  It runs up from the Yaverland Sailing and Yacht Club to the chalk cliffs of Culver Down.  Water sports are the order of the day, including windsurfing, sailing and jet skiing.  More cerebral activities include fossil-hunting under Culver Cliff and enjoying views from the adjacent coast path, accessed via undergrowth behind the beach.  There is a promenade behind the beach.  Bathing is safe here, located in an area segregated from the water sports and the water is clean for swimming.

What the beach means to Kirsty.

The setting at Yaverland beach.

Bembridge

View map of beach Parking available Toilets available Isle of Wight Coastal Path SSSI Dog friendly Beach cleaned regularly Good water quality for swimming

Season: summer

Bembridge beach runs south from the spit at the edge of the harbour here.   The most notable landmark is the lifeboat station, located at the end of a purpose-built two hundred metres long pier.  The beach is a mixture of stone and sand, with interesting rock pools at low tide.  Water sports are popular and there is a slipway to help with dinghy launching and recovery.  As part of the eponymous Site of Special Scientific Interest, at low tide you can see Bembridge Ledge, which has snagged many an unwary sailor over the years.  There is parking at each end of the beach and access is good.

Penny’s appreciation of the beach.

A fine setting at Bembridge.