Photo by Visit Isle of Wight
West Wight Beaches
Yarmouth Harbour’s own beach, at The Sandhard, is just one of many beautiful beaches to discover in West Wight.
Other beaches to explore include Sconce Point, Fort Victoria Woodland Beach, Colwell Bay, Totland Bay, Alum Bay, Scratchell’s Bay, Watcombe Bay, Freshwater Bay, Smuggler’s Beach, Hanover Point and Compton Bay.
Yarmouth Harbour beach
Just a few steps from the moored boats in the harbour, there’s a pretty sandy and shingle beach, The Sandhard, perfect for a quick swim and building sandcastles with the children before eating al fresco in the BBQ area nearby.
Great for family fun, The Sandhard is a small and little-known beach hidden behind Yarmouth Harbour, next to the coastal path. The quickest way to get there is to take a harbour taxi across the water and walk along the jetty to a lovely little spot with low sand dunes and a gently shelving beach looking directly out onto the Solent.
BBQ on the beach
There’s a dedicated BBQ area with seating next to The Sandhard beach. The Harbour Office Reception sells disposable BBQs; please be careful and after you’ve finished your picnic, dispose of your used BBQs in the bins provided.
Alum Bay
Picturesque Alum Bay is famous for its coloured sands in the cliffs, and the ski chairlift. The large bay has stunning views of The Needles rocks and lighthouse. The mainly shingle beach has crystal-clear waters, which are a favourite for locals and visitors alike.
Brook Beach
Next to the popular Colwell Bay, Brook Beach is beautifully sandy and is a great spot for beach games and watersports. At low tide, you can see the incredible fossilised forest at Hanover Point. Even more incredible are the fossilised dinosaur footprints that can be seen on a sandstone ledge nearby.
Colwell Bay
Colwell Bay has amazing views across the Solent to the mainland and is a long, sheltered, sand and shingle beach. With clear waters and a gentle slope, it’s one of the safest beaches for swimming. It’s a popular beach with families with traditional seaside cafés and beach hut shops.
Compton Bay
Compton Bay lies between Freshwater Bay and Brook Beach. Accessed via steep steps, the off-the-beaten-track sandy beach is largely unspoilt and popular with surfers due to the rolling seas.
Freshwater Bay
Stunning Freshwater Bay is known for its soaring cliffs and impressive rock stack and is popular with watersports enthusiasts. The beach is flint and pebble with sand below the low water mark and a rock ledge that’s great for rock pooling.
Isle of Wight’s Official Tourism Site
Find out more about Isle of Wight beaches on the Island’s Official Tourism website.