Isle of Wight beaches:
Ventnor and Steephill Cove
The beaches of Ventnor and neighbouring Steephill Cove lie on the sunny, south coast of the Isle of Wight. Sheltered from the north by steep downland, these popular, picturesque resorts enjoy some of the island's very best weather.
The beach at VENTNOR is fairly small (think two to three football pitches) and it is accessed by steep, winding roads at each end of the bay.
Ventnor Bay in July
Once on the beach you will find areas of golden sand (the amount varies from one tide to the next). Elsewhere you will note a thin covering of reddish-coloured shingle overlying the sand. It doesn't hurt to walk on it barefoot and it certainly doesn't slow down the children!
Ventnor is a very popular resort with families, and rightly so, but please take care when swimming because there are ROCKS to be avoided right across the bay and they are only visible at low tide.
Ventnor now has a lifeguard on duty - and flags are displayed for the benefit of bathers, advising the safest places to enter the water. It has also recently gained 'Blue Flag' status.
Rocks uncovered at low tide
On a calm, sunny day this little Victorian resort offers its visitors a wonderful, traditional seaside holiday - complete with buckets and spades, postcards, amusements, cafes and ice-cream parlours. Don't forget to try the locally made Minghella ice-cream - it's fabulous!
And no visit would be complete without calling into the hugely popular
Spyglass Inn.
The delightful STEEPHILL COVE lies approximately one mile west of Ventnor, immediately below Ventnor Cricket Ground. It can be reached on foot only. A path leads there from the far left hand corner of the Botanic Garden, and also from the end of Love Lane which runs beside the Cricket Ground off Undercliff Drive. Alternatively you can follow the Coastal Path across the cliffs from La Falaise car park at the foot of Bath Road.
Steephill Cove
As you will see from the picture, the beach is sandy, but it's also strewn with rocks - so I would again advise caution with young children. It also shelves quite steeply. But older children will absolutely love it. (It reminds me of Enid Blyton's Famous Five books - the tiny cove, the fishing boats, the rocks ... and even a house like Kirrin Cottage on the cliffs!)
You won't find any shops here, but in season
The Beach Cafe
serves teas, coffee, ice-cream, soft drinks and food. At the time of writing, however, the cafe is up for sale, so I cannot say for sure what will be offered in the 2008 season.
The Beach cafe at Steephill Cove
You will also find the very popular Boathouse Restaurant which opens only in season serving lunches between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm.
The Boathouse itself is one of several holiday homes available to rent at Steephill Cove. For further information
CLICK HERE
Ventnor and Steephill Cove are undoubtedly two of the nicest and most popular beaches in the Isle of Wight, but there are others! For further recommendations simply click on the following links:-
SANDOWN and SHANKLIN
FRESHWATER BAY and COMPTON BAY
RYDE and APPLEY
BEMBRIDGE and ST HELENS
COLWELL BAY and TOTLAND BAY
SEAVIEW and SEAGROVE BAY
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