Freshwater Bay

About

Freshwater Bay is one of the most picturesque beaches 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 with your kids.

The Bay has been hewn from the chalk cliffs that surround it by thousands of years of exposure to the waves and the small river that runs from here to Yarmouth. Now dammed at this end, leaving a marsh in the hollow of the bay area, the river Yar flows northwards from here and the sea wall and coastal road prevent its egress to the sea.

Smugglers once used the caves around the bottom of the chalk cliffs that are exposed at low tide – if you wish to explore them it is best to find a local guide as you can become cut off by the tide. Kayaking is the ideal way to see them and the other small bays, Watcombe and Scratchells, that are also hewn from the chalk. This beach is popular for surfing and watersports and boats will moor offshore to come ashore. The Freshwater Independent Lifeboat is launched from this bay when required by those in trouble at sea.

Overlooking the bay is the Albion Hotel that houses a public bar or visit the Dimbola museum and galleries for an afternoon tea. Dimbola was the home and workplace of the internationally acclaimed Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron.

TOP TIP:
Wait until an abnormally low tide (see tide tables) to walk across the rocky exposed ledge to see the caves and small bay to the western side of Freshwater Bay. 

For bus information please visit the Southern Vectis website - www.islandbuses.info/