Things to see and do at Compton Bay and Downs


Spend a day at one of the Isle of Wight’s favourite spots. From beach to open downland, there’s plenty of space to explore, search for fossils, spot local wildlife, surf, cycle and ride your horse.
A magnificent surfing beach
Explore on foot
Whether you want to walk bare foot in the sand or explore the miles of footpaths that criss cross our land, Compton Bay and Downs make the perfect place to go for a walk. We've put together a couple of downloadable walks to get you started.
Butterfly spotting trail

Paradise on the Isle of Wight butterfly walk
Walk the chalk ridge running through the middle of the Isle of Wight and spot wonderful butterflies on one of our best bits of chalk downland, including Adonis blue, small blue, dark-green fritillary and Glanville fritillary.
Walking with dinosaurs
Dinosaur coast on the Isle of Wight
Wildflowers on the downs
Play on the beach
Walk your dog

Ride your horse
Take to two wheels

Cycling on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight has been named by the Lonely Planet Travel Guide as one of the top 10 destinations in the world for cycling.