Beautiful beaches on the Isle of Wight






Our Island is surrounded by miles of coast line, and we look after a third of it. Although much of this is formed by dramatic cliffs, we also care for several beautiful soft, sandy beaches such as Compton, Culver and St Helens, here on the Isle of Wight. And in the summer, they make the perfect place to spend a day as a family, or just to take a gentle stroll as the sun sets below the far horizon.
Great for families
Sandcastles
Family days out at the beach are a great way to make summer holiday memories together. The wide expanse of soft sand at Compton and Yaverland beaches makes them the perfect place to build sandcastles. Why not try challenging each other to a competition and seeing who can build the last castle standing against the tide? Or design a masterpiece of art with a sand sculpture?

Swimming and surfing
Compton and Culver beach both have soft, sandy, shallow waters that make them perfect for the whole family to swim in. Little feet could try jumping over the waves at the water’s edge, whilst for older children, both Compton and Culver are great for surfing.
Rockpooling
Nodes Point at St Helens is one of the best places on the Island for rockpooling. The limestone crevices and cracks provide homes for all sorts of tiny creatures. You can also look for marine wildlife in the rock pools at Compton and Culver too.
Fossil hunting
It’s not just living wildlife you can find here. Compton and Culver are great for fossil hunting too. At Compton, see if you can find the three-toed dinosaur footprints buried in the sand near Hanover Point.
And of course, by doing all of those, you’ll also have ticked off lots of your 50 things challenges.

Beach walking and strolling further afield
It’s lovely to spend the day at the beach but walking along the sands as the sun lowers itself towards the sea on a summer’s evening, is a truly peaceful experience. After everyone else has gone home, it can feel as if you have the whole beach to yourself. Or perhaps you’d like to explore the wildlife-rich countryside that surrounds the shore? From both Compton and Culver there are footpaths that will take you up onto the cliffs and downs above.
Spending the day with man’s best friend
Our beach at Brook is dog friendly, which means they get to enjoy a day at the seaside too. Dogs are welcome here all year round between Hanover Point and Brook Chine, but we ask you not to bring them west of this along Compton until after 15 September. St Helens Duver has undulating sand dunes where dogs can run around all year and they are also welcome on the beach at Nodes Point. Please just make sure that all you leave behind are your dog’s paw prints in the sand and nothing more when you leave.
Useful information about where to go

St Helens Duver
For the soft sandy beach at St Helens, head to Nodes Point which is a short, flat stroll along the seafront from our car park at the Duver (free for NT members). There are no gates, stiles or steps and it also has a ramp onto the soft sand.

Compton Bay and Brook
There are car parks, which are free to NT members, at both Compton, Brook and Compton Chine, and toilets at Compton. Access to Compton beach is via steep wooden steps at both Hanover and Compton Chine.

Culver beach
The best place to park for Culver beach is in the car park at Yaverland, but please be aware that this is not NT and charges apply. You can get onto the beach via a slipway and there are toilets in the car park.