Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall
A quiet backwater with a busy Medieval past, now bursting with wildlife and a town hall with no town...
Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall
Overview
A quiet backwater with a busy Medieval past, now bursting with wildlife and a town hall with no town...
The nature reserve
This is the only National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Wight. It is a beautiful retreat that has something to offer boat owners, walkers, wildlife enthusiasts and historians or just those in search of peace and tranquility. You can wander past flower-rich hay meadows, through ancient woodlands with rare butterflies and red squirrels, and look out over salt marsh and the clear waters of the harbour, bobbing with sailing boats in the summer and alive with birds in the spring and winter. For those on the water it is a beautiful place to explore and a good way to look out for wetland wildlife.
Newtown Harbour was saved in the 1960s from the threat of a nuclear power station being built near the harbour entrance. The efforts of local people conducting wildlife surveys proved to the authorities how special the place is. The landscape has remained little changed for decades and the pattern of fields reflects Newtown's Medieval origins.
The town hall
Tucked away in a tiny hamlet adjoining the National Nature Reserve, the 17th-century Old Town Hall is the only remaining evidence of Newtown's former importance.
It's hard to believe that this tranquil corner of the island once held often turbulent elections before sending two Members to Parliament.
- Telephone
- 01983531785
- oldtownhall@nationaltrust.org.uk
Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall
How to get here
- Address
- Town Lane, Newtown, Isle of Wight, PO30 4PA
- By road
- Newtown is in the north of the Isle of Wight, and reached by minor roads off the main A3054 road between Newport and Yarmouth.
- By bus
- Newtown is about a mile (1.5km) from Shalfleet, which is served by Southern Vectis buses between Newport and Yarmouth. For details of bus timetables see www.islandbuses.info.
- By cycle
- The 'Round the Island' cycle path passes through the centre of Newtown.
- On foot
- There are many footpaths on the Isle of Wight: consult Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 196 or OS Explorer OL29. The waymarked Isle of Wight Coast Path passes through Newtown.
Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall
Prices
Newtown Old Town Hall
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | N/A | £4.30 |
| Child | N/A | £2.15 |
| Family | N/A | £10.75 |
|
Group Adult
Minimum group size 10
|
N/A | £3.80 |
|
Group Child
Minimum group size 10
|
N/A | £1.90 |
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission
- Standard Admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Please note...
Entry to the nature reserve is free. National Trust members can visit the town hall for free.
Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall
Opening times
Please note...
Last entry to the Old Town Hall is 30 minutes before closing time.
Tuesday 23 July
- Newtown National Nature Reserve Dawn to dusk
- Old Town Hall 10:30 - 17:00
Wednesday 24 July
- Newtown National Nature Reserve Dawn to dusk
- Old Town Hall 10:30 - 17:00
Thursday 25 July
- Newtown National Nature Reserve Dawn to dusk
- Old Town Hall 10:30 - 17:00
Friday 26 July
- Newtown National Nature Reserve Dawn to dusk
- Old Town Hall Closed
Saturday 27 July
- Newtown National Nature Reserve Dawn to dusk
- Old Town Hall 10:30 - 17:00
Sunday 28 July
- Newtown National Nature Reserve Dawn to dusk
- Old Town Hall 10:30 - 17:00
Monday 29 July
- Newtown National Nature Reserve Dawn to dusk
- Old Town Hall Closed
Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall
Contact us
- Telephone
- 01983531785
- oldtownhall@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Address
- Town Lane, Newtown, Isle of Wight, PO30 4PA