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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...
Town Lane, Newtown, Isle of Wight, PO30 4PA
Opening times for 3 December 2023
Asset Opening time Newtown National Nature Reserve Dawn - Dusk Nature Reserve Visitor Point Closed Old Town Hall Closed MTWTFSS2728293012345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031OpenPartially openClosedBook shop
Second-hand books for sale within the Visitor Point.
Kiosk
Tea and coffee available within the Visitor Point for a donation.
Car park
Car parking charges apply. When parking, members can scan their membership cards at the car parking machine and non-members can pay by phone or cash.
Toilet
Toilets are available in the car park.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome if kept on a lead at all times. To help us protect wildlife, please stay on paths.
Nature reserve: Fairly level paths, muddy when wet. Car parking charges apply. Toilets. Dogs on leads welcome - please stay on paths. Suitable for wheelchairs on Town Copse and Seabroke bird hide. Town Hall: 10 steps to entrance, stairs to other floors.
Accessible toilet
Located within the car park.
Steps/uneven terrain
10 steps with handrail to entrance of Old Town Hall. Stairs to other floors.
Level access/terrain
Path suitable for wheelchairs through Town Copse and to Seabroke bird hide. Can be muddy when wet.
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.
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.
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 bicycle
The 'Round the Island' cycle path passes through the centre of Newtown.
Planning your visit
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Visitor Point closed for winter
Newtown Visitor Point is closed for winter but we look forward to welcoming you when we reopen on 2 March 2024. The Old Town Hall is also currently closed. The nature reserve is open all year round. Find out what wildlife you can see this season.
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Visiting Newtown with your dog
Discover all about visiting Newtown, Isle of Wight, with your four-legged friend. Newtown is a one pawprint rated place.
Highlights
Nature reserve
A quiet backwater with a busy medieval past, now bursting with wildlife and a town hall, but with no town.
Newtown Harbour
Secluded creeks and waterways, and picturesque natural harbour filled with both native and visiting birds, making this one of the best sites on the Island for birdwatching.
Countryside
Flower-filled meadows and ancient woodlands with rare butterflies and red squirrels.
Old Town Hall
This small and quirky 17th-century building is the only remaining evidence of Newtown's former importance as a Rotten Borough, saved for the nation by the Ferguson's Gang in the 1930s.
Things to see and do
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Things to do at Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall
Spend a day at the Isle of Wight’s only nature reserve and discover wildflower meadows, a network of secluded creeks and waterways, and a town hall without a town.
Outdoor activities
Activity
Canoeing and paddleboarding at Newtown National Nature Reserve
Experienced paddleboarders and canoeists are welcome to take to the water at Newtown Harbour. Follow our guide on how to safely enjoy these activities without disturbing wildlife.
Top trails
Trail
Estuary Newtown walk
Take a gentle stroll through the varied habitats of the island's only National Nature Reserve, and visit a hamlet with a colourful past.
Places to stay
1 Compton Farm Cottages
A farm worker’s cottage a short walk from Compton Bay and with views of chalky cliffs and grazing cows.
2 Compton Farm Cottages
One half of a pair of farm workers’ cottages close to Compton Bay close to the best surfing spots.
Newtown Cabin
Set in a quiet backwater on the Newtown National Nature Reserve, this rustic, cosy cabin is surrounded by coastal paths and meadows, so it’s the perfect spot for a nature-filled break.
Mottistone Rose Cottage
A large private garden and roses tumbling across its stone front make this cottage a stunning place to stay.
Mottistone Manor Farmhouse
A beautifully restored farmhouse with plenty of space for the whole family and a large garden.
Rosetta Cottage
A converted Victorian house on the seafront at Cowes, with views of ships from the windows and garden.
Longstone Cottage
An ‘off the grid' period cottage that takes you back in time, Longstone is a rural hideaway set halfway up Mottistone Down.
East Rosetta Cottage
On the seafront at Cowes, this beautiful 19th century house is full of original features.
About Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall
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.
History
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History of Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall
Now a quiet backwater, Newtown was once a medieval town that went on to play a huge role in the brickmaking and salt production industries. Discover more about its history.
Our work
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Our work at Newtown National Nature Reserve
We carefully look after Newtown’s meadows so that they are filled with delicate wildflowers in summer, which support colourful butterflies and important insects.