Compton Bay

About

One of the Isle of Wight’s best kept secrets is Compton Beach. Located in West Wight, Compton offers a two mile stretch of contrasting golden and dark sands, with rolling seas, tumbling multi-coloured sandstone cliffs, and the white chalk cliffs at Freshwater in the distance.

Reminiscent of the beaches in Cornwall or even on the west coast of America, and popular with surfers, Compton is a totally natural do-it-yourself beach. Bring all you need including windbreaks (if necessary), body and surf boards and food and drink, although there is an ice-cream van that also vends beverages and snacks.

Steep steps lead down to the beach from Hanover Point/Shippard's Chine where there is a large National Trust car park. Within this car park there are National Trust visitor facilities that includes three unisex cubicles, baby change facilities, a larger accessible WC and a 'Changing Places' standard cubicle. Or drive further west to Compton Chine/Farm and find a smaller National Trust car park on the opposite side of the coastal road and tiered steep steps down to the beach.

Compton is a great place to pick up fossils, including those of dinosaurs, and you can book tours on the beach to see the dinosaur footprints in the sandstone ledge at Hanover Point that are exposed at low tide. The beach is ideal for games and sandcastle making, especially at low tide and you may catch sight of paragliders passing over the cliff line or kite surfers out at sea. 

Please note there are seasonal restrictions on dogs for this beach.

TOP TIPS:
Walk about half way down the beach between Hanover Point and Compton Chine and you'll avoid the rocky outcrop in the shallows of the sea when you swim.

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