Compton Beach has broad sands at low tide beneath layered cliffs. Freshwater Bay is a separate stop with a sheltered-looking curve of shoreline framed by chalk headlands.
Check tides and access before you go, and keep clear of cliff edges and cliff bases. Check parking separately for Compton and Freshwater Bay. Visitor information.
Compton is the stop for a long walk on the sand. The cliffs are part of the island’s fossil-rich coastline, and the Natural History Museum’s island guide explains what has been found here. Keep clear of the cliff base and leave time to get back before the tide comes in.
Explore more of the island from La Petite Forêt’s Isle of Wight houseboat.
Photo source: Direct Ferries.
