Freshwater Bay is a picturesque beach in a beautiful setting on the Western tip of the Isle of Wight. The bay is surrounded by tall white cliffs and stunning coastal formations which give a sea view that is truly beautiful. The beach is a mixture of grey flint and chalk pebbles with sand below the low water mark and some sandy areas to sit if you walk to the more easterly side where there is a rock ledge revealed at low tide, which is great for rock pooling. This beach is popular for surfing and watersports and boats will moor offshore to come ashore. The Freshwater Independent Lifeboat is launched from this bay when required by those in trouble at sea. Smugglers once used the caves around the bottom of the chalk cliffs that are exposed at low tide – for those wishing to explore them it is best to find a local guide as you can become cut off by the tide. Kayaking and Paddle-boarding are the ideal way to see them and the other small bays.
The bay at Freshwater is away from the small town making it a very tranquil place to visit. A teashop and lifeboat charity shop are the choices for refreshment at the beach and there is a local shop just up from it in the direction of Alum Bay. There is a good sized car park at Freshwater Bay and toilet facilities are located a short walk from the beach along the road to Alum Bay. Dogs: There are restrictions in place on the Isle of Wight’s main resort beaches between 1st May and 30th September which prevents dogs being allowed to use them. However, outside of this season dogs are welcomed as with any of the other beaches.
