The Best Ways To See The Needles On The Isle Of Wight
Whilst the Isle of Wight has a number of popular tourist attractions that people from all over the world will come to visit every year, it is fair to say that by far the most famous attraction is The Needles. In case you don’t know, The Needles is a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise about 30 metres out of the sea and you will find them on the western side of the Isle of Wight just to the southwest of Alum Bay.
Every year, many tourists visiting the Isle of Wight will take pictures of these world-famous rocks and when you’re on the island, you will notice that they’re featured on many of the souvenirs you can pick up in local shops. If you’ve never been to see The Needles on the Isle of Wight before and you’re wondering what the best ways to get a good look are, keep reading today. Below we have put together some helpful information in this regard.
Take a boat trip out to The Needles
When you’re wanting to see this tourist attraction up close, you will need to book a boat trip and so many visitors to the island will do so. With fast trips on High-Speed RIBs available or slower cruises around Alum Bay, you can choose which type of boat trip you’d like. It is fair to say that a boat trip is one of the best ways to see The Needles on the Isle of Wight and it really will give you a good look at these rocks and the famous Lighthouse next to them.
Visit the beach at Alum Bay
Of course, if you want to see The Needles on The Isle of Wight, you can simply visit Alum Bay beach, which is known for its colourful sands. This is one of the most popular beaches on the island, not only because of The Needles but also because of its crystal clear waters too. You can walk along this mainly shingle beach to get a good view of these famous rocks, or you could even spend a day here if you liked, there’s plenty to see and do nearby.
Go up to The Needles Old Battery and New Battery
Some will say that The Needles Old Battery and New Battery are actually more of a ‘tourist attraction’ than The Needle rocks themselves and if you’re on the island then this is definitely worth a visit. The Needles Battery is a Victorian fort that is now owned by the National Trust and it is perched high above the rocks, so you will get a brilliant view of them from up here. You can easily spend a few hours exploring everything this attraction has to offer.
Stroll along the cliff tops
By simply strolling along the top of the cliffs at Alum Bay, or any local cliffs on the western side of the island really, you will be able to see The Needles from a distance too. There are so many beautiful cliff top walks on the Isle of Wight, many of which have breathtaking panoramic views, so you shouldn’t struggle to find a footpath or two that enables you to see these chalk stacks. Why not take a picnic with you and enjoy the island’s countryside.
Take a ride on the chairlift
The Needles Landmark Attraction has a chairlift that operates between this popular amusement park and the beach below. When you get a ticket for this chairlift, not only will you get to see stunning views of The Needles and The Needle Lighthouse, but you will also get to see the multi-coloured sand cliffs of Alum Bay and the open waters beyond too. For many, this chairlift is an absolute must if you’ve never seen The Needles on the Isle of Wight before.
Planning to see The Needles on the Isle of Wight
Thankfully, there are so many different ways you can see The Needles when you’re on the Isle of Wight and you won’t struggle to get a glimpse of these famous chalk stacks. Of course, some of the different options mentioned above will be free and others will require you to buy a ticket, but generally speaking, it won’t be expensive for you to spend a day at Alum Bay, exploring the local area or simply glancing out to The Needles.
If you’re currently planning a trip to the Isle of Wight, be sure to check out the rest of our website today. You can rely on us to tell you everything you need to know about all of the other popular tourist attractions here on the island so you don’t miss out on anything during your visit. We hope you enjoy seeing The Needles for the first time.
