Ventnor Bay is at the southernmost tip of the Island and is loved by both locals and tourists. The beach is a mix of red shingle and golden sand, and makes a good spot for swimming. Swim from the middle of the beach, opposite Alma Road, where there's a rock-free channel cleared by the fishermen many decades ago. At low tide a ridge of rocks appear from beneath the waves which children love to climb and explore.
At the eastern end of the bay is a waterfall, created from a natural underground steam, which tumbles down through manicured gardens of exotic planting known as Cascade Gardens. A steep path takes you up into the centre of town, but at the bottom is the famous Isle of Wight shaped paddling pool, which has entertained children for over 100 years. Next to it is a restaurant serving great all day breakfasts as well as lunches and drinks.
Opposite the cascade is a bandstand-like structure which is built on the site of the old wooden pier, sadly long gone. You can walk out on the rock spit and admire the view of the beach, Ventnor's seafront and town nestled in the steep cliff above. Nearby is Ventnor Haven where the Blakes family still fish today, supplying locals and restaurants with fish, crab and lobster caught daily along the southern coast of the Island.
The beach has vintage beach huts that were once Victorian bathing machines. Read more about these at Ventnor's museum in Spring Hill. You can hire them for the day from Blakes Hut on the sea wall, along with deckchairs, sun loungers and wind breaks, which Blakes will set up for you.
Walk along Ventnor's seafront you will find ice-creams, a bistro-style bar serving tapas and drinks, a beach shop, more cafes and a couple of pubs... the world famous Spyglass Inn at the western end of the beach, and the Mill Bay at the eastern end. Both serve food all day and have fantastic views of the sea.
DOGS ALLOWED: There is a dog ban from 1st May - 30 Sept, but the rest of the year they can run free.
TOILETS: There are public toilets by the paddling pool at the eastern end of the beach.
OTHER AMENITIES: Cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops.
LIFEGUARDS: Yes, during the summer season.
ACCESS ON FOOT: From the town, it's a steep walk either down Bath Road, Esplanade Road, or Shore Road. There are also steps (lots of them) from Belgrave Road down to the beach. From La Falaise carpark it's a shorter but still fairly steep walk down to the beach, but Eastern Esplande is flat and level.
ACCESS BY CAR: There are car parks at both end of the beach. La Falaise to the west (PO38 1JY), and Eastern Esplanade to the east (PO38 1HR).
AS WITH ALL BAYS ON THE SOUTH OF THE WIGHT, CARE MUST BE TAKEN DUE TO UNSTABLE CLIFFS. LANDSLIPS ARE NOT UNCOMMON IN THIS AREA.
HISTORY
Ventnor Bay was once just a small fishing community, noted for its catches of crab and lobster. There were a few low thatched fisherman huts along the shore, an old mill perched on the cliff above the beach, an inn, and a couple of lodging houses. That all changed in the 1830s when an eminent physician of the day wrote a report on the beneficial qualities of the climate. Ventnor suddenly became the fashionable place to be and entered a period of feverish speculative development. A population of less than 100 people in 1810, rose steeply to 6,000 by the end of the 1800s.
