Here's a great place for a wander at any time of year. In winter take the dog and enjoy a bracing walk along the sands towards Shanklin. In summer take a deckchair and take in the view over the Solent whilst enjoying an ice cream and watching the world go by.
Sandown beach at a glance:
> Parking: nearby on the roadside and car parks (pay and display)
> Lifeguards in summer
> Eateries: plenty of cafes/ice cream kiosks and restaurants
> Public conveniences: close by
> Near to: Shanklin
Take a look here at our holiday properties around Sandown on the Isle of Wight before you get lost in our blog.
Situated between Lake and Shanklin, this golden sandy beach slopes gently toward the sea and is a great place for families to experience a traditional day out at the beach in summer. Parking is close by so there’s no need to lug great bags of beach paraphernalia too far and there’s plenty of cafes and kiosks dotted along the seafront so packing a picnic is optional.
I’ve been to this beach both in summer and winter. My most recent visit was the other week to give Nigel my energetic yellow Labrador a good run (dogs are allowed during winter). We parked on the seafront which is free in February with direct access down onto the sand. If you start at the Lake end of the beach you can literally walk for miles and miles. The beach is flat and dotted with patches of shingle so it’s perfect for walking and ball chasing (Nigel, not me!), I have to say it was chilly though with a sharp easterly wind blowing. Further down the beach you walk under the eaves of Sandown Pier which was built in 1879 and still opens daily with amusements, fairground rides and cafes. Clearly this isn’t the place to take Nigel but in the summer kids love it here and it’s certainly worth putting on your summer holiday bucket list.
Once past the pier the view opens out towards the tall cliffs of Shanklin. From here there’s a promenade which is ideal if the tide is in or walking on sand is a struggle. The promenade carries on as far as the eye can see and is perfect if you want to extend your walk further. As for me and Nigel, we turned around and headed back, stopping from time to time to examine shells and hunt for sea glass.
In summer, the beach takes on a new lease of life with families flocking to the golden sands and enjoying the sea views. The sand stays in pristine condition due to daily machine cleaning, perfect if you have small children. Deckchairs, windbreaks, pedalos and kayaks are on hire and the sand is perfect castle building material so get constructing! When the kids get bored of the beach, wander down to the golf course or skate park or indulge in one of the many souvenir shops, you’ll always find something to keep everyone happy. Dinosaur Isle is a short walk away in Yaverland and definitely worth a visit, you can even join a guided fossil hunt walk. With masses of sand covering miles of beach there’s plenty of room for everyone.
So, a beach for all seasons though if you do venture out in winter don’t forget your woolly hat and gloves, you’ll need them.
Take a look here at our collection of holiday cottages on the Isle of Wight.
