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Home / About the Isle of Wight / Isle of Wight Towns & Villages / West Wight
West Wight
The West Wight has many Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - rolling countryside forests, farms, picturesque villages, rugged cliffs and the famous Needles rocks.
Situated on the estuary of the western river Yar, picturesque Yarmouth Harbour has berthing and on-shore facilities for visiting yachtsmen. A ferry service operates from Lymington to Yarmouth. Walkers, cyclists and birdwatchers enjoy the riverside trails. The cycleway to Freshwater follows the route of the former railway line. Yarmouth has some excellent small shops, cafés, restaurants and traditional pubs.
With its extensive shopping area, Freshwater has the air of a town, but in fact holds the status of a village. It has sports centre with public indoor swimming pool and an 18 hole golf course in a superb location overlooking Freshwater Bay.
Farringford House was once the home of the poet laureate, Alfred Lord Tennyson. Nearby is the Island's only thatched church, St.Agnes, built on land donated by the Tennyson family in 1908. A friend of the family was the famous Victorian photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron, who lived at Dimbola Lodge overlooking Freshwater Bay. The bay is splendid starting point for walks along the Tennyson Trail, with its breathtaking views across the sea, or for the inland nature trail through Afton Marsh.
Totland Bay has delightful small beach with a short esplanade and privately owned pier. Nearby is Alum Bay, renowned for its coloured sand cliffs and pleasure park. There is a chairlift to the beach below, from where, weather permitting, you can take a boat trip to view the Needles rocks. To the east of Totland Bay is Colwell Bay, a popular family beach of golden sand with beach huts and watersports.
- In and around Cowes
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Separated by the River Medina and linked by a chain ferry, the Isle of Wight's most northerly towns of Cowes and East Cowes are steeped ...
- In and around Newport
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The beautiful and historic town of Newport is situated in the centre of the Isle of Wight and is its principal town, centre of commerce ...
- In and around Ryde
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The largest town on the Isle of Wight, Ryde has fine Georgian and Victorian buildings, lively pubs and restaurants, seafront promenade, a marina, great nightlife ...
- In and around Bembridge, St Helens, Seaview
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Situated on the most easterly point of the Isle of Wight, lying beneath the headland of Culver is the village of Bembridge.
- In and around Brading
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Situated just a few miles inland from Bembridge, Brading is one of the oldest towns on the Isle of Wight and steeped in history.
- In and around Sandown
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With its superb position on sweeping Sandown Bay, the sparkling resort of Sandown offers all the fun and excitement for everyone.
- In and around Shanklin
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A popular family resort, Shanklin offers all the traditional seaside treats of sandy beaches, restaurants and theatres together with the charming Old Village.
- In and around Godshill
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With its charming thatched-roofed cottages, delightful medieval church and a winding main street lined with tearooms, Godshill is the quintessential English Village.
- In and around Ventnor
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A Victorian town with a Mediterranean feel, Ventnor is one of the sunniest spots on the Isle of Wight, thanks to its sheltered southerly aspect.
- In and around West Wight
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The West Wight has many Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - rolling countryside forests, farms, picturesque villages, rugged cliffs and the famous Needles rocks.