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Compton Bay

(Hanover Point)

Isle of Wight, England


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Compton Bay is a picturesque and unspoilt beach located on the south west coast of the Isle of Wight, offering a unique combination of natural beauty and recreational activities.

Compton Bay is a two mile stretch of sand and rocky shore, characterised by its rural and unspoilt nature. The beach is situated on the south west coast of the Isle of Wight, an area designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Heritage Coast, and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The beach shelves gently from the foot of the cliffs and consists mostly of sand, which is largely covered by the sea at high tide. At low tide, it is possible to see dinosaur footprints printed into the rocks, making it a popular destination for fossil hunters. The beach is popular for surf sports, including surfing, windsurfing, and kite surfing. Facilities are limited to toilets and a refreshment van during the summer months.

To reach Compton Bay, visitors need to find the car park near Shippards Chine and 'Hanover Point', located just off the A3055. The beach is situated on the coast road between Freshwater Bay and Brook, and is accessible by car or on foot.

Compton Bay is on the Tennyson Heritage Coast, and adjacent to the Isle of Wight Coast Path.

Sand

Weather and tides for Thursday 17 September

Today
Chance of rain 95%
Max temperature 19°C
feels like 21°C
Wind 19mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain %
Min temperature 13°C
feels like 16°C
Wind 16mph

The tide at Compton Bay is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 1:25 AM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 8:18 AM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Other beaches nearby

Location: Dunsbury

Location type: Rural

Nearest village: Brook

OS Grid: SZ377840

Coordinates: 50°39'18"N 1°28'1"W

Mapcode: GBR 79C.V6T

What 3 Words: hotels.indicated.flannel

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

Country: England

Local Authority: Isle of Wight

Parish: Freshwater

Nearest postcode: PO30 4HD

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Visitor information for Compton Bay, Isle of Wight, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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216.73.217.16 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:12:36 +0100