Hampshire Beaches Family Holidays Hayling Island Isle of Wight

Milford-on-Sea Beach

Milford-on-Sea has a long sweep of pebble beach. The views are fantastic looking across to the Isle of Wight and looking west you can see Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole on a clear day or at night when it's all lit up.

The beach is bordered by a large pay and display car park and a wide promenade with benches that makes it accessible for all. There are beach huts along the beach but these don't often come up for purchase.

Milford-on-Sea beach is dog friendly and cleaned during the summer. There are toilets nearby and cafes near the car park. Of course up in the village there are cafes and pubs.

The beach is not patrolled by lifeguards but it is suitable for supervised swimming.

Stokes Bay Beach

Just along the coast is the popular shingle beach of Stokes Bay. There's plenty of pay and display parking and beach huts for hire along the beach. Seafront attractions include a golf course, pitch and putt course, children's paddling pool and a selection of restaurants and bistros.

Right on the southern-most point of the coastline where is Fort Gilkicker. For Gilkicker was one of the line of Palmerston Forts built in the nineteenth century to protect the English coast from the the French.

South Hayling Beaches

South Hayling is where you'll find Hayling Island's beaches. The vast stretch of natural shingle beach that runs along the coast for 3 miles includes two Blue Flag beaches: Central Beach and West Beach. Some areas of the beaches are backed by grassland and dunes and there are a range of facilities such as public toilets, beach huts, picnic tables and kiosks for refreshments available. The beach shelves steeply in some areas where the water can be deep, but at low tide the shallows are suitable for swimming, especially at West Beach.

The most popular part of the beach is that near the Beachlands fun fair and amusements. There is also an adventure playground, volleyball court and BMX and skateboarding park at the West Beach end. It's a handy spot for families with several refreshment kiosks and cafes nearby as well as the funfair and amusements. If you want to have a go on the skatepark you can hire skateboards as well as bikes - ideal for exploring the island - from Cycles Galore who operate from a hut near the beach. Contact tel: 077498 18222.

The beaches at Bound Lane and Chichester Avenue are quieter beaches where dog walking is permitted all year round. There are beach huts, picnic tables and places for barbecues available for public use. Contact the Beachlands Centre for booking information.

South Hayling Windsurfing

West Beach is the specially designated area for windsurfers and kite surfers. It is widely claimed that windsurfing was invented on Hayling Island in 1958 by a local boy, Paul Chilvers, who at the age of 12, made a board with rudder and sail which effectively saw the birth of windsurfing as a sport.

Sheltered by the Isle of Wight the seas off South Hayling are ideal for windsurfing and kitesurfing. West Beach has been set aside for these sports so that other parts of the beaches are safe for swimmers. The waves never become too high and the waters are even warmed by the sheltering effects of the West Winner sand bar which also creates waves excellent for jumping. Body boarding and surfing are also popular particularly in front of the last groynes further along the shore.

Isle of Wight Sailing and Watersports

The Isle of Wight is the home of sailing which is celebrated by the biggest sailing regatta every year, Cowes Week. The Solent is always full of visitors and residents sailing to and around the island. Famous sailors such as Ellen McArthur have their home on the Isle of Wight as it's such a fantastic training ground. Check the links right for sailing clubs on the island.

If you fancy having a go yourself you can try the UKSA Maritime Academy which is based in West Cowes. They offer courses for yachting, motoryacht, RIB and powerboat training as well as leisure watersports such as dinghy sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and kitesurfing.

UKSA, Arctic Road, West Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7PQ. Tel: 01983 294941 or a course adviser on 01983 203038.

Alternatively you can try the Medina Valley Centre which offer training for all ages in sailing and canoeing. Courses run from Easter to the end of October on the sheltered Medina Estuary north of Newport. Medina Valley Centre Dodnor Lane Newport Isle of Wight PO30 5TE Tel: 01983 522195 Email: info@medinavalleycentre.org.uk.

Sandown Bay and Beach Isle of Wight

Sandown Bay is lined by a long stretch of sandy beach. It's a Blue Flag beach with lifeguards and zoned recreation areas. As it slopes gently into the sea it is ideal for paddling and swimming. Sandown is often cited as one of Britain's sunniest locations. All this makes it ideal for a family seaside holiday.

If you're feeling a bit more energetic you can take the coastal walk along the coast path or the sea wall prom that stretches for two miles along the coast to Shanklin.

Shanklin Beach Isle of Wight

Shanklin beach lies at the southern end of Sandown Bay. It's a Blue Flag sandy beach renowned for its safe bathing areas and is patrolled by lifeguards in the summer.

There are zoned recreation areas for swimming and watersports which are popular here. The northern end of the beach is lined with beach huts and is backed by the Esplanade. The beach becomes quieter with fewer attractions as it stretches south.

Ryde Beach Isle of Wight

Ryde has one of the best beaches on the island. Ryde Beach is six miles of golden sandy beach easily accessible from the town on foot. Lifeguards patrol the beach in summer and the shallow waters make it a popular family friendly beach not far from the ferry - excellent for a day trip. At low tide a large area of sand is exposed making ideal for beach games and strolls. A canoe lake, paddling pool and a swimming pool with a retractable roof add to the beachside attractions so you won't be short of anything to do.

Along the seafront there is street parking backed by pleasant managed gardens. Within walking distance is a good choice of shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants in the centre of Ryde.

Ventnor Beach Isle of Wight

Ventnor beach is a Blue Flag winning beach and something of a hotspot being renowned for its sunny and hot summers. The high cliffs of the downs around the town shelter the beach which is a mix of sand and shingle.

Watersports are not permitted here so the clear, clean waters make it ideal as a family friendly beach.

Along the Esplanade are amusements, a paddling pool and plenty of places to get an ice cream, drinks, snacks as well as full meals at the cafes, pubs and restaurants.