Compton Bay and Downs
Local highlightA west-coast surf beach on the Isle of Wight, backed by coloured cliffs, open downs and dinosaur footprints in the rocks
Open accessNational Trust land — free to wander
Compton is where Islanders go to surf. The bay faces the open Channel on the south-west coast, catches the swell, and holds it long enough that a decent wave is a fair bet when the wind is right. The beach is sand and shingle under cliffs of soft, coloured sandstone, which crumble steadily, so keep clear of the cliff base below and the edge above.
At low tide the rock ledges give up something older: three-toed dinosaur footprints, pressed into what was once mud about 125 million years ago and now set in stone. They are easiest to find toward the western end, though you need the tide well out and a bit of patience.
Behind the beach the land rises into open chalk down, good for walking and known for its butterflies, with paragliders often launching off the top when the breeze allows. The whole stretch is National Trust and free to reach on foot, with a pay-and-display car park above the beach. The Isle of Wight Coastal Path runs through, Compton Down sits just behind, and the Mottistone Estate carries the downland on eastward.
