British Beaches

Visitor information for every beach in the UK

"You are the peace in my troubled sea"

Colwell Bay

Isle of Wight, England


Rate this beach!
Approximate Location Map

Use two fingers to pan or zoom the map

Colwell Bay is a small sand and shingle beach located on the west coast of the Isle of Wight, offering stunning views of the Solent. .

Colwell Bay is a relatively quiet beach, despite being popular, and is situated on the western shore of the Isle of Wight. The beach is a mix of sand and shingle and offers panoramic views of the Solent and the mainland, including Hurst Castle just over the Hampshire/Dorset border.

The beach is unspoilt and relatively quiet, making it ideal for those looking for a relaxing day out. It offers a variety of water sports, including windsurfing, jet skiing, and pedaloe hire. The water is generally calm and clear, making it suitable for swimming and snorkelling. Beach huts and deck chairs are available for hire, and there is a long promenade on the sea wall that continues to Totland Bay to the south. A car park with about 40 spaces, including 2 disabled spaces, provides access to the beach via a small slipway. There are also toilets, a beach shop, and a café, as well as a restaurant and an adjacent holiday park.

The beach is cleaned daily and is reputed to be one of the cleanest on the island. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities, including windsurfing, canoeing, and swimming. The beach is also suitable for families, with an amusement arcade and cafes available. A short walk along the sea wall links Colwell Bay to Totland Bay, providing a gentle and scenic stroll.

Colwell Bay is adjacent to the Isle of Wight Coast Path.

Sand Shingle

Weather and tides for Thursday 4 June

Today
Chance of rain 90%
Max temperature 15°C
feels like 15°C
Wind 28mph
Tonight
Chance of rain 63%
Min temperature 13°C
feels like 12°C
Wind 22mph

The tide at Colwell Bay is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 7:12 AM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 4:06 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Recommended holiday cottages near Colwell Bay

Things to do and see in the area

Hill Farm Stables (0.8 miles)
Tennyson Down (1.6 miles)
Alum Bay Glass (1.9 miles)
Black Rock Charters and Fishing (2 miles)
The Needles Battery (2.5 miles)
Tapnell Farm Park (3.1 miles)
West Wight Alpacas (3.6 miles)
Dinosaur Expeditions CIC (4.1 miles)
Escape Yachting - Day Sails (4.2 miles)
Hermit Charters (4.2 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Colwell

Location type: Town

OS Grid: SZ327879

Coordinates: 50°41'23"N 1°32'17"W

Mapcode: GBR 78W.MXY

What 3 Words: politics.piglets.instant

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: PO40 9RR

(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.

Stuff you might want for the beach!

(Or après-beach. Or pre-beach. Or, just because you might want stuff)

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

British Beaches is a Good Stuff website.

216.73.216.53 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:11:00 +0100