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Telegraph
06-07-2025
- Telegraph
The 10 best beaches on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight's circular coastline runs for some 70 miles and features close to 30 beaches, bays and coves. The variety is incredible. Sandown Bay has five miles of unbroken beach, something that's hard to match elsewhere in England. Other beaches might take barely 10 minutes to walk from end to end, but keep you there all day; some are positively cinematic and dominate the landscape, others can only be reached on foot. Take your pick from smooth, golden sands, pebbly affairs, beaches perfect for sunbathing and watersports. Just as importantly, you are rarely far away from an ice-cream stall, a foodie-beach hut or a sundowner. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our destination expert to help you discover the best beaches on the Isle of Wight. Find out more below, or for more Isle of Wight inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels restaurants, bars and pubs, and things to do. Colwell Bay The island's best sunset beach is west-facing Colwell Bay. It feels tucked away, hemmed in by woodland, even though it is hugely popular. Cliff's End, its northernmost point, is the closest the Isle of Wight gets to the mainland. Insider tip: There are a couple of good choices for food that offer sit-down and take-away options. Grab a pastry or ice cream from Colwell Captains Cabin Café or finish the day with a seafood platter at The Hut. How to get there: Car park on access road; bus from Yarmouth and walk 400yds. Freshwater Bay Wallowing at the foot of Tennyson Down, Freshwater Bay is a huge pebble beach that will make you catch your breath on a stormy day, when the sea fills the bowl-shaped bay to the brim. Insider tip: If the sea's flat, hire a paddleboard from and nose around the sea caves either side of the bay. How to get there: The Needles Breezer and other buses serve the bay. Binnel Bay Secluded and enclosed by a mature woodland, this small rocky beach is a gem. It's a place for settling on driftwood and watching the tide ebb and flow. If it's your lucky day, one of the island's white-tailed eagles might fly past. Insider tip: The concrete blocks in the water are left over from a failed 19th-century plan to build a rival resort to nearby Ventnor. How to get there: One for walkers – head west from the village of St Lawrence then follow the footpath behind Binnel Bay studios for half a mile. Appley Beach This family-friendly beach of quintessential golden sand is safe for swimming. The Solent provides plenty of interest while the picturesque backdrop of Appley Park features a curious Gothic tower folly. Insider tip: The woodlands behind the bay offer the chance to climb a tree. Contact Goodleaf Tree Climbing. How to get there: Easy access – just head for the town of Ryde's promenade and east past the Hovercraft launch station. Sandown Bay This is the place to blow away the cobwebs, as well as any island stereotypes. This beach is five miles of unbroken, incredible sands, running alongside Sandown, Lake and Shanklin, bookended at each end by huge, dramatic cliffs. Insider tip: The best ice cream is found on the clifftop path at Blueberry's Café in Lake, a short hike uphill from the beach. How to get there: The beach is accessible on foot from the promenade at its north end, and clifftop footpaths towards the south. Seagrove Bay Located to the east of the village of Seaview, Seagrove Bay has gorgeous golden sands, overlooked by exclusive houses. This is a popular spot for water sports or for simply ambling towards the wooden hinterland at its southern edge. Insider tip: Check tide times, as the coast path to the beach from Seaview is tidal and at high tide the beach pretty much disappears. How to get there: Parking is fiddly, so take the short walk from Seaview or Nettlestone, following coast path signs. Bouldnor Definitely not your typical seaside beach, north-facing Bouldnor is one of the island's excellent fossil-hunting locations. It's the place for rooting around for crocodile teeth or admiring the petrified sections of tree trunks. Insider tip: Erosion is happening in real time here and the beach can make for incredible photographs of collapsed trees and the coast. How to get there: Best walked from Yarmouth via the coast path, or from the car park at the Horse and Groom. Bembridge Beach Strictly speaking, Bembridge boasts three overlapping beaches, which makes it possible to walk at low tide anticlockwise from the RNLI station in the south to Bembridge harbour in the north. There's a pleasing mix of sandy and stony stretches and driftwood. Insider tip: Rockpools abound near the RNLI station, so bring fishing nets for the kids. How to get there: Parking at the RNLI station, or follow coast signs from the village. Compton Bay Loved by surfers and walkers, this two-mile beach features a collage of golden and darker sands. It's also fertile fossil territory – to the east of the car park is the two-foot-wide footcast of a three-toed iguanodon. Insider tip: To shed light on the fossils here, take a tour with Wight Coast Fossils. How to get there: There's ample car parking. The bay is on the coastal path for walkers and served by the number 12 bus. Steephill Cove This delightful sloping sandy, pebble-dotted beach is a haven from the bustle of Ventnor's main promenade. There's a relaxed vibe from the combination of beach lovers in the know, brightly coloured canopied deckchairs, a handful of cottages and beach huts offset by hauled-up lobster pots. Insider tip: The cove has a café for drinks as well as The Crab Shed, where you can buy crab pasties and mackerel ciabatta. How to get there: Access by foot – head down Love Lane, the zig-zag steps from the cricket ground or through the Ventnor Botanic Garden. How we choose Every beach in this curated list has been expertly chosen by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of areas and styles, from popular city beaches to lesser known corners – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Mark Rowe is The Telegraph's Isle of Wight destination expert. 'I first visited the Isle of Wight in short trousers with a fishing net in the Seventies and remain a regular visitor. I'm also the author of the Bradt Slow Travel guide to the Isle of Wight, and Slow Wight, an online guide to car-free routes around the island.'
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Moment writer shouts abuse and hurls bricks at badger before torching her wildlife loving neighbour's Land Rover
This is the moment a writer shouted abuse at a neighbour and hurled bricks at a badger before she torched his beloved Land Rover. Susan Lupton, 63, terrorised wildlife-loving Graham Lee when she mistakenly thought badgers he had rescued and cared for had killed a local cat. Lupton was caught on camera screaming 'your badgers kill cats' during one furious bust-up. Other footage captured by Mr Lee's dashcam showed her one evening wearing an apron and smoking a cigarette as she paces and points her mobile phone at his Freelander. In another clip, she films herself shouting at badgers at the dead of night who had taken refuge on his driveway before she chucks bricks at them. The row reached a terrifying ending on June 20, 2024, when Lupton set fire to a plastic container filled with white spirit and slid it under the Land Rover. Lupton, who has bipolar disorder and was going through a manic episode, claimed that a firefighter friend had told her how to start the blaze. She branded Mr Lee, 56, an 'evil badger man' and mistakenly believed the animals he cared for had killed another neighbour's pet cat. But Mr Lee, a wildlife volunteer, who would leave food out for badgers on his driveway in idyllic coastal village Freshwater Bay, on the Isle of Wight, said the moggy had actually died of old age. Susan Lupton, 63, terrorised wildlife-loving Graham Lee on a daily basis. In one eerie clip, she is seen wearing an apron and smoking a cigarette as she points her mobile phone at his Freelander The row reach a terrifying ending on June 20, 2024, when Lupton set fire to a plastic container filled with white spirit and slid it under the Land Rover When police arrived, Lupton, who has bipolar disorder and was experiencing an episode of mania, told officers: 'I did it. I'm responsible.' Lupton's arson caused £18,500 worth of damage and Mr Lee's Freelander was completely ruined by the blaze. Someone else's property was also damaged as the flames spread to a neighbouring house. Lupton, a writer, has now been banned from the village but avoided prison after admitting two counts of arson. Isle of Wight Crown Court was told Lupton set fire to Mr Lee's 4x4 on June 20, 2024, on a road in Freshwater Bay where homes average £400,000. Prosecutor Joanna Staples said Lupton set fire to a plastic container filled with white spirit and slid it under the Land Rover Freelander. The 4x4 was completely gutted by the fire, and someone else's property was also destroyed as the flames spread to a neighbouring house. A window, toolbox, guttering, cooker extractor and a Japanese Maple Tree at a neighbouring property were all damaged beyond repair. Mr Lee, a wildlife volunteer, who would leave food out for badgers on his driveway in idyllic coastal village Freshwater Bay, on the Isle of Wight, said the moggy had actually died of old age Mr Lee tried to extinguish the blaze with a hosepipe before firefighters arrived. He said the badgers have not come back to his property since the incident a year ago. Lupton, who moved to the UK from South Africa in 1980, admitted she was responsible when police arrived. She told them at an interview that she started the fire as an attempt to kill some badgers he was looking after which she believed had killed a cat owned by a local homeowner. Lupton claimed that a firefighter friend had told her how to start the blaze. Ms Staples said that Lupton had shared posts on her Facebook page claiming that the car owner was an 'evil badger man'. In a victim impact statement, Mr Lee said Lupton was a 'sick, twisted and manipulative individual' who had left him checking his security cameras numerous times a day out of a fear that she may turn up on his driveway with some matches. Mr Lee also described the loss of his 'pride and joy' Land Rover as 'beyond words' and said Lupton's actions had ruined his life. Mr Lee's wrecked Land Rover. The wildlife volunteer, from the Isle of Wight, tried to extinguish the blaze with a hosepipe before firefighters arrived He told the court Lupton had posted videos online of her hurling bricks at badgers and putting out a bowl of food 'laced with glass'. Neighbour Kavita Hayton's home was also damaged in the blaze. She said the attack had left her 'genuinely frightened' and in a 'state of fear for many months'. Lupton's barrister Jonathan Underhill told the court that Lupton had a single conviction for criminal damage on her record. She had bipolar disorder and Mr Underhill asked the judge to impose a suspended sentence to help her ongoing rehabilitation. Judge James Newton-Price said that the victims in the case had suffered a 'terrifying experience' and that Lupton had developed a 'fixation' with one of the victims and had became 'irrationally obsessed'. When sentencing, the judge told Lupton: 'You didn't like Mr Lee attracting badgers to the area, for reasons of your own. 'You had been harassing him online, calling him "Evil Badger Man" on Facebook.' The judge continued: 'You were sectioned after the fire because you were suffering from an episode of mania. Pictured here are some of the rescued badgers that Mr Lee had cared for. Lupton had branded him an 'evil badger man' 'Extensive damage was done. It was a terrifying experience for the victims. You, living nearby, watched the terrifying incident and told an officer, "I did it. I'm responsible". 'You said you did it because a badger killed a neighbour's cat. You said a firefighter friend explained how to start the fire. 'You developed a fixation on Mr Lee, him feeding badgers and believing they killed a neighbour's cat. 'You became irrationally obsessed with that and started posting your views on social media.' The judge added: 'You say you are horrified for what you've done. I believe you have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and that imprisonment would reverse your progress.' Lupton was ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and compensation of £7,835. Lupton was handed two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a restraining order to stay away from Mr Lee. Lupton has also been banned from the village of Freshwater indefinitely.
The Sun
03-07-2025
- The Sun
Woman who torched neighbour's Land Rover because she thought his rescue badgers killed local cat is spared jail
A WOMAN who torched a neighbour's Land Rover because she thought his badgers killed a local cat has been spared jail. Graham Lee, 56, saw his Freelander destroyed as his furious neighbour attempted to kill the badgers living on his driveway. 5 5 5 Susan Lupton, 63, dubbed her neighbour the "evil badger man" as she believed the animals he cared for had killed another neighbour's pet cat. The arson took place at the coastal village of Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight, causing £18,500 worth of damages with Lee's Freelander destroyed. Another property was also damaged as the blaze spread to a neighbouring house. Police arrived to Lupton, who has bipolar disorder, having a manic episode, telling officers: "I did it, I'm responsible". She has avoided prison after admitting two counts of arson but has been banned from the area. Isle of Wight Court heard how Lupton set fire to Lee's Land Rover on June 20, 2024. She had set fire to a plastic container filled with white spirit before sliding it under the Freelander, according to prosecutor Joanna Staples. The vehicle was completely gutted and a window, guttering, cooker extractor and a tree were all damaged beyond repair on a neighbouring property. Lee, a wildlife volunteer, would leave food out for the badgers on his driveway, tried to put out the blaze himself before firefighters arrived. The badgers haven't returned to the property since the fire, he said. Lupton, who moved to the UK from South Africa in 1980, told police she had started the fire in an attempt to kill the badgers he was looking after. She believed they had killed a cat owned by another neighbour. Lupton also claimed she had learnt how to start the fire from a firefighter friend. The court heard how she had shared posts on her Facebook page claiming Lee was an "evil badger man". Moment dad calmly stretches as he's snared for shaking baby daughter to death In a victim impact statement, Lee said that Lupton was "sick, twisted and a manipulative individual". He added how she had left him constantly checking his security cameras out of fear she may appear on his driveway with some matches. Lee went on to add that his Land Rover was his "pride and joy" and said Lupton's actions had ruined his life. He told the court that Lupton has posted videos online of her throwing bricks at badgers and lacing bowls of food with glass. Neighbour Kavita Hayton, whose home was damaged by the incident, said the attack had left her "genuinely frightened" and in "a state of fear for many months". Lupton's barrister Jonathan Underhill told the court that Lupton had a single conviction for criminal damage on her record and that she had bipolar disorder. He asked the judge to give Lupton a suspended sentence to help with her rehabilitation. Judge James Newton-Price said the victims had suffered a "terrifying experience" and Lupton had developed a "fixation" and had become "irrationally obsessed". The judge added during sentencing: "You say you are horrified for what you've done. "I believe you have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and that imprisonment would reverse your progress." Lupton was ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and compensation of £7,835. She was handed two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years and was given a restraining order to stay away from Lee. In addition, Lupton has been banned from the village of Freshwater indefinitely. 5 5
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Telegraph
Neighbour set fire to Land Rover because she thought owner's badger had killed cat
A woman set fire to her neighbour's Land Rover, as she mistakenly believed a badger he cared for had killed a local cat, a court heard. Susan Lupton, 63, set fire to Graham Lee's Land Rover in an attempt to kill badgers living on his driveway, who she blamed for the feline's death. Mr Lee, a wildlife volunteer, would leave food out for the animals in the coastal village of Freshwater Bay, on the Isle of Wight. He told the court the cat had died of old age. The arson caused £18,500 worth of damage, and Mr Lee's Freelander was completely ruined by the blaze. Lupton, a writer, was spared prison after admitting two counts of arson but has been banned from the Freshwater area. She has since moved to the nearby village of Newport. Isle of Wight Crown Court was told she set fire to Mr Lee's 4x4 on June 20 2024, in an area where homes average £400,000 – nearly double the national average. Joanna Staples, prosecuting, said Lupton set fire to a plastic container filled with white spirit and slid it under the car. The 4x4 was completely gutted by the fire, and a separate property was also destroyed as the flames spread to a neighbouring house in the village. A variety of items at the neighbouring property, ranging from a cooker extractor to a Japanese maple tree, were all damaged beyond repair. Mr Lee tried to extinguish the blaze with a hose pipe before firefighters arrived. He said the badgers have not come back to his property since the incident a year ago. Lupton, who moved to the UK from South Africa in 1980, admitted she was responsible when police arrived. The court heard she has bipolar disorder, and had shared posts on her Facebook page claiming that the car owner was an 'evil badger man'. It was also heard by the court that she claimed a firefighter friend had told her how to start the blaze. In a victim impact statement, Mr Lee said Lupton was a 'sick, twisted and manipulative individual' who had left him checking his security cameras numerous times a day out of a fear that she may turn up on his driveway with some matches. He also described the loss of his 'pride and joy' Land Rover as 'beyond words' and said Lupton's actions had ruined his life.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Furious homeowner torched wildlife-loving neighbour's Land Rover after mistakenly believing badgers he was caring for killed a cat
A furious homeowner torched her neighbour's Land Rover after mistakenly believing some badgers he was caring for killed a cat. Susan Lupton, 63, set fire to and destroyed wild-loving Graham Lee's Freelander in a callous attempt to kill badgers living on his driveway. Lupton branded the 56-year-old an 'evil badger man' and mistakenly believed the animals he cared for had killed a local cat. But Mr Lee, a wildlife volunteer, who would leave food out for badgers on his driveway in idyllic coastal village Freshwater Bay, on the Isle of Wight, said the moggy had actually died of old age. Lupton's brazen arson caused £18,500 worth of damage and Mr Lee's Freelander was completely ruined by the blaze. Someone else's property was also damaged as the flames spread to a neighbouring house. Lupton, a writer, has now been banned from the village, but avoided prison after admitting two counts of arson. Isle of Wight Crown Court was told Lupton set fire to Mr Lee's 4x4 on June 20, 2024, on a road in Freshwater Bay where homes average £400,000. Prosecutor Joanna Staples said Lupton set fire to a plastic container filled with white spirit and slid it under the Land Rover Freelander. The 4x4 was completely gutted by the fire, and someone else's property was also destroyed as the flames spread to a neighbouring house in Freshwater, Isle of Wight. A window, toolbox, guttering, cooker extractor and a Japanese Maple Tree at a neighbouring property were all damaged beyond repair. Mr Lee, a wildlife volunteer from the Isle of Wight, tried to extinguish the blaze with a hosepipe before firefighters arrived. He said the badgers have not come back to his property since the incident a year ago. Lupton, who moved to the UK from South Africa in 1980, admitted she was responsible when police arrived. She told them at an interview that she started the fire as an attempt to kill some badgers he was looking after which she believed had killed a cat owned by a local homeowner. Lupton claimed that a firefighter friend had told her how to start the blaze. Ms Staples said that Lupton had shared posts on her Facebook page claiming that the car owner was an 'evil badger man'. In a victim impact statement, Mr Lee said Lupton was a 'sick, twisted and manipulative individual' who had left him checking his security cameras numerous times a day out of a fear that she may turn up on his driveway with some matches. Mr Lee also described the loss of his 'pride and joy' Land Rover as 'beyond words' and said Lupton's actions had ruined his life. He told the court Lupton had posted videos online of her hurling bricks at badgers and putting out a bowl of food 'laced with glass'. A second neighbour whose property was also damaged, Kavita Hayton, said the attack left her 'genuinely frightened' and in a 'state of fear for many months'. For the defence, Jonathan Underhill told the court that Lupton had a single conviction for criminal damage on her record. She had bipolar disorder and Mr Underhill asked the judge to impose a suspended sentence to help her ongoing rehabilitation. Judge James Newton-Price said that the victims in the case had suffered a 'terrifying experience' and that Lupton had developed a 'fixation' with one of the victims and had became 'irrationally obsessed'. When sentencing, the judge told Lupton: 'You didn't like Mr Lee attracting badgers to the area, for reasons of your own. 'You had been harassing him online, calling him 'Evil Badger Man' on Facebook.' The judge continued: 'You were sectioned after the fire because you were suffering from an episode of mania. 'Extensive damage was done. It was a terrifying experience for the victims. 'You, living nearby, watched the terrifying incident and told an officer, 'I did it. I'm responsible'. 'You said you did it because a badger killed a neighbour's cat. You said a firefighter friend explained how to start the fire. 'You developed a fixation on Mr Lee, him feeding badgers and believing they killed a neighbour's cat. 'You became irrationally obsessed with that and started posting your views on social media.' The judge added: 'You say you are horrified for what you've done. I believe you have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and that imprisonment would reverse your progress.' Lupton was ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and compensation of £7,835. Lupton was handed two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a restraining order to stay away from Mr Lee. Lupton has also been banned from the village of Freshwater indefinitely.
