Freshwater
Freshwater is a large village at the western end of the Isle of Wight and is close to steep chalk cliffs. It was the home of Poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson who lived in the nearby Farringford House. Close to the sea lies Dimbola Lodge which was once the home of the celebrated Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron whose work is now exhibited there alongside a history of the Isle of Wight Music Festivals.
The town hosts a number of small shops and the nearby West Wight Sports Centre has a public indoor swimming pool. An 18 hole golf course sits on the downs above Freshwater Bay, overlooking the bay with its small beach and large car park. Walk the Tennyson Trail from here along the cliff-top to the Needles and take in the breathtaking views of the Channel and the Solent.
Whilst at Alum Bay, take the chairlift to the beach at the Needles Park with spectacular views of the famous coloured sands or take a boat trip to view the Needles rocks and lighthouse. Totland Bay with its small beach is close by as are the golden sands of Colwell Bay, which offers beach huts and water sports. Compton Bay is very popular with windsurfers.
Town guide provided by GoWight, the Isle of Wight video guide.