Bembridge

Bembridge is situated on the eastern end of the island and surrounded on three sides by the sea. There is access to the varied shoreline in a number of places. Beaches are of pebble and sand, quiet, uncommercialised and generally safe for swimming. Also great for collecting shells or for exploring rock pools at low tide. Café, toilets and car parking near the harbour and at Lane End (where the lifeboat pier is) and Forelands.

Bembridge was originally a small village cut off from the rest of the island by a large expanse of water that stretched all the way to Brading. In the mid-1800s, and in the face of considerable engineering difficulties, an embankment was built from St Helens to the bottom of Kings Road. A railway link was established and the village grew in popularity and size. It is now said to be the largest village in the country. The public telephone box in Bembridge is also the oldest in Britain.

Bembridge Harbour is home to two sailing clubs - the Bembridge Sailing Club which was founded in 1886, and the Brading Haven Yacht Club (01983 873911). Both clubs support all-year round sailing activities. There is a thriving marina at St Helens which is managed on behalf of the harbour owners by the harbour master, Captain Graham Hall (01983 872929). Additionally, he controls a number of floating pontoon berths, Fisherman's Wharf, and the pontoons opposite Bembridge Boatyard. Although first time visitors find entry to Bembridge somewhat daunting and care must be taken on an ebbing tide, the channel is well buoyed and locals as well as regular visitors come and go about 3 hours either side of high water. Half-dozen or so commercial fishing craft work out of the harbour, and regular fishing trips can be booked. The RNLI Lifeboat Station at Lane End is equipped with an offshore and a D-Class inshore craft. St Helen's fort can also be seen from the Harbour, the fort can be reached on foot at spring tide.