| Anchor allowed | Mooring Bouys | Harbour Master | Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes for free | n/a | n/a | No services |
Priory Bay is on the northeast coast of the Isle Of Wight, just off to the east of Nettlestone. It's a sandy beach (with some pebbles) that looks across the solent to Selsey Bill. It's approximately 1/2 a mile in length and runs from Horestone Point to Nodes point.
This picturesque sandy stretch of beach is the perfect destination for those seeking a secluded spot, with clear blue waters, surrounding woodlands and beautiful views back across the solent.
It's totally free to anchor up at Priory Bay and generally a quiet spot, especially in out of season months. The one thing to be aware of is that the solent is generally busy all year around with large vessels, so it's not unusual to get some swell from these boats passing through.
If you're looking to visit Priory Bay Beat with a boat hire, check out our shortlist of places to hire RIBs from on the solent.
Aside from the above, there are a number of reasons Priory Bay Beach is worth a visit:
It's historical significance is one thing! Named after a 12th Century church, Priory of St Helen, it's still possible to visit the ruins and learn about its history.
A great place to anchor up for a nice walk along the shoreline. The beach is easily accessible via a dingy and the sandy seabed makes landing easy. Once there, the woodlands surrounding will give bird watchers a lot to look for and various rock pools to explore with the kids.
The calm and sheltered waters of Priory Beach make it an ideal location for water sports like kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing. It’s also a great spot for snorkeling due to its clear waters.
Finally, Priory Bay is a great place to bring a picnic and relax for a few hours on the lovely sandy beach. It's nicely shaded by the surrounding woodlands and the views back across the solent are a great way to watch the world go by.
The beach is best visited at low tide, as at high tide the vast majority of the beach is covered by water. This adds to the secluded nature of the location but important to be aware of if you want to actually walk on the beach!
If you intend to anchor overnight, just be aware that from early in the morning the swell can make things a little bonucy as large vessel traffic builds up.
Please note: this information is only provided as a rough guide, not for navigation purposes.