Shanklin to Sandown: 3 Ways

Shanklin and Sandown, the two towns either end of Sandown Bay, allow for a pleasant 2-4 mile (ending pier or Culver Cliff) walk by either cliff path, sea wall/revetment or along the sandy stretch of beach.

By Beach

Walking from Shanklin to Sandown via the beach is a real low-tide treat! From Shanklin you can first enjoy the soft sand of Hope Beach, a popular spot for sunbathers and those enjoying watersports. With option for reshreshments at a cafe, this is a great beach to enjoy some quality time-out. From Hope Beach down steps to a lower profile of the Bay is a succession of rock pools revealed when the tide backs off the beach. Following the shoreline you are blessed with a great width of golden sands, dotted with shells and pebbles. Throughout this walk you have the view of the sandstone/mudstone cliffs at Shanklin, and the dramatic chalk cliffs at Sandown. Once in Sandown (well .. the pier) the sands are soft, which is usually translated to an abundance of tourists in summer months. But early mornings and evenings usually provide empty beaches to enjoy. Depending on the state of the beach profile, sand can either be at the height of the groyns, or eroded quite low meaning a lot of climbing up and down each groyn.

By Sea Wall/Revetment

The great thing about this walk is the option to walk along the promenade. This fairly wide concrete walkway used by walkers, runners and cyclists means this walk is accessible to everyone - independent of tide. As well as the beautiful outlook onto the beach, or experience high tide waves crashing against the seawall below, theres also a backdrop of beautiful sandstone cliffs, dotted with birdnest hollows. Along the sea wall there are a few small cafes if you wanted to pause and enjoy the views with a coffee. There are also public toilets midway. At different intervals you can also enjoy the lines of cute beach huts with funky names. Along this section there are also 3 stepways where you can climb the cliff to the cliff path, so if you wanted a shorter circular walk this is still possible. The revetment does finish at the pier, but there is a wide pavement that takes you round the remainder of the Bay with several resturants and hotels along the way.

By Cliff Path

Although this option of the walk has unfortunately fallen victim to cliff erosion-induced diversions, it's still a great walk with breathtaking views. The cliff walk backs onto some amazing houses, and breaks out into beautifully managed park/green areas. There are also some cafes along the way, but are more seasonally limited. The cliff path gives the option the overlook the whole bay with a birds-eye view (near enough), a spectacle through any season/time of day/state of tide! As said, there are a few sections of steps that lead back down to the beach, or paths that take you into the towns of Shanklin, Lake and Sandown.

Overall, a great walk to enjoy different views at any time of day!