
Freshwater Bay is a lovely little cove on the south coast of the Isle of Wight. If you fancy a short paddle, there are a number of small stacks and caves within sight of the ice cream seller and tea shop.
This is part of the Tennyson Heritage Coast and the hill behind is Ballard Down, rising 150 metres straight out of the sea. Perched on top is the Tennyson Monument, commemorating the life and work of the Victorian Poet. Faringford House in Freshwater was Alfred Lord Tennyson’s home for four decades. Presumably he spent this time trying to think of something to rhyme with ‘…rode the Six Hundred’.
This being the Isle of Wight, nothing much happens here. That’s rather the pleasure of the place.



































Sensational cliffs, Mark.
Yes, paddling beneath them is quite an experience. I also MTBed along them recently, a good way to get vertigo.