A small, sandy bay just south of Seaview village with Excellent-rated water, sandbanks and channels at low tide and almost no beach at high tide; best for families and swimmers who time their visit to the tide.
- swimming
- families
- watersports
- quiet
- walking
What Seagrove Bay is like
Seagrove Bay is a short, sandy bay of less than a kilometre on the east coast, between Seaview village and Horestone Point. Some of the largest seaside houses on the Island line the back of the beach behind a sea wall, and the view runs out across the eastern Solent towards the mainland.
The tide shapes everything here. When it is out, the bay opens into a wide, gently sloping expanse of sand, with sandbanks and shallow channels that are good for paddling and for small children. When it is in, the beach almost vanishes and the sea laps at the wall. Check tide times before you go and aim for the hours either side of low water. Two small streams cross the sand on their way to the sea, and the beach is popular with sailors and families staying in Seaview.
Swimming and things to do
Seagrove's water was rated Excellent by the Environment Agency in 2025, the top grade, which makes it one of the better swimming spots on this coast. The shallow, gently shelving sand suits young children, and stronger swimmers can head out as the tide rises. There are no lifeguards, so stay within your depth and watch the time.
A slipway at the bay is used to launch small boats, and in summer you will see dinghies, kayaks and paddleboards. At the southern end a timber walkway continues from the end of the sea wall towards Horestone Point, and the coastal path carries on to Priory Bay and St Helens, a good walk at low tide. North, the path leads back into Seaview, where the village has cafés, a deli and the Seaview Hotel.
Getting there and parking
There is very little parking at the back of the beach, and the roads behind it are narrow and residential. The usual approach is to park in Seaview and walk round. The council's Pier Road car park in Seaview is about seven minutes on foot; charges apply from 1 March to 31 October, with the first hour free if you take a ticket, then standard long-stay rates up to £12.50 for ten hours. Outside that season it is free.
By bus, Southern Vectis route 8 runs between Ryde, Seaview, St Helens, Bembridge and Sandown, and the open-top Island Coaster follows the same road in summer. Visit Isle of Wight suggests getting off at Nettlestone and walking down through the village to the bay.
Dogs, toilets and access
Seagrove is not covered by the council's summer dog exclusion order, and the council lists it among its year-round dog beaches, suggesting the quieter outer stretches for dog walking. As always, clear up after your dog and keep it under control near families and boats on the slipway.
Public toilets stand at the bottom of the lane that leads down to the beach, run by the parish council, with an accessible cubicle and baby changing; they may be closed in winter. You reach the sand through gaps in the sea wall. The drops are fairly shallow and have handrails, but the height changes as storms move the sand, so wheelchair access is not guaranteed. There is no café directly on the beach, so bring a picnic or walk into Seaview.
Dogs at Seagrove Bay
Seagrove Bay is not one of the beaches in the council's seasonal dog exclusion order. The council's April 2026 guide lists it as a year-round dog beach and points dog walkers to the quieter outer sections. Pick up after your dog; check signs at the access points in case of local requests.
- January: dogs allowed
- February: dogs allowed
- March: dogs allowed
- April: dogs allowed
- May: dogs allowed
- June: dogs allowed
- July: dogs allowed
- August: dogs allowed
- September: dogs allowed
- October: dogs allowed
- November: dogs allowed
- December: dogs allowed
Dogs allowedNo dogs
For every beach on one page, see our Isle of Wight beach dog ban dates.
Parking and buses
| Car park | Postcode | Prices | Walk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pier Road car park, SeaviewIsle of Wight CouncilPayByPhone 59204 | PO34 5BP | Seasonal long-stay: charges apply 1 March to 31 October, first hour free with a ticket, then council long-stay rates (£3.60 1–2 hours, £6.20 2–4 hours, £8.30 4–6 hours, £12.50 6–10 hours) (council tariff page, checked October 2026) | about 7 minutes |
By bus: Southern Vectis routes 8, Island Coaster to Seaview / Nettlestone. Route 8 stops in Seaview and Nettlestone; Visit Isle of Wight suggests getting off at Nettlestone and walking down to the beach. The Island Coaster ran from 28 March to 26 September in 2026.
Staying safe
At high tide there is little or no beach and the sea reaches the wall, so plan around low water and do not get cut off at either end. At low tide channels and sandbanks form; the channels fill first as the tide turns, so do not let children stray far out. There are no lifeguards. Two small streams cross the sand and a storm overflow sits just offshore at the northern end, which can operate after very heavy rain; the Environment Agency issued 8 pollution-risk warnings here in 2025. Boats launch from the slipway, so keep swimmers clear of it. In an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Local tips
- Go within two or three hours of low tide; at high water there is almost no sand.
- Park in Seaview and walk; from November to February the Pier Road car park is free.
- Walk south along the timber walkway at low tide to reach Priory Bay.
- Keep clear of the slipway when boats are launching.
Sources
- Environment Agency bathing water profile: Seagrove (2025 classification) (checked 2026-10-16)
- RNLI: find my nearest lifeguarded beach (no Isle of Wight beaches listed for 2026) (checked 2026-10-16)
- IW Radio: Ryde Beach Lifeguards recruiting for 2026 summer season (checked 2026-10-16)
- Isle of Wight Council: Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for dogs (checked 2026-10-16)
- Isle of Wight Council: PSPO dog exclusion order, Schedule 2 beaches (checked 2026-10-16)
- Isle of Wight Council: 14 beaches where you can walk your dog all year round (30 April 2026) (checked 2026-10-16)
- Isle of Wight Council: Seaview, St Helens and Bembridge parking (checked 2026-10-16)
- County Press: new toilets open at Seagrove Bay (checked 2026-10-16)
- Isle of Wight Council: public toilets managed by town and parish councils (checked 2026-10-16)
- Isle of Wight Council: Seagrove Bay beach leaflet (revised 2018) (checked 2026-10-16)
- Wikipedia: Seagrove Bay (checked 2026-10-16)
- Visit Isle of Wight: Seagrove Beach (checked 2026-10-16)
- bustimes.org: Southern Vectis route 8 timetable and stops (data dated 14 September 2026) (checked 2026-10-16)
- Southern Vectis: Island Coaster 2026 season (checked 2026-10-16)
- bustimes.org: Island Coaster stop list (checked 2026-10-16)
- OpenStreetMap: beach outlines, coastline, car parks, toilets and cafés (via Overpass API) (checked 2026-10-16)
