Compton Bay

Compton Bay

Compton Bay on the Isle of Wight

Compton Bay looking to the south east

Compton Bay is a bay located on the southwest section of the Isle of Wight, England. The northern edge of the bay is defined by a distinctive white chalk cliff called Freshwater Cliff, named after Freshwater Bay which is located next to them and forms a small but piercing bay into them. The eastern edge of the bay is formed from soft red and orange cretaceous rocks that are rapidly eroding.

The bay is popular with wave and kite surfers due to the reliable and consistent waves that form when the prevailing south-westerly wind is blowing onshore. The beach is gently shelving and consists mostly of sand. The public facilities at the car park are owned by the National Trust.

There are dinosaur footprints visible in Compton Bay when the tide is low this is one of the best areas to see the Dinosaurs of the Isle of Wight. At high tide the sea covers the beach almost completely.

The Isle of Wight Coastal Path runs along the cliff edge for the entire extent of the bay.

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  Compton Bay looking north west to Tennyson Down

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  Shore at the southern end of Compton Bay

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  Low tide at Hanover Point

Surfing

Compton Bay is the Isle of wight's most famous surf spot,^[1] With a choice of a rocky reef break or a slightly tamer but heavier sandbar break to choose from Compton Bay is the Island surfers spot of choice,^[2] Compton Bay has proved to be a valuable playground over the years to some of the Island's best surfers such as Johnny Fryer,^[3] Joe Trueman,^[4] Dave Gray,^[5] Ray Hutchings, Alan Reed, Dylan Gray^[6] and Zoe Sheath ^[7]

Coordinates: 50°39′43″N 1°29′24″W / 50.662°N 1.49°W / 50.662; -1.49

1. ^ http://magicseaweed.com/Isle-of-Wight-Compton--Surf-Report/13/
2. ^ http://wightsurfhistory.co.uk/?s=compton
3. ^ http://www.johnnyfryer.co.uk/
4. ^ http://wightsurfhistory.co.uk/?s=joe+truman
5. ^ http://wightsurfhistory.co.uk/?s=Dave+Gray
6. ^ http://wightsurfhistory.co.uk/?s=Dylan+Gray
7. ^ http://wightsurfhistory.co.uk/?s=Zoe+Sheath