- Newtown River
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Newtown River shown within the Isle of WightNewtown Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest Area of Search Isle of Wight Grid reference SZ417912 Interest Biological Area 619.3 hectare Notification 1951 Location map Natural England 
Newtown River with yachts at anchor
Newtown River is a large natural inland harbour located on the Isle of Wight's northwestern coast. It is sometimes also referred to as Newtown Creek.
Newtown Harbour is the name given by Natural England to the River and surrounding land and this area is the only National Nature Reserve on the island. It is owned and managed by the National Trust.
Newtown River consists of a number of estuaries of small rivers, and has the form of several finger-like indentations in the coastline.
The narrow entrance to Newtown River is 3/4 of a mile east of Hamstead point, in the centre of Newtown Bay. The entrance needs navigating with care as there is a bar across the entrance, strong cross tides and a fair flow of water in and out of the entrance channel at mid-tide. Although a lot of mud is exposed in the harbour at low water there are a number of moorings in the deeper parts of the creeks and lakes and the anchorage can become crowded at weekends during the main sailing season.
Scouts from nearby Corf Camp often make use of the Estuary for expeditions from the jetty on the shore.
The harbour is loved for its unspoilt beauty and tranquility. The River and adjoining land are regarded as one of the best examples of an undisturbed natural harbour on the south coast of England with its varied habitats ranging from woodland, ancient meadows, mudflats and marshland. It supports a number of rare species, but its primary importance is as a wintering ground for seabirds.
The River is part of the Isle of Wight’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and is part of the Hamstead Heritage Coast.
The area is also part of a 619.3 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It was notified in 1951.
The villages of Newtown and Shalfleet lie close to its shore.
External links
- Information on Newtown River from a poor sailor
- Images of the harbour and quays
- Natural England entry
- Isle of Wight Council entry
- IOW AONB map
- English Nature SSSI citation sheet
Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Isle of Wight Alverstone Marshes • America Wood • Arreton Down • Bembridge Down • Bembridge School And Cliffs • Bonchurch Landslips • Bouldnor And Hamstead Cliffs • Brading Marshes To St. Helen's Ledges • Briddlesford Copses • Calbourne Down • Colwell Bay • Compton Chine to Steephill Cove • Compton Down • Cranmore • Cridmore Bog • Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses • Freshwater Marshes • Garston's Down • Greatwood And Cliff Copses • Headon Warren And West High Down • King's Quay Shore • Lacey's Farm Quarry • Lake Allotments • Locks Farm Meadow • Medina Estuary • Mottistone Down • Newtown Harbour • Northpark Copse • Parkhurst Forest • Priory Woods • Prospect Quarry • Rew Down • Rowridge Valley • Ryde Sands and Wootton Creek • Shide Quarry • St Lawrence Bank • The Wilderness • Thorness Bay • Ventnor Downs • Whitecliff Bay And Bembridge Ledges • Yar EstuaryCategories:- Ports and harbours of the Isle of Wight
- Rivers on the Isle of Wight
- Estuaries of England
- Nature reserves on the Isle of Wight
- National Nature Reserves in England
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Isle of Wight
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