Yarmouth

Not to be confused with Great Yarmouth.

Yarmouth Castle

Yarmouth is an attractive little town at the western tip of the Isle of Wight, just offshore of the South East of England.

Everything in Yarmouth seems to be on a small scale; small narrow streets nestle against a small castle and harbour, and the ferry terminal is actually built against the castle walls.

Yarmouth is the chief town of 'West Wight', the western part of the Isle of Wight, and forms a very good base for exploring this part of the island.

Get in

By ferry

From a mainland location, the best approach is to use the Wightlink car and passenger ferry which runs every half-hour direct to Yarmouth. This ferry operates from Lymington (on the mainland) and has good rail and road connections (as described in the Lymington article). Taking a car on the ferry can be quite expensive; for short visits it may be better to park in the car park at Lymington Pier and board the ferry as a foot passenger.

By car

Yarmouth is connected to the rest of the Isle of Wight by Southern Vectis service 7. There is also an open top bus that runs from Yarmouth to Alum Bay and The Needles Battery, offering spectacular views.

Get around

The town of Yarmouth itself is easily walkable. For nearby areas of West Wight, the Island Explorer (services 7/7A/7B; see 'Get in' above) provides good service. Southern Vectis also operates the open top "Needles Breezer" throughout the summer, which serves Freshwater Bay, Alum Bay and the Needles on a hourly basis.

See

• 1 Alum Bay. Famous for the many different colours of sand which appear naturally on the beach. A traditional souvenir of the Isle of Wight is a picture or glass paperweight filled with the different colours - there are many stalls where you can get the wherewithal to make your own if you are so inclined. Accessible via either the normal 7 bus service or open-top bus service "The Needles Tour" (see 'Get around' above).  
• 2 Freshwater. The village of Freshwater is on the western tip of the Isle of Wight. It is made up of small shops and businesses and extends down to the coast at Freshwater Bay where there is a small shingle beach. Freshwater has a stunning bay which is frequently photographed with the dramatic white cliffs making a ruggedly beautiful backdrop.  
• 3 The Needles Old Battery and New Battery, West High Down, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, PO39 0JH (Accessible via Southern Vectis's open-top bus service "The Needles Tour" (see 'Get around' above).), ☏ +44 1983 754772, needlesoldbattery@nationaltrust.org.uk. A very famous headland and offshore rocks at the extreme western end of the island. Here you will find early sea defences such as the Needles Old Battery, now preserved by the National Trust. Chalk stacks, lighthouse and old battery. The Needles] offers a variety of attractions including a sand-filling shop, adventure golf, open top bus rides, boat trips, a traditional family Carousel, Victorian games and a wide variety of retail and catering facilities. A chairlift transports visitors from the top of the cliff to Alum Bay beach and back, giving the best view of the Needles Rocks. An interactive 4D Cinema experience shows the Lost World.  
• 4 Yarmouth Castle, Quay Street, PO41 0PB, ☏ +44 1983 760678. adults £6.00, children £3.60, concessions £5.30.  

Do

Looking out from the Old Battery across the searchlight emplacement to The Needles

• 1 The Needles. A very famous headland and offshore rocks at the extreme western end of the island. Here you will find early sea defences such as the Needles Old Battery, now preserved by the National Trust, and Tennyson Down, the national memorial to Alfred Lord Tennyson, and the sight of spectacular sea and land views. Accessible via Southern Vectis's open-top bus route 42 , which runs half-hourly from Yarmouth and connects with the ferries from Lymington on the mainland. You can drive up to the Needles Battery if you are registered disabled, but you need to phone ahead to let them know you are coming in order not to face traffic coming the other way. 
• 2 The Needles Headland and Tennyson Down, Tennyson Down, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight, PO39, ☏ +44 1983 741020, isleofwight@nationaltrust.org.uk. The national memorial to Alfred Lord Tennyson, and the sight of spectacular sea and land views. Accessible via Southern Vectis's open-top bus service "The Needles Tour" (see 'Get around' above). 
• 3 Tapnell Farm Park. Activities including an "aqua park" assault course, foot-golf and axe throwing. Also has a well-regarded burger place. (updated Aug 2024)

Eat

• 1 Sunbo, 3, The Broadway, Totland Bay PO39 0AT, ☏ +44 1983 759111. A good Chinese takeaway. 
• 2 The Waterfront, The Beach, Madeira Rd, Totland Bay, PO39 0BQ, ☏ +44 1983 756969. Upmarket seafood restaurant right next to the sea. Great fish and chips! 
• 3 On The Rocks, Bridge Rd, PO41 0PJ, ☏ +44 1983 760505. Popular Stone Grill restaurant where you cook your food at the table on a slab of heated volcanic rock. Owner has a farming background, and puts effort into sourcing meat and fish. £30/head. 
• 4 Salty's Restaurant, Quay St, PO41 0PB, ☏ +44 1983 761550, info@saltysrestaurant.co.uk. Often boisterous seafood restaurant above a bar frequented by a yachty crowd from the harbour nearby. Lobster and crab is sourced locally from the family business. £30/head. 

Sleep

Hotels

• 1 The George Hotel, Quay St, PO41 0PE, ☏ +44 1983 760331, res@thegeorge.co.uk. A 17th century townhouse next to Yarmouth Castle and backing onto the seafront, the George is the premium hotel in Yarmouth, with a price to match. £137.50-267.50/night. 
• 2 Albion Hotel, Freshwater Bay PO40 9RA, ☏ +44 1983 755755. This re-opens in June 2024. (updated Jan 2024)
• 3 Sentry Mead, Madeira Rd, Totland Bay, ☏ +44 1983 753212. 

Self-catering

• 4 Fort Victoria Cottages, 3, Westhill Ln, PO41 0SA, ☏ +44 7734 951080, info@fortvictoriacottage.co.uk. A Grade II listed former officer’s cottage overlooking the beach on one side and a woodland conservation area on the other. £325-850/week. 

Go next

Routes through Yarmouth

Lymington ←

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