Wootton Creek to Bembridge Harbour

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Grid Refs
Wootton Creek SZ 557 932
Ryde SZ 593 936
Seaview SZ 629 916
Bembridge Harbour SZ 640 888

Features:
Wootton Creek

Also known as Fishbourne and identifiable from the sea by the arrival of WightLink car ferries. The creek can be explored a few hours either side of High Water Portsmouth.

Ryde

Identifiable in many ways, Ryde can be spotted from the sea by it's pier, the church spires on the hill behind and the coming and going of the high speed foot passenger ferry (to the pier head) and the hovercraft, the only remaining foot passenger ferry service in the UK. The extensive sands can stop you from getting too close.

Seaview

Easily identified as you approach in the summer months, by a fleet of moored yachts. Seaview is an attractive village, perched on the headland and the small neighbouring bay Seagrove Bay. Several opportunities for landing can be clearly seen and during the summer months, there is a cafe in the bay.

Bembridge Harbour

Another small harbour, that can be fully explored at high water; it offers sheltered paddling and a number of facilities. It marks the end or beginning of The Solent. The harbour entrance offers facilities and an excellent stopping point. Priory Bay, just around the headland towards Seaview, is an especially beautiful place, accessible at all states of the tide, but be warned - it is very popular on sunny weekends!

Access / Put-ins:
Ryde offers easy access anywhere along the beach with pay & display parking.
Seaview has a couple of spots with on street parking in the area.
Bembridge Harbour entrance has parking and easy access from the beach too.

Nature:
Nothing really apparent along this stretch, probably owing to the expanses of sand and tourism.

History:
Ryde Pier and two of the sea forts feature on this stretch of coast, No Man's Land Fort (in private ownership) and St Helen's Fort, the smallest of the four.

Waterside Pubs:
Wootton Creek has a pub near at the top of the creek, accessible at HW +/-2.
Ryde has several pubs near the beach, but nothing that I would say was suitable for arriving from the sea.
Seaview - none that I know of.
Bembridge - The Pilot Boat Inn at the south side of the harbour entrance is ideal. This spot is likely to make a good camping spot too. Also on the south side of the harbour, near the western end is the Brading Haven Yacht Club. Visitors arriving by sea are welcomed. Just outside the harbour entrance, one hundred metres north is the Bay Side Diner, a licensed restaurant / cafe overlooking the beach.

Hazards:
Along this stretch of coast, the only significant hazard is shipping. Staying closer in shore will avoid all but the passenger ferries. The hovercraft crosses the sands at Ryde at high speed. Don't forget they are less responsive than a conventional boat. The tides do not run particularly strong, although if close in shore over the shallows, you can easily find yourself either having to back track, or carrying over the shallowest parts. In some ways, it is better to stay off shore to make better use of the tide.