Search IOW Guide

Bonchurch beach

Monks Bay

Monks Bay is a Bonchurch beach with small gravel/pebble beach with pebbly seabed. Can be good for a quiet dip for competent swimmers in calm conditions; rocky underfoot and unlifeguarded.

Swimming Rock pooling Dog walking Quiet beach walks Photography

Monks Bay is best understood by its surface and tide pattern: Small gravel/pebble beach with pebbly seabed. Small tidal bay; check tide because beach and foreshore space are limited.

For the water, Can be good for a quiet dip for competent swimmers in calm conditions; rocky underfoot and unlifeguarded. No regular lifeguard service found.

Practical notes: Limited; approach includes slopes/paths and beach is pebbly. Use paid parking above/near the bay; visitor reviews warn not to drive to the bottom expecting parking. Nearby options include cafes.

Dog rules: Nearby Bonchurch/Monks Bay area is generally dog-walk friendly; follow local signage and keep dogs controlled.

Essentials

Good to know

The practical notes that decide whether Monks Bay suits your day.

Surface
Small gravel/pebble beach with pebbly seabed.
Tides
Small tidal bay; check tide because beach and foreshore space are limited.
Swimming
Can be good for a quiet dip for competent swimmers in calm conditions; rocky underfoot and unlifeguarded.
Dogs
Nearby Bonchurch/Monks Bay area is generally dog-walk friendly; follow local signage and keep dogs controlled.
Access
Limited; approach includes slopes/paths and beach is pebbly.
Parking
Use paid parking above/near the bay; visitor reviews warn not to drive to the bottom expecting parking.

Take care

Safety notes

  • Pebbles and rocks underfoot; water shoes advised.
  • No amenities on the beach.
  • No seafront parking at the bottom; avoid driving down expecting spaces.
  • No lifeguards.

Nearby

Food and parking nearby

Ice cream

  • Crave Ice Cream, Ventnor Nearest notable ice cream parlour in Ventnor, not on Monks Bay.

Fish and chips

  • Ventnor Haven Fishery Nearest named seafood/fish-and-chips-style option in Ventnor.

Cafes and restaurants

  • Ventnor cafes Nearest substantial food options are in Ventnor.

Parking

  • Bonchurch/Monks Bay paid parking Paid parking above/near the bay; no seafront parking at the bottom.

Plan around

Not ideal for

  • families needing toilets/cafes
  • wheelchair users
  • barefoot paddling
  • large beach days

Today

What's on near Monks Bay today

Today

1 event

Tonight

Tonight nearby

Today

1 event