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.
Tide status Loading TideCheck data...
Tide data by TideCheck · for planning only, not for navigation.
- 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
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Tonight nearby
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