BEMBRIDGE

Bembridge is located at the extreme easternmost tip of the Isle of Wight. It used to be a virtual island before land reclamation rejoined it to the rest of the Isle of Wight. The village lends its name to a geological feature just offshore called the Bembridge Ledge, a rocky shelf which is only revealed at low tide, when it turns into a haven for people who love poking about in rockpools. Those who have come unprepared can purchase equipment such as nets and crabbing lines at the nearby cafe. A wide variety of creatures can be found in the rockpools, such as limpets, crabs and prawns, and proper sea fishing can be indulged in from the ledge itself, with the opportunity to catch bass, mullet and eels. The prawns found here are a species which seems to be particular to this area. On the outskirts of the village is the only surviving windmill on the Isle of Wight, now owned by the National Trust. It was built around 1700 and ceased operation in 1913. Visitors can climb to the top and learn about the milling process; most of the machinery is still intact.

Map of the area.

Bembridge Harbour 2. Photo by Editor5807, via Wikimedia Commons.