During the winter months this is the perfect place for a walk with your dog, in the summer take the family for a fun filled day of sandcastles, ice creams and splashing in the sea.
Shanklin is a mixture of old traditional and modern. The same applies to the beach and esplanade area. On my recent visit I parked in the pay and display car park at the easterly end and walked the length of the golden sands of the beach (sections are pebbly but it’s mostly sand). It is possible to walk from one end to the other even when the tide is in, however, you'll need to clamber over the wooden groynes along the way. I picked the perfect day as it was just before the dog ban in May so Nigel, my Labrador Retriever, could enjoy chasing his ball for miles along the sand.
Take a look at some of our properties for holidays in Shanklin before you get lost in our Shanklin beach blog.
Shanklin beach at a glance:
Parking: pay and display roadside and car park
Eateries: Ice cream parlours, cafes along the esplanade
Dogs: allowed from October to May
Public conveniences: nearby
Close to: Shanklin, Lake and Ventnor
The beach is backed by the esplanade and perfect for family fun days spent building sandcastles and dipping in and out of the sea. Halfway down the beach there’s a memorial to the once proud pier which was so badly damaged in the storms of 1987 it had to be demolished. Now there’s a vantage point with seats and it’s a lovely place to stop a while and take in the view.
At the end of the beach there’s a row of beach huts and cafe, ideally located for a quick brew before the walk back. At this point you can carry on along the beach at low tide and it is possible to continue to Luccombe beach but keep an eye on the tide. Another alternative is to wander up into Shanklin Old Village either via a huge lift or the steps. A wander through the village will make you feel like you've stepped back in time with the abundance of thatched roofs.
I took the easier route and followed the esplanade for the return trip. The traditional style hotels on the roadside soon turn into an assortment of amusement arcades, crazy golf, go-carting and indoor play areas. This section is huge, there’s so much to do to keep kids amused and I can see why it’s such a popular place for traditional beach holidays. The esplanade runs the entire length of the beach and it’s ideal for pushchairs and scooters.
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