Monks Bay

The charming Monks Bay is set on the south coast of the Isle of Wight, just east of the village of Bonchurch. The name refers to the French monks from Lyra Abbey in Normandy who were believed to have landed here.

The beach at Monks Bay is a mix of sand and shingle above the high tide line, but as the tide goes out a large area of sand is revealed. A series of rock breakwaters have been created along the beach to keep the sand where it belongs. To the back of the beach is a promenade beyond which are wooded cliffs.

In the olden days the bay was associated with smuggling. Contraband would be landed here before being ferried inland. These days the only industry is a bit of lobster and crab fishing.