The Esplanade, Ventnor

Street guide, Isle of Wight

The seafront road at the base of Ventnor, running along the beach and the harbour. Ventnor's Esplanade has a different character from the resort esplanades of Sandown and Shanklin, with a more rugged and less manicured feel. The beach is a mix of sand and shingle, backed by the sea wall and the Esplanade road. A small harbour shelters fishing boats, and the Spyglass Inn, a pub built into the sea wall, is one of the most atmospheric pubs on the island. The Esplanade provides access to the beach, the harbour and the coastal path that leads east towards Bonchurch and west towards Steephill Cove. The cliff face above is terraced with gardens and the lower streets of the town, and the overall effect is of a Mediterranean hillside town transplanted to the English south coast.