Bembridge Down

Hill, Mountain in Hampshire

England

Bembridge Down

Culver Down Monument The monument on Culver Down in memory of Charles Anderson Pelham Earl of Yarborough — Culver Down Monument Credit: Steven Muster

Bembridge Down is a prominent feature located in the eastern part of the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England. It is an elevated area that offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and the English Channel. Although commonly referred to as a down, it is not a true downland but rather a hill or mountain due to its height and steepness.

Standing at an impressive 107 meters (351 feet) above sea level, Bembridge Down is a cherished natural landmark and a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. It is part of the wider Bembridge and Culver Downs Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), recognized for its unique biodiversity and geological significance. The area is home to a variety of plant species, including rare orchids, and provides a habitat for a diverse range of wildlife.

The down is easily accessible, with several footpaths and trails leading to its summit, making it a favorite spot for outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and walkers. As visitors ascend the hill, they are treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, the Solent, and the distant coastline of the mainland. On a clear day, it is even possible to see the famous Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.

Bembridge Down also holds historical significance, with evidence of prehistoric activity and Bronze Age burials found in the area. Additionally, a prominent feature on the hill is the Bembridge Windmill, a restored 18th-century windmill that stands as a reminder of the island's agricultural past.

Overall, Bembridge Down is a remarkable natural and cultural treasure, offering visitors a chance to appreciate the beauty of the Isle of Wight's landscape while immersing themselves in its rich history and diverse ecology.

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Bembridge Down Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.670411/-1.1158442 or Grid Reference SZ6286. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Culver Down Monument

The monument on Culver Down in memory of Charles Anderson Pelham Earl of Yarborough

Steven Muster

The view from Culver Down (of Sandown Bay)

This one of many footpaths from the top of Culver Down

Steven Muster

Charolais Bull on Culver Down

Looking NNE, Portsmouth in the distance across the Solent.

Penny Mayes

Comma Butterfly on Culver Down

She seemed to be drinking the juice from a ripe blackberry.

Penny Mayes

View from Bembridge Down

Looking NNE across Bembridge Harbour to the Solent and south coast. Chalk downland with grass, brambles and blackthorn. The Spinnaker Tower SZ6299 : The Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth can be seen left of centre.

Penny Mayes

Glider approaching Bembridge Airfield

From Bembridge Down. The north west end of the air strip (on the left) lies in SZ6287. The Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth can be seen on the right-hand edge of the picture.

Penny Mayes

Bembridge Windmill

This restored windmill stands at an altitude of 35m above the low lying marshlands of the River Yar to its west.(National Trust site)

Crispin Purdye

Whitecliff Bay and Black Rock, near Bembridge

Photograph taken from viewpoint at Culver Down looking north east towards Bembridge Foreland

Crispin Purdye

Ploughing in February near Brading, Isle of Wight

This chalk hillside occupies a significant part of the west of this grid square. The hill is a continuation of the west to east chalk ridge that meets the sea at Culver Cliff . The dip in the foreground is a dry valley. The distant wood at the top right is above Brading, about 2km west north west. The photograph is taken from the minor single track road to Bembridge fort and Culver Down just above where it joins the B3395.

Crispin Purdye

View from Bembridge Down towards Brading

This view looks west along the ridge of chalk hills that run east - west across the middle of the Isle of Wight. The ridge is dissected in several places by valleys. In this picture there is a dry valley in the middle foreground. The land drops again, cut by the River Yar, behind the ploughed field. It rises again to Yarbridge, centre distance, regaining 100m plus on Brading Down, (skyline, centre left).

Crispin Purdye

Bembridge Fort

Built 1862-1867 against a possible invasion of Napoleon's forces. It had 3 officers and 100 men. It had 2 4" breech loading and 6 muzzle loading guns.

Bob Embleton

Yaverland beach, Isle of Wight

Taken during the recent extreme sports festival "WhiteAir05" at Yaverland, near Sandown on the Isle of Wight, looking towards Bembridge in a north easterly direction.

Chris Plunkett

River Yar

Viewed looking north eastwards and downstream from the footbridge on the Yar River Trail.

Nigel Cox

River Yar

Viewed looking northwards and downstream from the B3395 Sandown Road bridge, the roofs of some houses in Brading are just visible over the trees to the left, while the flat flood plain of the river extends out to the right.

Nigel Cox