Alum Bay

Bay in Hampshire

England

Alum Bay

Alum Bay is a picturesque bay located on the westernmost point of the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England. It is renowned for its stunning cliffs and multicolored sand, making it a popular tourist destination.

The bay is surrounded by towering 100-meter tall cliffs that showcase various layers of vibrant colors, such as shades of white, yellow, brown, and red. These colors are a result of different mineral deposits, including iron and alum, giving the bay its name.

Visitors to Alum Bay can explore the stunning cliffs through various walking trails, providing breathtaking views of the English Channel and the Needles – a series of distinctive chalk stacks rising from the sea. The bay is also home to the iconic Needles Lighthouse, which warns passing ships of the treacherous rocks.

One of the main attractions in Alum Bay is the opportunity to collect and purchase the unique multicolored sands found in the area. These sands are layered in glass jars, creating a beautiful souvenir that showcases the bay's natural beauty.

Additionally, Alum Bay offers a range of activities for visitors, including boat trips, chairlift rides, and a children's play area. The bay is also a popular spot for fossil hunting, as the cliffs often reveal ancient marine life preserved in the rock formations.

Overall, Alum Bay is a must-visit destination for nature lovers, geology enthusiasts, and those seeking stunning coastal views. Its striking cliffs, multicolored sands, and unique geological features make it a truly remarkable place to explore.

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Alum Bay Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.667818/-1.5774286 or Grid Reference SZ2985. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

The Old Battery

Barry Shimmon

Isle of Wight from Mudeford Spit

The grass dunes on Mudeford spit frame the tip of the Isle of Wight, including The Needles. A couple of holidaymakers are just visible bottom left.

John Goldsmith

The Guns

One of the two guns at The Old Battery by The Needles

Kurseong Carl

The Needles

Viewed from the Old Battery

Kurseong Carl

The Needles Isle of Wight

PAUL FARMER

The Needles from the Old Battery

David Martin

Alum Bay in 1988

As seen from the Old Battery. Hatherwood Point is on the right of the frame.

John Baker

The Needles 1984

Roy Hughes

The Needles and the Old Battery

A view of the Needles from the coastal path.

Len Williams

South Wight : The Solent

Looking towards the gap between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight which leads into the Solent.

Lewis Clarke

South Wight : Beacon & Bournemouth

Looking towards a red beacon in the sea with the Bournemouth coastline behind it.

Lewis Clarke

South Wight : Yellow Beacon

A yellow beacon marking a site of a shipwreck just off of the Needles.

Lewis Clarke

South Wight : The Needles & Lighthouse

The Needles were featured on the 2005 TV programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of Southern England.

Lewis Clarke

South Wight : The Needles & Cliffs

Looking towards the cliffs from a boat travelling along the Needles.

Lewis Clarke

South Wight : The Needles & Former Pillar

The formation takes its name from the former fourth needle-shaped pillar called Lot's Wife that used to stand in its midst until it collapsed in a storm in 1764. The remaining rocks are all short and squat and not at all needle-like, but the name has stuck.

Lewis Clarke

South Wight : Needles Lighthouse

1859 by James Walker, consultant engineer to Trinity House, replacing an earlier lighthouse which stood on the cliff top. Built of granite masonry. 33.25 metres high of uniform diameter with an unevenly stepped base. Although the tower has no taper the walls vary from 1.07 metres in thickness at the bottom to 0.61 metres at the top. Battlemented parapet.

Lewis Clarke