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Ventnor
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Steephill Cove Beach
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Steephill Cove Beach

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See all things to do
Steephill Cove Beach
4.5
About
Steephill cove is a beautiful Hidden gem. With its ever changing beach of sand, shingle and fantastic rock pools it is no wonder that families return here year after year. Over the years Steephill has become a hot spot to eat as well. Cove Coffee Shop with Home made cakes, light lunches, ice cream, sweet treats and more along with gorgeous goodies to buy for you and your home (Hoodies, Tee shirts, mugs, body lotions, creams, hand wash, candles etc with the amazing Cove logo) The Crab Shed serving fresh crab pasties. The Beach Shack serving fare (all only open during the daytime hours). Steephill can only be reached by foot which adds to its safety and pure Charm... A true gem of old fashioned English seaside. A must visit for anyone on the island!
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The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
54 within 3 miles
The Crab Shed
316
94 ft$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Seafood • British
The Beach Shack
316
192 ft$$ - $$$ • Cafe • British • Vegetarian Friendly
Cove Coffee Shop
38
344 ft$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Cafe
Plantation Room
50
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • British • Vegetarian Friendly
Edulis
63
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • British • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
The Royal Hotel Restaurant
504
0.6 mi$$$$ • Seafood • British • Contemporary
Lady Scarletts Tea Parlour
418
0.7 mi$$ - $$$ • Dessert • Cafe • British
Smoking Lobster grill and cocktail bar
693
0.8 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • Grill • Healthy
The Spyglass Inn
2,885
0.7 mi$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • British • Pub
Golden Sands
192
0.7 mi$ • Quick Bites • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
See all
Attractions
57 within 6 miles
Ventnor Botanic Garden
1,617
0.2 miGardens
Ventnor Park and Putting Green
147
0.6 miParks
Ventnor Beach
85
0.7 miBeaches
The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
2,140
2.6 miNature & Wildlife Areas
Shanklin to Ventnor Coastal Walk
525
2.4 miScenic Walking Areas
St Catherine's Lighthouse
549
Lighthouses
Shanklin Theatre
705
Theaters
Godshill Model Village
2,167
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Gardens
Neil Williams
15
0.8 miArt Galleries
Steve's Beach
205
Beaches
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
537 reviews
Excellent
405
Very good
100
Average
24
Poor
6
Terrible
2
Kings and Queens London
London, UK763 contributions
Gorgeous cove
Apr 2022 • Couples
park and Ventnor and take a slow walk 20 minutes to this pretty cove.Most of the walk is flat apart from a wooden staircase ( which has rest platforms ). Best to go early around ten as there is only one beach shack selling drinks and snacks with tables and chairs facing the beach.There is also a small cafe restaurant at the end of the cove which sells lunches .You can hire deck chairs for £3.50. The walk to/from is lovely with lots benches with wonderful views, a big field for ball games etc .If you choose not to eat here I suggest u do the walk in the morning and reserve a table at the spyglass in at ventnor which has outdoor seating facing the beach
Written April 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ems_erh
Southampton, UK107 contributions
Beautiful place
Oct 2020 • Family
Steephill cove is very peaceful and beautiful. We visited on a warm but windy day in October, although I imagine the beach can become quite busy in the Summer as it is small. We parked in the private car park at the top of the hill - £3 for the day paid into an honesty box, which seemed more reasonable than £5 to park by the Botanical Gardens. The slope is very steep but we just about managed it with the pushchair.
Written October 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
RayeBow
Farnham, UK183 contributions
Very pretty small cove, quite busy. 5 minute walk from Botanical gardens.
Jun 2022 • Family
Lovely little cove that we wouldn’t have stumbled across if it hadn’t been for Trip Advisor! Having said that, maybe it should have remained more of a secret as it was very busy.

A very pretty cove, with a restaurant and a cafe and a pastie shack. Toilets that are maintained by the locals.

We parked at the Botanical gardens, walked past the cricket ground and then down the lane (signposted) where I believe there is a public car park (best check though). We turned down the signposted walk to Steephill Cove. We took the steps and there is a slope too.

It took us about 5 minutes to walk.

We also walked down the coastal path to Ventnor and back again. It took 15-20 minutes to walk there.

We had lunch in the cove. Other people played on the beach and swam in the sea. There are a few cottages there and you can hire deckchairs and paddle boards. There is a path that runs between the cottages and the beach and lots of lovely flowers and greenery there and down the steps to the cove. It’s very pretty.
Written June 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
elsapelsadogsa
Banbury, UK10 contributions
Sadly in decline. Becoming commercial, overpriced and smelly.
Aug 2021
Ths used to be a beautiful 'secret' cove with little coffee shops furnished with real mugs and honesty boxes for deckchairs.Now it's a rather more commercial enterprise with cheap gifts and cardboard cups(possibly just a covid thing) and paddle board hire. From the quaint Victorian, it's verging on 21st century . Not only that but at the time of our visit it absolutely stank of sewers. Apparently, it's the seaweed but it's vile. £3.50/deckchair and lunch was a delight in the cafe on the end but otherwise my love affair with Steephill is over after so many years of happiness there.Visually it's pretty grim and everyone entering teh sea had to wade through what looked like sludgy seaweed; for the first time we didn't bother. A HUGE disappointment and clean up required.
Written August 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
stevejackson375
Chelmsford, UK294 contributions
Amazing spot away from the crowds
Sep 2021 • Friends
A lovely spot on a sunny day! It’s a 25 minute walk from Ventnor but nice when you get here. Beach is stony and a bit rocky … not loads of flat places to sit but we found somewhere for our blankets and listened to the Jockin’. Sea was great to swim in but hard to walk out in as very rocky … bring some aqua shoes ! There is a cafe here for drinks and ice cream and a lovely crab shack (only open over lunch time) … you can also rent sups and kayaks. Highly recommended.
Written September 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Trent19
Burton upon Trent, UK164 contributions
Picnic on the Beach
Sep 2020
Visited for the afternoon after hearing about how pretty the cove is. We parked in the Botanical Gardens car park (£5) for the day and walked the 5 minutes to the cove down the steep steps. The beach is very pretty and we found a place on the rocks to eat our picnic. The beach is shingle and was wet as the tide was on it’s way out but there is plenty of places to perch on the rocks. We spent about an hour and a half there before attempting the climb back up - having the choice of steps or slope. Would recommend this pretty, quiet little cove.
Written September 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Michelle R
Lyndhurst, UK7 contributions
Fantastic hidden gem
Aug 2022 • Family
Visited this beautiful cove on the advice of reviews on Trip Advisor. Parked in the privae car park ( thank you for the recommendation) and put our £3 in the honestly box at the top of Love Land and walked down the steps to the bottom. There was also a steep path option.

The beach was moderately busy but for a hot August day, not as busy as you'd expect. We had coffee in the Cafe and spent time exploring the rock pools and paddling in the shallows.
Although my son is older, this would be an excellent place to bring my chdren when they were smaller.

Decided to try the pasties from The Crab Shack, these were hot and delicious .

Highly recommended and definitely worth the walk down to the cove.
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dan B
London368 contributions
Tranquil
Jun 2022
Very pretty place. Nice and tranquil. We went on a changeable weather day so perhaps was less busy but people were still going into the sea on kayaks and lots of walkers with dogs passed by. The walk down is fairly steep so perhaps not appropriate for the elderly.
Written June 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jackie W
18 contributions
Our favourite
Sep 2021
A beautiful bay with excellent cafe and Crab Shed for pasties (though they were all sold out both times we went!). The sea is tranquil and the beach shelves gradually giving very safe areas for swimming. Three ways to get there - all steep and it has to be on foot, but well worth it!
Written September 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Steven P
49 contributions
Pretty place
Aug 2021
Nice walk from ventnor along the coastal path. Tide was in and the place was busy. You can hire deck chairs and loungers but space is at a premium. This had that faded glory look, closed shops and places to eat. There was one small coffee and tea shop and there is a toilet behind the lighthouse run by the locals which is a nice touch as you are a long way from any other public toilets.
Written August 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Steephill Cove Beach (Ventnor) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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