For many years Bembridge was isolated from the main island, cut off at high tide by Brading Haven, an embankment was built in 1880 which finally shut the sea out. Since then the village has grown from a few hamlets to one of the island’s most fashionable locations.

Bembridge village has a variety of shops, pubs and restaurants, and Bembridge Airport has the only all-weather runway on the island. The airport has a successful gliding club, and offers pleasure flights.

There are some superb walks radiating from Bembridge along the pebbly beach, which is dotted with rock pools where children (and their dads) will find plenty lurking under the water. Bembridge lifeboat station is located along the beach and you can visit the RNLI shop, just on the parade at Lane End, or take a walk along the 200-yard pier to see inside the station, where there are some fascinating pictures and records of the rescues undertaken by the unsung heroes of the RNLI.

These buses will get you to Bembridge.
Click on a route number for full details.

One of the island’s best known landmarks is Bembridge Windmill, the only surviving windmill on the island. It was built circa 1700 of stone with a wooden cap, and is now a Grade I listed building. It is situated just south of the village, and has fantastic views of the surrounding countryside as well as over the harbour and across the Solent. It has been painted by many artists including Turner, who sketched it in 1795.

It was last used to as a flour mill in 1897, and from that year until 1915, it was used to grind cattle feed. The windmill was given to the National Trust in 1962, and still has its original 18th century machinery intact.

The nearest bus stop to the windmill is at Steyne Cross,
on route 8.

The windmill is open from Saturday 14th March – Sunday 1st November 2009
from 11am – 5pm