What tent pegs do I need for the Isle of Wight?

It depends where you pitch. Strong steel or rock pegs for the thin turf over chalk on the downs, sand pegs near the beach, and standard or longer pegs on the clay farm fields. Bring a mallet.

Is it windy camping on the Isle of Wight?

It can be, especially on the downs and the south-west coast, which face the prevailing south-westerly wind. Peg out every guy line and ask the campsite for its most sheltered corner.

Can I buy camping supplies on the Isle of Wight?

Yes. There are large supermarkets in Newport, Ryde, Cowes, Freshwater and around Sandown Bay, village shops across the Island, and 28 of the campsites we list have their own shop.

Can I take camping gas on the Isle of Wight ferry?

Rules differ by operator and by whether you travel with a vehicle or on foot, so check with the ferry company before you go. If you're on foot, it's simpler to buy gas on the Island.

What clothes should I pack for camping on the Isle of Wight?

Layers, a windproof waterproof jacket, a warm layer for evenings even in summer, sun protection, and shoes with grip for chalk and clay paths.

What to Pack for Camping on the Isle of Wight

In short: pack for wind before rain. The Island is sunny by British standards, but the downs and the south-west coast are exposed, sea mist can roll in on a fine day, and the ground ranges from thin chalk to soft sand. Bring strong pegs and guy lines, layers and a waterproof, and leave the bulky stuff behind if you're on foot: the Island has big supermarkets and 28 campsites with their own shop.

Tent, pegs and the ground

The Island has three kinds of ground, often within a few miles of each other, and they need different pegs.

Chalk downs (the West Wight, Brighstone, the downs above Ventnor): a thin layer of turf over hard chalk and flint. Thin wire pegs bend. Bring strong steel or rock pegs and a mallet.
Clay and greensand (most farm sites inland and along the south-west coast): easy in summer, soft and greasy after rain. Standard pegs hold, but longer ones grip better when it's wet.
Sand and shingle near the beach: ordinary pegs pull out. Wide sand pegs, or a bag of extra-long ones, save a lot of bother.

Whatever the ground, peg every guy line out, not just the ones the instructions call essential. Most Island campsites are in open fields, and a south-westerly coming off the Channel finds any slack.

Pitch nose to the wind. On an exposed field, put the low end or the narrow end of the tent towards the south-west, where the weather usually comes from, and keep the door on the sheltered side. Ask at reception which corner of the field is calmest; they'll know.

Tent checklist

Tent with a full-length flysheet, plus a spare guy line and a couple of spare pegs.
Steel or rock pegs for chalk, sand pegs if you're near the beach, and a mallet.
A footprint or groundsheet: the clay stays damp under a tent after rain.
A small repair kit: pole splint, tape, a few cable ties.

Clothes for wind, sun and sea mist

The Island gets more sunshine than most of Britain and the south coast is mild, but the weather changes quickly on the tops. A warm afternoon on the beach can turn into a cold evening on a clifftop field, and in spring and early summer sea mist can sit along the coast while it's sunny a mile inland. Layers work better than one big coat.

A windproof and waterproof jacket. On the downs the wind matters more than the rain.
A warm layer for evenings, even in August.
Sun hat and sun cream: there's little shade on the downs or the Coastal Path.
Walking shoes with grip. Chalk paths are slippery when wet and the clay ones are muddy for days after rain.
Swimming things and something to change under on the beach. The sea is warmest in late summer and early autumn.

Sleeping bags: a three-season bag is right from May to September; outside that, or if you feel the cold, go warmer. Nights on the open downs and the Back of the Wight are cooler than in the towns. Camping out of season? See autumn and winter camping.

Cooking and the campsite

Stove and fuel. If you're coming as a foot passenger, buy gas on the Island rather than carrying it: check the ferry company's rules on gas cartridges before you travel.
Windshield for the stove. A breeze on an open field doubles cooking time.
Cool box, if you have a car. Some campsites, such as Grange Farm at Brighstone Bay, will freeze ice packs for you; ask at reception.
Head torch. Many small and farm campsites are deliberately unlit, which is why the stars are so good (see stargazing).
A refillable water bottle: there are few taps on the open sections of the downs and the coast.

Planning a campfire or barbecue? Many campsites allow raised fire pits or BBQs but not fires on the ground, and the rules differ site by site. Read campfires and BBQs before you pack a fire bowl, or browse the campsites that allow campfires.

What you can buy on the Island

You don't need to bring a week's food. The Island has big supermarkets in Newport, Ryde, Cowes, Freshwater and around Sandown Bay, and village shops in most places in between. 28 of the campsites we list have a shop on site, usually for milk, bread and basics; they're listed under campsites with a shop.

How far each campsite is from the nearest shop of any kind, from village stores to supermarkets.

Every campsite page names its nearest shop and how far it is. If you're on foot or on a bike, use that to decide what to carry in and what to buy on arrival. Farm shops and roadside stalls are common too, especially in the middle of the Island around Arreton and Godshill.

Forgotten something big? Ring your campsite before you buy a replacement: The Hydeaway near Cowes, for one, hires out camping stoves and cooking kit. And if your tent gives up, most glamping comes with beds and a kitchen, so a night or two in a pod or bell tent can rescue the trip.

Packing for the ferry

How you cross shapes what you can bring.

By car: fares are banded by length and height, so a roof box or bike rack can push you into a dearer band. Measure with everything fitted.
On foot: a rucksack and tent are no problem on any crossing, but you'll carry them on and off and on to a bus or train. Pack light enough to walk a mile with it.
By bike: panniers and a small tent; see cycling round the Island.

More on crossing with kit in taking a tent on the ferry, and on getting from the boat to your pitch in camping without a car.

Island-specific extras

Tide times. Beaches below the cliffs at Compton, Brook and Yaverland cut off at high tide. Check the tide before a beach walk or a fossil hunt (see fossil hunting).
Binoculars. For the ships in the Solent, the birds on the estuaries at Newtown, and the Needles.
Lead and poo bags if you bring a dog: sheep and cattle graze the downs. See camping with dogs.
A small day pack for the Coastal Path and the inland trails.
Cash. Most places take cards, but some farm sites, honesty boxes and stalls don't.

When you're ready to pick a pitch, tent camping lists every campsite that takes tents, and the map shows them all at once.

What to pack for an Isle of Wight camping trip