About 6 miles (9.6km) from Freshwater Bay to Grange Chine below Brighstone, which takes 2.5 to 3 hours. The climb onto Afton Down at the start is the only big one. After that it is open clifftop grass, mostly near the Military Road, crossing a string of chines.
This is the fossil coast. At low tide you can see dinosaur footprint casts on the ledges at Hanover Point, at the east end of Compton Bay. The whole stage is King Charles III England Coast Path: section IOW5 to Chilton Chine (opened September 2025) and IOW4 beyond it (opened 9 September 2026).
Small certificated site · Freshwater · on the doorstep off the path
0.5 miles into the stage · Members' CL on the golf course above Freshwater Bay, at the start.
Members only · join the Caravan and Motorhome Club to stay
Caravans, motorhomes
Prices on request
ViewGlamping site · Yarmouth · 0.9 miles off the path
1.4 miles into the stage
Safari tents, cabins, pods, chalets, lodges
from £125/night
ViewFarm campsite · Brook · 0.3 miles off the path
2.1 miles into the stage · Farm site a quarter mile inland from Compton Bay, about 2 miles in.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans, bell tents
Prices on request
ViewHoliday park · Brighstone · on the doorstep off the path
Near the end, Brighstone (Grange Chine) · Clifftop site with the path along its edge, just before Grange Chine.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, chalets
from £18/night
ViewFarm campsite · Brighstone · on the doorstep off the path
Near the end, Brighstone (Grange Chine) · By the path at Grange Chine, the end of the stage, with small hiker pitches.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, pods, static caravans
from £23/night
ViewNo campsites match all of those.
From Freshwater Bay climb east onto Afton Down, then follow Compton Down above the long sweep of Compton Bay, 1.8 miles in, with National Trust toilets at the car park. The path keeps near the cliff past Compton Chine and Hanover Point, where erosion has pushed it inland in places, then crosses Brook Chine and Chilton Chine.
Beyond Chilton Chine it passes Brighstone Holiday Centre to Grange Chine. The old footbridge at the mouth of the chine was lost to storms, so the path now crosses inland by the Military Road viaduct on a new route, with steps and a footbridge built in spring 2026.
Afton Down: part of footpath F35 along the clifftop is closed because a void has opened next to the path. The diversion, which is also the official England Coast Path line, crosses to the north of the Military Road and uses byway F33 and bridleway F34 over the golf course. The council asks for extreme caution if you walk the road verge instead.
Brighstone: footpaths BS59 and BS69 behind Brighstone Holiday Centre remain closed by landslips. Use the Military Road verge, or footpaths BS61 and BS62, Chilton Lane and footpath BS68 on the inland side.
Route 12 links both ends about every 2 hours, stopping at Freshwater Bay, Compton Bay, Mottistone Manor and Brighstone (Three Bishops), about a kilometre inland from Grange Chine. There is nothing to buy on the cliffs. Freshwater Bay has toilets at Gate Lane and the Albion Hotel. Brighstone village has toilets in the car park and the Three Bishops pub.
On the rock ledges around Hanover Point at the east end of Compton Bay, visible at low tide. Check tide times and keep away from the foot of the cliffs.
Yes. The weekday closure near Brighstone for the Grange Chine path works began on 2 March 2026, and the new route opened on 9 September 2026. Two short diversions use the road verge, so take care.
