There are plenty of opportunities to stargaze on the island, especially along the Military Road in the south of the island. The best spots with carparks are Freshwater Bay, Compton Bay, Brook Chine, Whale Chine, Culver Down and Yaverland. More remote locations with darker skies include Brighstone Cliff, the Needles Headland, St Catherine’ Down, Brading Down and Mottistone. The Isle of Wight Observatory near Newchurch is frequently open to the public for regular stargazing sessions along with the Island Planetarium, near Yarmouth, which also has an astrodome theatre.
Whilst you are on the Isle of Wight why not try:
Walk to the Isle of Wight’s highpoint on St Boniface Down
Enjoy a swim and crab pasty at Steephill Cove
The Needles and Tennyson Down circular walk
Circular walk St Catherine’s Oratory
