Norton Spit

Norton Spit is a small section of beach just to the west of Yarmouth, its is often overlooked and therefore can be a good spot for summer evenings when some of the other Island beaches can still be very busy. It forms the western side of Yarmouth Harbour and there are nice views back across the Mariana to Yarmouth itself as well as views along the length of the Solent. The Beach itself is rather unusual for the Island in that there is a small dune structure behind the beach which is home to a variety for grasses and wild flowers, including Sea Holly in July. Its a good location for a summer sunset as the sun is setting in the north west and casting light across the beach as it sets. It is also a good option for summer sunrises as the sun rises in the north eastern sky along the Solent, however its a spot that has opportunities throughout the year.

Getting there:

Norton Spit is a straightforward location to get to, and very accessible with just a short flat walk required.

From Newport take the A3054 Forest Road which goes all the way to Yarmouth. On arriving in the Village there is a large car park on the left hand side just next to the old school building. If you reach the Ferry port you have gone too far, there is a roundabout you can use to turn road and find the car park. The car park is a pay and display car park.

Once parked there is a path alongside the River Yar which takes you to the main road next to the Harbour Bridge, Cross the bridge and continue to walk along the road, there is a pavement the whole way. Cross the road once the pavement on the other side starts. On the Sharp bend in the road there is a path to the right which takes you towards the esplanade walk around the Fort Victoria. Turn right once past the lagoon and walk towards the visible yacht masts of Yarmouth Harbour and Norton Spit is on your left hand side as you walk towards the harbour.

Alternatively it is possible to park at Fort Victoria and walk back to Yarmouth along the side of the Solent, this will bring you to Norton Spit just before you reach the road into Yarmouth.

What to Shoot:

The Spit and the view towards the headland at Fort Victoria form the main interest here, using the grasses and wildflower as foreground interest with the curve of the bay flowing into the distance. There are also Groynes leading out into the Solent that can be used for that classic long exposure shot.

For sunrise the view from the western end of the beach allows the same curve of the bay to be used with the backdrop of Yarmouth Harbour and Yarmouth itself. The Harbour breakwater is an interesting feature that can be utilised too.

Beyond the beach there is a view across Yarmouth Harbour to Yarmouth Itself, this can be a nice spot at Sunrise especially in the summer when the sun comes up over the Solent to the right. At Sunset the boats in the Marina can catch lovely golden light, however the sun will be setting behind you so you need to be careful not to include your shadow in the image. There is a walkway down on to the jetties that can be used to provide interesting leading lines into the image. On a still morning the moored boats can reflect in the still waters of the marina.

Other Options:

Fort Victoria a short walk further west along the coast and has a range of interesting options for compositions with a nice beach and views across Hurst Narrows to Hurst Castle and the Lighthouse. This is the narrowest part of the Solent so the views across to the mainland are very clear.

Walking back to the car from Norton Spit the Yar Moorings are to the right of the Harbour Bridge and can provide interesting reflections of the yachts if the water is still. Continuing alongside the river there is the old watermill in Yarmouth and the causeway towards Freshwater which provides many interesting views and compositions across the Western Yar.