Anchoring in Osborne Bay - Isle of Wight

[Windfall]

Not sure if this is the right forum - but I'll take my chances.

We are thinking that we might anchor in Osborne Bay Sunday evening. Haven't done so since BC and am wondering if it's still permissible to land on the beach. We're sailing with an 8 & a 5 year old, plus dog, and will need somewhere to run off some steam.

Thanks in anticipation of some words of wisdom

Sharon

 

[chubby]

unless things have changed recently they seem to actively discourage landing on the beach, saying you are below the HW mark doesn`t cut much ice with the security guards either!
There is a better anchorage just outside Newtown entrance where you can land and BBQ etc, or just east of Hurst outside Keyhaven if you are looking for anchorages without going in somewhere

 

[l'escargot]

No, landing in Osborne Bay is not permitted. The "below high water mark" doesn't apply on the IW - Queen Victoria had the law (Magna Carta?) changed by an act of parliament and shoreside properties "own" the land down to the low water mark. Go up Wootton Creek and some of the owners will even try to prevent you from anchoring on their "land" at high water - doesn't apply though, if there is water on it, it is public.

 

[BlueChip]

I read that the 'right to roam' legislation is being extended to included all beaches. Would give me great pleasure to 'roam' on the beach at osborne

 

[chrisD]

Couldn't agree more. Having lived in the "land of the free" for a while, where you need an annual permit only available to locals to even set foot on many beaches, I have appreciated even more than ever that the right to roam beaches, footpaths and mountains is one of the most wonderful things about this country.