We just had a family day out at Bembridge. The man who took the landing fees made a point of personally welcoming everyone on arrival and asking if they had had a good day on departure. A nice touch.
We walked to the beach in Whitecliff bay along the side of the holiday park, which is nicer but hard work with a pushchair (in red on the map). The two cafés on the beach were closed but there were a couple of vans selling waffles and ice creams. We’ve not been to the Propeller Inn for 2 or 3 years, but the food was pretty good then. The kids had a swim (I wasn’t brave enough) and loads of fun on the beach. On a previous trip we walked on the rocks around the headland but you need to be careful as the tide can come in quickly.
We were planning on spending the afternoon at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary (ex Isle of Wight Zoo) which is just 7 minutes away, but missed the bus. The bus stop is at the entrance to the airfield/pub, which is convenient. A couple of minutes’ walk to the east the next bus stop (‘Duck Pond’, at Stanwell Barn on the map above) has a bench installed by the Boys’ brigade and might be a better place to wait. It’s route 8 with buses every hour (timetable and map; date will need changing). At the same stop for the zoo is also Dinosaur Isle. As we had missed the bus, we took one a few minutes later the other way, 15 minutes into Bembridge. There isn’t much to do there, but we had a walk around the village then went to look at the boats in the harbour. £2.50 adults, £1.25 children, under 5s free. With a pushchair the bus was perfect
The windmill is easily walkable and worth a visit. It’s run by the National Trust and only £6.00, but doesn’t last very long and involves a lot of climbing up and down ladders. There’s a footpath shortcut in red:
We’ve also previously been up the hill a few times to the Yarborough monument, the big pointy thing on the hill to the south. It’s a nice walk with good views from the top, a gun emplacement, a pub, café, and usually an ice cream van. Never been, but there’s also Bembridge fort, run by the National Trust.
Not been either, but apparently Bembridge lifeboat station is worth a visit too (currently closed due Covid).
Especially if I leave two seats at home. ;-)
That landing fee is not bad at all for an airfield with proper opening hours (SR-SS) and a low bullshit quotient.
Thanks. I would have waited for you but you weren’t picking up messages 
I use a Canon G7X for most stuff. Small enough to carry in a waistbag. RAW → Lightroom of course…
Nice pictures, that sea color deserve a proper camera than phone, I landed just as you depart,
I was heavy loaded, so only went to my usual spot 10min from the airport rather than going for a long 1h walk to the sauvage beach part 
Warrior II.
Sure, it’s not very 2020. But you post your cash through a letterbox situated to the RHS of the pub entrance and it falls a satisfyingly long drop. I’d expect it would be pretty hard to nick it, and more unlikely still given it’s the IOW.
Thread drift alert but has there being an A36 vs TB20 ownership debate thread?
Not that I know of. The A36 was sort of on my list in 2002 but was too expensive, and I felt too dated even in 2002 compared to the then ultra modern “Renault” which came ex-factory with every bit of avionics you could want. I vaguely recall the A36 was 500k in 2002, versus 195k for the TB20.
The box is actually in the Propeller Inn
I had a look around and saw nothing. The pub was shut, of course and the whole place was dead.
There is no need for this, in the 20th century, given they respond on email and you can pay by BACS. No need to leave bits of paper with a £20 note, which somebody might then nick (which then requires another email to check whether they got it).
In fact they should take paypal.
What do you fly, David?
Nice to see the relaxed atmosphere regarding opening time.
Many years ago I wanted to arrive “after hours” but was told in no uncertain terms that that would not be allowed. I guess BN still controlled the field then.
Looks like a nice place for a flyin.
Yes; most “company” airports are run for the company…
They could have provided a better pedestrian exit. That gate is a bugger to open the latch on, especially when trying to avoid touching it with bare hands which is today’s antivirus procedure
Once you come out of the airfield gate in your photo, is the footpath route down to the beach obvious or signposted?
The footpath start is obvious; it’s a few tens of m on the left.
The best route to the beach is according to google maps Probably depends on which beach you want. It took me about 45 mins but then I meander, taking pics, etc.
Seriously, we should have a fly-in. It is a “port of entry” via the GAR form. Well, almost nobody is flying today; people are still slowly waking up. Will have to be post-quarantine.
Really enjoyed the write up and photos. Thread drift alert but has there being an A36 vs TB20 ownership debate thread?
The Beechcraft retractable undercarriage has a reputation for toughness, of nearly Apache/Aztec standard, although the TB20 may have a comfortable cabin.
Peter wrote:
No “honesty box” was found despite there supposedly being one
The box is actually in the Propeller Inn, complete with envelopes and hand sanitiser. (Nice touch).
If one just wanted to walk to the beach and not Bembridge itself it’s about a 20min walk direct using the footpath and straight through Sandhills holiday park.
Nice to see the relaxed atmosphere regarding opening time.
Many years ago I wanted to arrive “after hours” but was told in no uncertain terms that that would not be allowed. I guess BN still controlled the field then.
Looks like a nice place for a flyin.
