Explore Brighstone & Chale: Your Guide to Isle of Wight Villages

Located on the south west coast of the Isle of Wight, Brighstone and Chale can be found in a part of the Island known as the ‘Back of the Wight’.

These charming villages, along with several other villages and hamlets scattered in between, offer a mix of coastal and countryside experiences. Featuring thatched cottages, historic buildings and dramatic cliffs along the coast. They have connections to shipwrecks and fossil discoveries.

A brief history of Brighstone and Chale

Brighstone and Chale have histories that date back to the Bronze Age, with signs of Roman and Norman settlements.

Brighstone is known for its ancient church and historic village life, showcasing remnants of Roman farms, Norman manors (now farms and homes), and buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Chale, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book, is known for its links to smuggling and the well-known Blackgang Chine.

Nowadays, Brighstone and Chale attract tourists with their thatched cottages, local shops, and ties to shipwrecks and fossil hunting. In 2021, a newly discovered dinosaur species was named Brighstoneus simmondsi to honour the fact that its fossilised remains were found at a nearby excavation site.

Things to do

Discover things to do in Brighstone and Chale, including fossil hunting, pearl picking and historical walks.

Walk up St Catherine’s Down, and you’ll reach one of the highest (and blusteriest) points on the Island, where you’ll find St Catherine’s Oratory. Affectionately referred to by Islanders as ‘The Pepperpot‘, this sturdy stone building is the only remnant of an oratory (or chapel) built in 1328 by local landowner Walter de Godeton. He was ordered to build the oratory as a form of penance for taking a shipment of white wine from a ship bound for a monastery in the French region of Picardy.

Located in Brighstone, Isle of Wight Pearl boasts an extensive collection of stunning pearl jewellery. You can enjoy a pick-a-pearl experience and watch as it’s opened and set into a beautiful piece of jewellery for a truly unique day. Relax in the café that offers a variety of dishes and light snacks while soaking in the stunning panoramic views of the English Channel.

In Mottistone, near Brighstone, you can explore Mottistone Gardens and Estate. Stroll through the enchanting garden featuring vibrant herbaceous borders, terraces brimming with shrubs and stunning sea views. A few rooms in the manor are open, including a second-hand bookshop, and there’s a delightful tea garden.

Opening in 2013, The Dinosaur Expeditions, Conservation and Palaeoart Centre is located at the Dinosaur Farm on Military Road near Brighstone. Showcasing exhibits of dinosaur fossils from the Isle of Wight and beyond, a Palaeoart display, various fun activities for kids and a fossil shop. You can also join one of the experienced, professional guides for a Fossil Hunting Trip at one of the Island’s beaches, where you can discover your own fossils and keep everything you find.

Located in a large barn in Chale Green, Canopy Skatepark aim to provide an all-weather skateboarding venue for teaching, practising and competing. Designed and built for recreation and education, it welcomes skateboarders of all levels, from beginners to pro-skaters.

Discover more things to do on the Isle of Wight by visiting our attractions page.

Places to stay

The Isle of Wight offers some fantastic places to stay, and Brighstone and Chale are no exception. From holiday cottages and lakeside camping to self-catering apartments and clifftop caravans.

Located above Grange Chine, Grange Farm offers easy access to the sandy beach and picturesque views of the chine and Brighstone Forest. You can choose to camp, pick a pod, shepherd’s hut or book a cottage or static caravan. Located on a small working farm where you can see animals including alpacas, pigs, goats and chickens. The whole area is ideal for cycling, fishing, fossil hunting – a walker’s paradise. Plus an array of watersports, including kayaking, surfing and paddleboarding.

Accommodating anywhere from 2 to 16 guests, Chale Bay Farm features four air-conditioned, family-friendly, self-catering apartments. You can book the apartments individually or together, and include a room-only option, small gym and sauna.

Situated in Atherfield, close to Chale, Atherfield Green Farm Holiday Cottages offer the choice of four cottages, all of which are accessible for guests with disabilities. This spot is perfect for walkers and cyclists, featuring quiet lanes, footpaths, and the nearby Downland that provides amazing views across the Island. For a small additional charge, the holiday cottages are dog-friendly.

Warren Hill Camp is a small family-run glamping site located on a former dairy farm with beautiful scenery, walks, cycle trails, stunning beaches and freedom to roam. Stay in one of the spacious Bell tents, which can accommodate up to four people. Everything you need for a perfect camping trip is provided, including linen, a mini fridge, 240v plug sockets, cooking equipment and crockery.

Discover more places to stay on the Isle of Wight by visiting our accommodation page.

Food & Drink

Brighstone and Chale are home to plenty of eateries, with multiple traditional pubs, cafés and tearooms.

Positioned slightly inland at Chale, The Wight Mouse Inn enjoys spectacular views out to The Needles, Tennyson Down and beyond. The menu features traditional home-cooked pub favourites and local beers. Plus, there’s a large south-facing beer garden, with play areas for kids both indoors and outdoors.

Located in the charming village of Brighstone, The Three Bishops focuses on seasonal ingredients and flavours. With something for everyone on the menu, it’s the ideal spot to sit back, relax and treat yourself to some tasty food and drink.

Set in the heart of Shorwell village, The Crown Inn is the perfect pub for all the family. With a large beer garden wrapping around the side of the pub, sit under the umbrellas, grab a drink and relax. Famous on the Island for its stream, which is home to fresh water trout and hosts duck races, where rubber ducks are raced down the stream to raise money for charity.

Tandem Tea Rooms is a locally run business in the village of Brighstone. The tearooms are open to serve delicious breakfasts, lunches, cakes and cream teas. Aiming to bring great food to the community at an affordable price, using local suppliers and products.

Discover more places to eat and drink on the Isle of Wight by visiting our eating out page.

Events in Brighstone and Chale

Brighstone and Chale host a range of events all year round, including country fayres, summer shows and even a Christmas tree festival.

The Wolverton Folk & Blues Fair takes place in May and is a one-day festival celebrating folk and blues music set in the beautiful grounds of Wolverton Manor.

The Wolverton Manor Garden Fair is the largest garden fair on the Isle of Wight, providing family-friendly fun for everyone. You can enjoy a variety of live shows, Elizabethan re-enactments, vintage tractor and engine displays, spinners, weavers, embroiderers, lacemakers, magic with Randini and food trucks. Plus, there’s a showground featuring over 170 garden and craft exhibitors displaying their goods.

Starting in 1920, The Chale Show has grown from a small-scale village show. This traditional country show now attracts thousands of visitors and guests. Enjoy a wide selection of delicious local produce, fascinating displays and presentations, crafts stalls, rides and a great community atmosphere.

The Brighstone Summer Show is held at Warnes Lane Playing Field. You can find the Brighstone and District Horticultural Society marquee there, along with stalls, refreshments, a bar, a raffle, and some entertainment. The entertainment lineup has featured a variety of local dance and music performances, classic cars, tractors and free craft activities for kids.

Taking place at various venues around Brighstone, Calbourne and Mottistone, the Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival is a free event that happens every December. Since it started in 1996, this festival has raised almost £150,000 for charities on the Isle of Wight and beyond. Be sure to visit their Facebook page to see which locations will showcase more than 150 beautifully decorated Christmas trees.

For more events happening in Brighstone, Chale and across the Isle of Wight, check out our what’s on guide.