Niton
Niton village is split into two halves by a break in the inner cliff large enough to
house the main road through Niton to Ventnor.
Upper Niton lies in a hollow
and is set around a crossroads. In this area you will find a church, an 8-til-late
shop, bookshop and hardware store, pub, public lavatories, doctors surgery,
pharmacist, post office and coffee shop. Very recently, a well known potter
has established a workshop in the village and although most items are made
for the London market, some items may be available for local purchase.
The display also shows items made by pupils in the nearby village primary school.
The village church yard holds the memorial to Edward Edwards, a co-founder
of the British Public Library system and the village houses a small but well
supported village library, run by local volunteers. The church was founded by William FitzOsborn and given to an abbey in Normandy until Victorian times when it was extensively restored and rebuilt. Adjoining the church graveyard you will see Manor Farm with its lovely stone farmhouse.
Travelling down the main road towards St Lawrence you will come to the lower village which was a small fishing hamlet until the 19th Century. This part of Niton flourished due to the popularity of Ventnor as a health resort and many Mansions and holiday cottages were built here. There is a pub at the Undercliff called the Buddle Inn. It has a stream running through the garden and a splendid view overlooking the sea. Opposite are steps leading down to Castle Cove with its history of smugglers and ghosts.
Further along Undercliff Road in a Westerly direction you will come to a lane leading to St Catherine's point and Lighthouse. At the lane end is a car park from where you can walk over a beautiful area of undulating countryside, an area popular with birdwatchers and walkers alike. This is the most southerly point on the Island. So Niton, although small, has much to offer. Much of the original village
charm has been preserved and Niton is an ideal base for many scenic walks.
