Newtown River is located on the northern coast of the Isle of Wight between the Medina and the Western Yar and forms an integral part of the Solent's estuarine system. It is a National Nature Reserve and supports nationally important and threatened wildlife. The estuary is a particularly significant feeding and over-wintering ground for waders and other wildfowl.
The landscape of the Newtown River has changed little over the centuries and it is an area rich in features of historical interest. Newtown, also known as Francheville, was established as a 'Free Town' by the Bishop of Winchester in 1256. The site was chosen because of its deep and sheltered harbour, saltworks and shellfish beds. The town flourished for many years until the combination of a French raid on the town in 1377 and the gradual silting up of the harbour led to a loss of trade. Newtown was soon replaced as the Island's main port by the larger ports at Yarmouth and Newport and the population gradually diminished.
The estuary came under the protection of the National Trust in 1965. Local yachtsmen and naturalists raised funds for its purchase following a proposal to develop a nuclear power station at Hamstead. It remains a beautiful, tranquil and unspoilt area of the Island.
Anchorages and moorings
The best water in both the Newtown River and Clamerkin Lake has moorings and the only anchorages with any depth, about 1.8m LAT, will be found at the lower end of Clamerkin Lake clear of the moorings, and beyond the upper limit of the moorings to the west of the clearly marked limits of the oyster beds.
At the mouth of Clamerkin Lake shelter is poor in strong northerly winds and there can also be quite a nasty chop here with a fresh southerly wind against the flood. However, further up Clamerkin Lake , the shelter improves, with good holding in mud.
The only other possible anchorage, which is suitable for most RIBs, is to the south of the moorings in the Newtown River off the entrance to Western Haven, just before you reach the oyster bed limits that are clearly marked. Short stay for a RIB should be around £5. National Trust members are entitled to a 50% discount.
Many visitors use the moorings provided by the National Trust. These are large white and numbered buoys with red pick up buoys arranged in two well defined groups in the first reach of the Newtown River and Clamerkin Lake . They are normally in position from April to October. Visitors may also lie on the private, pink, mooring buoys if they not in use. Rafting is only allowed with the Harbour Masters permission, and is strictly limited to no more than two boats to a buoy. It is not possible to reserve a mooring. Newtown River can be very overcrowded at weekends in the summer.
There is a 5 knot speed limit. Peace and quiet in delightful surroundings are the main attractions of Newtown River and that is why most visitors come here.
Facilities
The almost complete lack of any development makes the Newtown River so unique means that the few facilities are well removed from the water, but this in itself is another attraction for they are a pleasant dinghy ride and walk away.
There is a landing place just upstream of the Newtown moorings at Newtown Quay on the eastern shore by the black National Trust boathouse. Be warned that this dries at LW.
The boathouse is next to a narrow wooden catwalk across the saltings. The public footpath leads up the hill to Newtown Village. There are no shops or pubs in Newtown Village.
There are just a few well preserved cottages and the church. By the Harbour Master's house, Hollis Cottage, you will find a phone and post box. However, a short distance beyond stands the most intriguing building of all, the Old Town Hall. This dates from 1699 and was made redundant when Newport's status as a borough was removed. It now run by the National Trust and is open to the public between April to September.
On the western shore opposite Newtown Quay there is a private jetty with one path leading to the beach and the coastal footpath to Yarmouth, and the other leading to Lower Hamstead farm.
Further upstream the river divides into three arms, Causeway Lake to the east, Shalfleet Lake and smaller Corf Lake in the centre and Western Haven to the west. There are a number of drying mooring as you enter Shalfleet Lake and to starboard lies the old quay where once ships regularly lay discharging coal and loading grain. Here there is a small boatyard where it is possible to land.
The rough road and footpath takes you the final half mile to the object of most visitor's interest, the New Inn which is on the corner by the main Newport to Yarmouth Road. It is the only watering hole within reach of the water but make sure of the tide as a many a good evening has ended in a long wait in the dark for the flood tide to return to Shalfleet Quay!
Apart from the pub, Shalfleet has a Post Office and a general store. These are just a few minutes away if you cross the main road opposite the pub and walk up the lane behind the church and then turn left when you reach Warlands Lane.