We’ve wanted to visit the Isle of Wight for a long time, and one of my favourite subjects in photography is lighthouses.

Back when I drank, I never really appreciated the beauty England had to offer. Heading down south to see The Needles for the first time was something I’d been looking forward to for a while.

Based in Chichester for a week, we made a day of heading to Portsmouth Harbour and catching the ferry across. Leaving the south coast by sea and stepping away even if for just the day was worth it, and the crossing itself felt like part of the experience too.

From the ferry, it’s roughly an hour’s drive to the Needles base. We skipped the chairlift and walked down instead to take the boat.

Seeing the colourful cliff formations from the water gives a completely different perspective ~ the textures and the way the light a the rock is photogenic.

The tour of the Needles was as expected, and after the boat trip we drove up to the higher vantage points to take it in from above.

The conditions couldn’t have been better for how I like to shoot coastlines. Overcast skies softened everything, letting the colours come through without harsh contrast. The cliffs held this surreal tone ~ muted but still rich.

Boat trips are limited depending on the time of year, so it’s worth planning ahead.

~ Type of Walk: Coastal paths with steep sections, boat tour mandatory
~ Base: Isle of Wight
~ Equipment: Sturdy footwear, layers, camera,
~ Best Time to Visit: Ferry season is over spring & summer. Overcast or soft light for mood and colour
~ Company: Family, sea air, slow steps, shifting skies

Photography & Words: Scott Woolley. Shot on Leica Q1 ~ August 2025.