Needles Battery on the Isle of Wight

Clinging to the cliffs above the needles, the Needles Battery hosts the most extreme tearoom on the island, reached by the most exhilarating bus ride high over the cliffs (and close to the edge). The battery is awash with military history, giving you that ‘ it’s like being there’ feel. Kids can make use of the explorer backpacks and find out what it is like to be ‘on watch’. The tea room (located in a look out tower) serves home cooked locally grown and produced food. Binoculars are on hand for those wishing to ‘take a watch’ out to sea.

The needles site had an important defence role for the island and nearby Portsmouth and was owned by the MOD until 1975. The secret rocket testing site is also located here – an impressive piece of industrial heritage. The stories of those who served here have been brought to life to give the battery a real sense of living history. Coming here is about experiencing military history in its original setting and getting to know what it was like to live life ‘on the edge’

Needles Old Battery (National Trust)
West Highdown,
Totland,
Isle of Wight
PO39 0JH

Web
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/isleofwight
Email
isleofwight@nationaltrust.org.uk
Tel No
01983 754772