National Trust - The Needles Old Battery and New Battery — Attraction in Totland

A National Trust property and a historical site.

The Needles are at the Western End of the Isle of Wight, looking out over the English Channel.

The Old Battery was set up to defend Britain against invasion by Napoleon; and it was enlarged and modernised to provide the same protection during WW2.

It's quite a small site, with relatively few things to see compared to others, but it is still well worth the effort. It's only open for about 7 months of the year.

There is no parking at or near the site, but you can get a bus from just outside the Needles Attraction; note that those with National Trust membership can get a reduced fare on the bus for return tickets.

However, the bus drops you off in a turning point, and the walk down to the battery is quite steep; and the walk back up is rather punishing. It's certainly not appropriate for those with reduced mobility.

Alternatively, you can walk along a narrow path close to the cliff edge, to a bus stop on the road by the turn on the road.

There are a few seating places around the site, and these can be very welcome.

Just a bit further on from the bus turning point is the site where the British rockets "Black Knight" and "Black Arrow" were tested out.

Within the main battery site, there is a very small refreshment area for drinks and ice creams.

Quite possibly not a site to visit more than once, but certainly worth the time taken to go...

Enjoyed this visit, despite rather dissapointing weather. Obviously we had hoped for a glorious day and clear views of the Needles, we got low cloud and very intermittent views. However there is plenty to look at still. The old battery being a gun emplacement is full of information about the handling and preparation of gunpowder, and how the shells were made and prepared either fused or unfused, and how they were selected depending on the target. I would recommend descending the stairs and taking a walk to the searchlight station, good views from there. There's also a working model of the retracting drawbridge down some steps to the left as you enter. There's an ice cream shop by the entrance and an unusual cafe for the mandatory (for us) national trust cream tea. This is upstairs with what should normally be spectacular views, they even provide binoculars. It was nearly always in the cloud the day we were there. Parking is at 'The Needles Experience', which is a different place entirely (rides and shops), from there its a fair walk along a cliff path, 10-15mins, to get to the old battery. There is also the new battery and a viewloint further up the hill, but due to the weather we skipped those. Earlier in the week the place had been closed due to high winds so pick your day to...

Visiting The Needles Old Battery with the whole family was like stepping into a living storybook — one written in stone, salt, and sea breeze. As we wandered through the tunnels and looked out over the towering chalk stacks rising from the deep blue, it was as if we could still smell the echoes of history lingering in the air. There’s something incredibly romantic about the way time has touched this place. The whispers of soldiers who once stood watch, the distant hum of warships that once roamed the Solent, and the steady heartbeat of nature surrounding it all — it creates a feeling that’s both nostalgic and powerful. The children were fascinated by the underground rooms and cannon placements, while we adults stood quietly for a moment, gazing out over the cliffs, imagining life here during times of both peace and war. It was more than a visit — it was a shared moment across generations, wrapped in stories, sea mist, and awe. The Needles Old Battery is not just a historic site — it’s a place where you feel history, where romance and resilience are etched into the landscape. A truly unforgettable...