Welcome to the Freshwater Village Association

Freshwater is a large village on the Isle of Wight which is off the southern coast of England, not far from Southampton and Portsmouth. The village is situated in the west of the Island close to Yarmouth, where there are regular ferry crossings to Lymington. Click here for a map. The Parish of Freshwater, the largest on the Island, had a population of almost 5,500 at the census held in 2001.

The village is surrounded by open countryside, has safe bathing beaches and spectacular coastal scenery. It is an area popular with walkers, horseriders, water sports enthusiasts and and those wishing a more relaxed lifestyle. There is a modern sports centre, four banks, three post offices, an excellent medical centre and enough shops to make the village almost self sufficient.

A large percentage of Freshwater Parish is designated as an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Within the AONB is Afton Marsh, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and also has Local Nature Reserve (LNR) status. The Reserve is close to the village and is very popular with birdwatchers and botanists who wish to study the local flora and fauna.

The economy is farming, tourism and retail based. There are a number of small manufacturing facilities but none of these are major employers.