Orchard Bay

Orchard Bay is a sandy bay and shingle beach on the south-east coast of the Isle of Wight, England. It lies to the south-west of the Ventnor Botanic Garden and just along the coast west from Steephill Cove. It faces south towards the English Channel, its shoreline is in length – of which is beach.
The bay can be accessed by a small footpath at the western end of the bay. The beach is dominated by a large seawall and Orchard House just above the high water mark. Orchard bay House was originally built in 1828 as three coastguard cottages in order to prevent smuggling but was in 1840 acquired for use in smuggling. It is currently let as holiday accommodation.

Smuggling

In 2002, Operation Eyeful resulted in a large seizure of cocaine and eight arrests by officers from HM [Customs & Excise], most based at their Shoreham Office. The combined sentence of the eight involved was 141 years imprisonment.