This walk takes us along the spectacular Southwest coastline of the Island. It is on this coast that many important Dinosaur and fossil finds are made. Changing from chalk cliffs to sandstone and soft clays the coastline is under constant threat of erosion and walkers must take care when walking near the cliff edge.

 

 

The walk starts from Freshwater Bay and follows the coastal path as it gently climbs towards the road on Compton Down. Now we descend as we head towards Hanover Point where at low tide we can see the remains of a fossilised forest and if you wish to divert down to the beach with a bit of luck some dinosaur footprints. Just ahead is Brook Bay and here we take a slight detour inland to take lunch at the 500 year old Sun Inn at Hulverstone. Returning to the coastal path the walk mirrors the Military road, which lies just a short distance inland.

 

This coastline is split in a great many places by chines! These are small ravines leading from the land down to the seashore the most famous being Blackgang Chine, which falls to the sea from just below the great Gore Cliff. We shall pass Chiltern, Grange, Marsh, Cowleaze, Shepherds and Whale chine before we reach our destination at Chale.

 

 

During the 18th and 19th centuries this area was famous for its smuggling and shipwrecking activities and in 1836 the East Indiaman Clarendon was run onto rocks during a great storm.

 

 

 

Chale church where we end this walk is well worth a look around. As you can imagine there are many references to this part of the Island's maritime history in the churchyard.