Walk 14 South Coast Path Chale to Brighstone - 6.5 miles

I had been waiting for a sunny day to set out to walk the south coastal path, and this is the first stage, from Chale Church to the Isle of Wight Pearl shop near Brighstone. It was wall to wall photo opportunities so it took me about 4 hours with a few detours en route.

At Chale Bay Farm this dinosaur was surveying his territory!

I walked the first 500m by road, as the coastal path loops around the edge of a field before rejoining the road to get around Whale Chine. Looking back along the Military Road you can just see the medieval lighthouse the Pepperpot, or St Catherine's Oratory on the top of St Catherine's Down.

There are quite a few llamas on the island and this bunch headed straight for the fence thinking I had food.

The coastal path is broken up by a number of chines, steep river valleys cut out of soft coastal sandstone and clay cliffs by a river flowing to the sea.The first on the route is Whale Chine, which is currently unstable and the steps to the beach are fenced off. This path is best walked in dry weather as the clay paths would be very slippery if wet.

Here the eroded cliff can be seen and section of landslip.

A very unfocused shot, but this is a Pyramidal Orchid, the County Flower of the Isle of Wight, which flowers profusely in the chalky grasslands around here

My favourite shot of the day, poppies growing in a field along the path.

This Adonis Blue butterfly was a bit fast for me but I just caught it settling on a Birdsfoot Trefoil.

Next comes Shepherd's Chine, one of the island's largest and now inaccessible. There is a cut across at the top end of the chine, but it is a rough, unstable path and it's easier to return to the road to bypass this chine.

In the 19th century these coastguard cottages were built just east of Shepherd's Chine near Atherfield Point, replacing an earlier coastguard station nearer the cliff edge.

A patch of Common Centaury caught my eye.

All along the path were rows of ox eye daisies.

There were several kitesurfers floating around, getting an even better view of the coastline than I had.

Sea thrift or Armeria flourishes in the chalk all along this coast.

A yacht race was also provided for my entertainment as I detoured around Cowleaze Chine, very thoughtful!

This is also the month for Red Campion, affording some colour to my yacht photos.

A fairy ring of huge toadstools, probably lethal!

A classic view of the white cliffs of Tennyson Down and The Needles.

The path is worryingly close to the edge in places.

A hang-glider and kite-surfer were circling around above Grange Chine. This chine can be crossed via a bridge before rejoining the path in the campsite.

The path has now fallen away behind the chalets of Brighstone Holiday Centre and the path is diverted through the grounds. I carried on, but on reaching Chilton Chine on the borders of the Isle of Wight Pearl land, I found the land had very risky looking large cracks, so I doubled back to the holiday centre to complete the last half mile or so along the road.

This is the first place along the route with facilities, other than the campsites which are just for residents. As well as a tempting choice of pearl jewellery, there are WCs and a cafeteria. The bus stop for trip back is just a little further along the road.

Full map and walk details

Walk Details
Start: Chale Church
Finish: Isle of Wight Pearl, Chilton Chine
Distance: 6.5 miles
Time: 4 hours with photostops
Bus: Route 6 runs from Newport to Ventnor via Chale all year, but the Island Coaster bus along the Military Rd is the only route from Chale to Freshwater Bay and only runs in the summer season, roughly every 2 hours between 10.30 and 4.30, so a bit of planning is needed.
Refreshments and WC: Wight Mouse Inn at Chale and Isle of Wight Pearl. Portacabin at Whale Chine car park.