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Shanklin Chine:
A top attraction for tourists
- and for PLUTO!
Shanklin Chine has been delighting visitors and locals alike since 1817 and it remains one of the island's top tourist attractions.
During the Second World War, however, it took on a far more important role serving as a route to the sea for PLUTO - the Pipe Line Under The Ocean that carried vital fuel under the English Channel to Cherbourg during the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Some of the original pipeline remains here for all to see.
Lower entrance - from the beach.
The word 'chine' is used only on the Isle of Wight and in the county of Dorset. It is a local word of Saxon origin meaning a narrow valley or ravine which has been formed by the passage of water as it flows to the sea. In this instance, over thousands of years, a deep ravine has been carved into the soft sandstone of Sandown Bay.
There are several chines on the Isle of Wight and this is one of the largest and best known. Indeed, the saxons named the area we call Shanklin after it: they called it Scenc-hlinc which literally translated means 'cup in the rising ground'.
Shanklin Chine first opened to the public in 1817 when a certain Mr William Colenutt had the foresight to excavate a pathway from the beach, right up to the waterfalls at the head.
Since then the lush ravine with its exotic ferns, flowers, liverworts, lichens and mosses has been a popular attraction for visitors and locals alike.
Pathways twist and turn, and strategically well-placed benches and shelters allow visitors to enjoy their surroundings while an ancient stone bridge forms an attractive passage from one side of the ravine to the other.
The Victorian house and conservatory within the lower reaches of the chine is now used as a Heritage Centre. It houses a tea room, a gift shop, aviaries with exotic birds, and various exhibition rooms.
The current exhibition (Spring 2009) features the story of Isle of Wight Aviation. This majors on Britten-Norman's Islander aircraft which is built nearby at Bembridge Airport.
A further exhibition in The Learning Zone features the surrounding plants and wildlife, whilst another tells the story of PLUTO - complete with archive film.
Shanklin Chine is open to the public from Easter to the end of October each year - and it is open and floodlit until 10:00 pm during the summer months. Very romantic! It has two entrances: one from Old Shanklin Village and one from the Esplanade. It is therefore possible to walk down through the chine to the beach, or vice versa. For further information on opening times, entrance fees and special events, you can
click here to visit the official Shanklin Chine website
We very much hope you will enjoy your visit. For more ideas on where to go and what to do, please
click here to visit our Isle of Wight attractions main page.
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