Weekend is over again for at least a few more days and its been great to revisit a little attraction here on the Isle of Wight.
Our friends told us of an event Shanklin Chine was holding on the lead up and duration of Halloween – an evening of beautifully illuminated pathways intertwining the passages from the top of the Old Village, down to the coast.
Memories of this beautiful gorge with my grandparents who lived in Shanklin, came flooding back as I walked down the road leading to to the ticket office where; as a resident of the Island, have a Blue Light Card or, as our friend (was most put out about) – being 60 years or older, could can get a concession.
We were given a complimentary guide for also allowing them to receive gift aid (why they need to ask and why you would you ever refuse this escapes me). The guide itself was full of information abut the Chine but notice boards on the way down the pathways also tell of the history of the Chine including its use in WW2 whereby it was the entry point for PLUTO (Pipeline Under The Ocean) which was used to receive oil from France. This reduced the requirement for tankers who would be easy targets for the enemy to restrict the importation of such strategic resource of fuel for vehicles, aircraft and such. Furthermore, the area was was also used as an assault course commandos, which when you see the surroundings, certainly makes you envisage how physically fit they must have been to complete such a task. Sadly and perhaps for my own self esteem’s sake, no such course still exists.
The Chine itself has formed over 10,000 odd years by the stream which cascades from the local Downs (a typical Southern England description of the grass covered chalk hills), a name I had never realised until today! Learning something new everyday.
Last night and throughout this week, honestly, the Chine really has pulled out the stops for the younger children on the lead up to Halloween. From sporadic, haunting pumpkins giving off eerie vibes to the frightening tales of a pumpkin-headless horseman warning people to beware. A spooky ‘death’ shrouded 10ft figure to skeletons emerging from the grassy banks. Certainly entertained both young and old while we were there.
The Chine added further entertainment from a local singer who entertained those with weary feet in the tea gardens while a well earned coffee and cake were available from the café.
The entry allowed for multiple entries for 7 days from the time off purchase meaning that you could enter and exit at will and we are expecting to return again this week with further friends and family.
We opted to visit ‘The Chine’ pub a small walk up the hill from the entrance/exit at the sea end of the chine. A welcome pint was had before we returned up the gorge and revisit the now completely endarkened stream, enhancing the visual effects given by the illuminations.
I take for granted many beautiful places on my doorstep and the Chine is certainly one of those attractions I probably would have not thought twice about visiting with the typical attitude of ‘been there done that.’ Yet I can’t express enough how visually encaptivating an evening we had as small bunch of friends getting out and enjoying a great little gem of an attraction right on our doorstep.