What IS a Chine?
The Isle of Wight's various chines offer a captivating and hands-on geography lesson. Students can explore unique coastal formations, learning about erosion and geology in a real-world, engaging environment.
Introducing Chines of the Isle of Wight
A Chine is a steep-sided river valley through soft eroding cliffs of Sandstone or clay. The Isle of Wight is home to at least 20 different chines including perhaps the most famous at Shanklin. Most, however, are in the AONB 'West Wight' area. Fascinating folklore is attached to chines which have been linked to smuggling and shipwrecking.
