Description
Shepherd’s Chine is one of the largest of the Island’s chines, and is now the outlet for the stream which once provided the main source for Cowleaze Chine. The stream used to be collected behind a small dam and then pumped back onto the surrounding farm land. The pump house can still be seen clearly about halfway along the chine. The sides of the chine are relatively shallow and vegetated but continual slumping is evident leaving many patches of bare ground.
Cowleaze Chine has relatively little water passing through it. Much of the chine is now vegetated and the outlet has been eroded by the sea, now forming a waterfall onto the beach.
Walk to the west along the beach to access Barnes Chine, this chine can be tricky to find as there is no water course running over the cliff edge. A small dip in the cliff top and a v-shaped gully descending rapidly to the beach are formed through erosion by underwater streams which emerge below the cliff top. Barnes Chine is accessible from the coastal path but there is little left of the chine.
Parking
No public parking. Closest parking is at Whale Chine about 1.5 miles along the coastal path.
Footpaths
The coastal path runs through Shepherd’s Chine and round Cowleaze Chine. The Shepherd’s Trail long-distance path starts at Shepherd’s Chine.
Beach Access
The beach can be accessed at Shepherd’s Chine via a path and steps however access is quite steep.
Ordnance Survey Grid reference
Shepherd’s Chine SZ447798
Cowleaze Chine SZ444800
Barnes Chine SZ435808
Show on map
Click here to see the approximate location of Shepherd’s Chine.
Click here to see the approximate location of Cowleaze Chine.
Click here to see the approximate location of Barnes Chine.
Image: Shepherds Chine, courtesy of Martin Gibson