I have visited the Isle of Wight before, but had never been to see The Needles; which are a row of three chalk stacks standing off the coast to the extreme right of the island, close to Alum Bay and overlooking the Solent. We took a very long bus journey- 100 minutes- from our temporary home over in Shanklin, and it was one of those situations that seemed to be as much about the journey as the destination, as the scenery was spectacular and those minutes just flew by!
We walked past the shops, and there is a cable car you can ride to take you to the beach. It costs £6 per adult (£11 for a return journey) and £5 per child (£8 return). Alas, it was undergoing maintenance on this day, so we walked down instead...
There are approximately 185 steps down to the beach (I wasn't counting!)
The Needles are so called because there used to be four chalk stacks here until a storm in 1764 sent the tallest stack, which was 120 ft (37 m) hurtling into the sea. It was named Lot's Wife after the biblical character who was turned into a pillar of salt.
I have lightened this picture a little, as Alum Bay was very much in silhouette. Although the area is famous for its multicoloured cliffs, the morning light meant I only really saw white.
You could see men working on the chairlift at the ride's end. Next to that is the pier where you can catch a slow (£10 for a 20 minute trip) or fast (£20 for a 5-15 minute trip) boat out to The Needles. The boats also weren't running on this day.
Regarding the multicoloured sands, 21 shades of orange/ yellow/ red/ brown/ pink have been recorded. The tide was almost in when we ventured down to the shingle beach, though, so it wasn't something we could see underfoot.
This drawing of The Needles is taken from Isaac Taylor's "one inch map" of Hampshire, and dates from 1759.
There is some controversy as to what the exact shape of Lot's Wife actually was, though. In this drawing by Dutch landscape artist Lambert Doomer, the lost stone column is recorded as being much stouter. But was he exercising artistic license? There should, after all, have been four stacks prior to Lot's Wife collapsing.
This is a PDF of an AI generated image showing what The Needles would possibly have looked like had Lot's Wife not collapsed...
The remaining chalk stacks rise 98 ft (30 m) out of the sea. Alum Bay is so named as large amounts of alum were mined here in the 16th century.
A zoomed in view, and The Needles reminded me of broken teeth! The distinctive Needles Lighthouse dates from 1859, and was automated in 1994. Before that it was run by a live-in crew.
Another lightened photo, and the area is part of The Needles Marine Conservation Zone.
A final zoom in, and the lighthouse is playing peek-a-boo!
By now the chairlift was moving, but it was just experimental and people were not being allowed on. In fact, a lot was closed on this day. Marconi's bar/ cafe was open, as was the amusement arcade, and I did see a light on in Alum Bay Glass, where you can actually see the glassware being made. But the Isle of Wight Sweet Manufactory was closed, as was their Pier Head souvenir shop.
I have lightened these chairlift photos so that you can get some idea of the different coloured sands that make up the cliffs. They have a Sand Shop right next to the chairlift top entrance, where you can choose a pretty glass container and fill it with layers of sand taken from Alum Bay- but that was also closed!
We took the walk up at a measured pace, and it wasn't too strenuous.
I have to say, the fact that a lot was closed/ not working didn't bother me. I saw what I came to see; which was The Needles.
This is a wishing well model of The Needles, and the idea is that you throw a coin, hit one of the bells at the back and make a wish. They also have a little fairground here, but I didn't see any of the rides running.
I'll leave you with a Vain Old Tart photo, taken back at our Lower Hyde, Shanklin, holiday park.
Would I return to The Needles? Yes, but as part of a coach tour, with the chairlift and a boat ride included. I would also walk to The Needles Batteries, which are two decommissioned military batteries built above the chalk stacks and designed to defend against military ships.
Until then,
TTFN
Miss Elaineous
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