This is a short walk of about five miles which should take less than two hours but there are steep paths and steps making it inaccessible for some. I parked on Luccombe Road in Shanklin, OS grid reference: SZ584799 and walked up towards Haddon's Pits. Haddon's Pits is National Trust land.
This is certainly an area to explore another time. It was a clear day and so there were lovely views across Sandown Bay towards the Culver (see photo below). I continued along the coastal path until I reached a footpath sign (on the right) to Leeson Road. This stretch of footpath is quite steep in places. The footpath ends at the car park on Leeson Road. I crossed the car park and took the footpath towards the back right of the car park by the interpretation panel. The path crosses the lower end of the Smugglers Haven tea-rooms. It's worth stopping there for a cream tea or an ice cream. I bought an ice-cream and sat for a while, taking in the views. Pretty sure it was a sea eagle flying overhead!
I then took the footpath towards the Devil's Chimney, a narrow cleft in the cliff. The path takes you through the Devil's Chimney and down steep steps to reach the coastal path. Handrails are provided where the steps are steepest but do take care, especially when the steps are wet or covered in leaves. I turned left on to the coastal path and followed the twisty path through The Landslip, following the coastal path signs until I got back to Haddon's Pits. It was a then a short walk down Luccombe Road back to the car.
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