The Isle of Wight Council says it believes that Devil’s Chimney has been completely destroyed by Sunday night’s landslide at Bonchurch. Although it has not been possible to physically check the area, due to safety reasons, an assessment of video footage and photographs has given an indication that the ‘chimney’ itself, the path connecting the chimney to the coastal path and the section of coastal path beneath the slip have all been lost. It is feared that a similar rock cleft known as The Chink, located around 200 yards north, has also been destroyed alongside the Wishing Rock. The Isle of Wight Council says that a full inspection will take place in the future, but only when safe to do so. Islanders have been fearing the loss of the beauty spot since news broke through Island Echo on Sunday night that a large landslide had devastated the area, with aerial photographs captured on Monday morning revealing the extent of the shocking situation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_32yV7xvlI A spokesperson for the local authority, which owns the land, has today (Tuesday) said:
“The public are reminded all public rights of way in the area are closed and they should respect the signage and barriers for their own and others safety.”
The Devil’s Chimney followed a joint through the Upper Greensand crags capping the cliffs above the Bonchurch Landslip. The path continued down through the Landslip as footpath V65C, meeting the coastal path V65A at its foot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mtI9qUSIHE UPDATE March 2024 – Despite initial fears, it has been confirmed that the chimney has survived. The steps have been damaged beyond repair and the area is extremely unstable and dangerous – but the rock formation remains and is passable. The development means that one day a public right of way could be restored through the area.
