144 GEOLOGY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 



above Freshwater-gate, attaining an altitude of 

 700 feet ; the middle eminence is the hill to the 

 west of the vertical strata of Alum Bay ; and 

 that on the right, or north side, is Headon Hill, 

 which is 400 feet high. The road passes within 

 half a mile of Freshwater-gate, and winds up a 

 steep ascent to the summit of the down, where a 

 splendid and extensive prospect suddenly opens 

 on the view. On the right is Headon Hill, sepa- 

 rated from the eminence on the left, Alum Bay, 

 by a deep chasm ; and on the extreme left, is the 

 lofty chalk ridge of High-Down, which extends 

 westward into the sea, and terminates in the 

 isolated wedge-shaped masses of chalk, called 

 " The Needles." In the remote distance, on the 

 opposite shore, the chalk cliffs, near Swanage, in 

 the Isle of Purbeck, may be distinguished ; and 

 likewise the low line of tertiary cliffs on the 

 Hampshire coast, by Barton and Hordwell. On 

 the north-west brow of the hill, commanding a fine 

 view of the entrance of the Solent sea, is " Grove's 

 Hotel;" a very convenient resting-place, for a 

 short sojourn.* From this spot there is a foot- 

 path along the north side of the chasm that sepa- 

 rates Headon Hill from Alum Bay, which leads 



* The intelligent landlord has a small collection of fossils, gathered from 

 the neighbouring cliffs ; it contained several interesting specimens, when I 

 last inspected it. 



