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Page 46
Here are two respectable Hotels: the _Albion_, close to the beach; and
_Plumbly's_, on the cliff: both of which offer to their guests the charm
of hearing ...
----"The restless waves that roar,
And fling their foam against the rocky shore."
The CAVERN in Freshwater Bay was formerly an object of no little
curiosity to those who had never seen any thing similar of a more
striking character; but the romantic effect, and consequently interest
of the scene has been greatly injured by the fall falling-in of the
arched roof. Now, however, visitors can easily investigate other caverns
of a similar nature at WATCOMBE BAY (to which a good road has been made
from Plumbly's Hotel,) where there is also a pyramidical rock, curiously
perforated at the base.
* * * * *
>> A very common way of seeing these precipices is to go by water
to Alum Bay, there land, walk up to the Light-house, and return by
the beacon: or take boat at Alum Bay, and sail round the Needles or
to Freshwater Bay, just as fancy may suggest. Some proceed on foot
from Freshwater-gate to the Needles Light-house (about three
miles), on the green sod, near the margin of the cliffs: other
parties again go round by the carriage-road the whole distance in
their vehicles. As, however, the grandest scenes can only be
visited by boat, we shall best perform our duty as Cicerone by
pointing them out as they appear in an aquatic excursion--that to
parties generally affords a degree of elevated pleasure to which
nothing else in the island can bear any comparison. Yet should the
weather be too rough for this to be enjoyed, the visit to
Freshwater may prove not the less interesting: since it is
impossible for any spectacle to exceed in sublimity that which is
displayed when a storm is raging around the majestic cliffs and
vast detached rocks that here encounter the winds and waves of the
British Channel:--
"Down bursts the gale--the surges sweep,
Like gathering hosts, against the steep,
Sheeting, with clouds of snowy spray,
Its lofty forehead, old and gray.
With sudden shriek and cowering wing,
To the wild cliff the sea-birds spring;
Careering o'er the darken'd heaven,
The clouds in warring heaps are driven;
And crested high with lawny foam,
Rushes the mighty billow home."
* * * * *
(Another Hotel is situated on the north side of the down, within sight
of the Needles, by whose name it is distinguished.)
[Illustration: WATCOMBE BAY _FRESHWATER ISLE OF WIGHT._]
From Watcombe Bay the precipices continue to increase in height till
they reach their greatest elevation (617 feet) at HIGH-DOWN, on which
the beacon is erected: they are however less perpendicular here than we
shall presently find them; and the more sloping portions are covered by
extensive patches of turf, samphire, &c., which vary the pure white of
the upright masses, though perhaps the lofty appearance of the whole is
thereby rather diminished, at least to a spectator at their base.
Amongst the most remarkable objects in this part of the range are
NEPTUNE'S CAVE, and LORD HOLMES'S PARLOUR:--the latter, a cavern of
considerable height and breadth, derives its name from the nobleman,
whose name it bears, having occasionally enjoyed a repast with his
friends in the briny coolness of its shade, at least so tradition tells
us: it can be easily entered by boat in calm weather: and when viewed
from beneath its rough vaulted roof, has certainly a very romantic
appearance.
A little further on is the WEDGE-ROCK, a most singular result of
accident; being a piece of rock about twelve feet long by six or eight
wide, exactly the shape of a wedge, resting between the main cliff and a
large mass of detached chalk, just as if fixed there by some gigantic
hand to effect the separation. It is often practicable to land here, and
it is worth while on the part of the young and active, were it only to
be satisfied how extremely deceptive is the appearance of the rocks and
broken green ledges, as to their size and extent of surface,--for few
would suppose (in passing by,) that the piece near the Wedge-rock
contains upwards of an acre of ground.--The pyramidical mass connected
with the Wedge is about fifty feet high, and a hundred long at the base.
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