Brambles Chine

The walk down to Brambles Chine from Totland Bay is proper steep - you'll know about your knees on the way back up. But that's half the appeal. This narrow wooded ravine cuts through the cliffs like nature's own secret corridor, and once you're down at the bottom you've got a genuine sense of having discovered something the casual beachgoer has missed.

It's a working nature reserve, so the focus is wildlife rather than manicured walks. The dense woodland and sheltered aspect mean you'll spot things here you won't on the open clifftop - ferns, mosses, occasionally buzzards if you're lucky. The chine opens onto a small pebble beach, which is quiet compared to Totland's main sweep and useful if you want to escape the summer crowds.

Give yourself an hour for the round trip including a poke about at the bottom. It's not a destination in itself - more a worthwhile detour if you're based nearby. Families with young kids might find the steep descent irritating, but older children will enjoy the adventure of it. Best done in dry conditions; it's muddy underfoot when wet and the slopes become genuinely dodgy.

If you're staying at Heathfield Farm or The Bay Colwell, both just a short walk away, this makes a natural addition to a clifftop ramble. Combine it with the wider coastal path for a fuller morning's outing. Go early to avoid the afternoon crowds filtering down from the town.