The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site on the English Channel coast of southern England. It stretches from Exmouth in East Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset, a distance of about 96 miles (154 km), and was inscribed on the World Heritage List in mid-December 2001.[1]

The site spans 185 million years of geological history, coastal erosion having exposed an almost continuous sequence of rock formation covering the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. At different times, this area has been desert, shallow tropical sea and marsh, and the fossilised remains of the various creatures that lived here have been preserved in the rocks.

Natural features seen on this stretch of coast include arches, pinnacles and stack rocks. In some places the sea has broken through resistant rocks to produce coves with restricted entrances and, in one place, the Isle of Portland is connected to the land by a narrow spit. In some parts of the coast, landslides are common. These have exposed a wide range of fossils, the different rock types each having its own typical fauna and flora, thus providing evidence of how animals and plants evolved in this region.

The area around Lulworth Cove contains a fossil forest, and 71 different rock strata have been identified at Lyme Regis, each with its own species of ammonite. The fossil collector Mary Anning lived here and her major discoveries of marine reptiles and other fossils were made at a time when the study of palaeontology was just starting to develop. The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre provides information on the heritage coast, and the whole length of the site can be visited via the South West Coast Path.

David

May 2, 2022

Great views across the coast and a reward of great beer in beer at the Barrel O Beer

Mike The Mooching Minister.

November 29, 2024

Quite the section this. Has a little bit of everything.

Details

Informations

Distance 1.89 km

Uphill 50 m

Downhill 80 m

Weather

Today

Saturday 13 December

12°C

8°C

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If you start your activity now...

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See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Seaton, East Devon, Devon, South West England, England, United Kingdom

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Seaton Beach and Cliffs

Axmouth Bridge

South West Coast Path: Beer to Seaton

View of the Cliffs of Lyme Bay

Goat Island (Bindon Cliffs)

Salcombe Mouth Beach

Uplyme Watermill

View of Branscombe Beach

Tree Stump on Sidmouth Beach

Beer Beach

View of the Jurassic Coast

Beer Head

Beer to Seaton Coastal Path

1. Beer to Seaton Coastal Path – Seaton Beach and Cliffs loop from Seaton

2. Beer to Seaton Coastal Path – Seaton Beach and Cliffs loop from Branscombe

3. Beer to Seaton Coastal Path – Beer Head loop from Seaton

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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