Coordinates: 50°36′24″N 3°21′42″W / 50.60660°N 3.36177°W / 50.60660; -3.36177

Straight Point

From The Right Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search

File:2010-10-06 Sandy Bay and Straight Point.jpg
View across Sandy Bay to Straight Point

Straight Point is a coastal region, forming a headland, between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton in Devon on the south coast of England.

Location

Straight Point is about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) south of the city of Exeter, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of Exmouth and about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) southwest of Sidmouth. The top of the headland is used by the Royal Marines as a firing range.[1][2] To the west is Sandy Bay, a holiday beach, that can be reached either along the coastal path or through the large caravan park. To the east are Otter Cove and Littleton Cove.

Geology

The red sandstone cliffs at Straight Point show a sequence of sandstones in the Exmouth Formation. Predominantly the cliffs are composed of layers of Aylesbeare Mudstone, including some sandstone layers. They represent the earliest geology along the entire coast.[3] They are from the Triassic period and date from 250 million years ago.[3] Both sediments are markedly red, which indicates that they were formed in a desert. At the east is an erosional platform, abraded by quartzite pebbles from the Budleigh Salterton pebble bed, seen at the neighbouring Littleham Cove.[4] At low tide most of the western section is accessible at low tide from Sandy Bay, but only a small part of the eastern side.

References

  1. "Otterton Ledge to Straight Point 7". UK Government Environment Agency. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  2. "South West England - Public access to military areas". UK Government. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Jurassic Coast: Significance and description of the Site and Setting" (PDF). Jurassic Coast Trust. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  4. West, Ian (2016). "Budleigh Salterton, Littleham Cove and Straight Point, near Exmouth". Southampton University. Retrieved 29 November 2024.

50°36′24″N 3°21′42″W / 50.60660°N 3.36177°W / 50.60660; -3.36177