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
[edit]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] established using emergency powers during the second world war.[3] 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. A navigational light for shipping was established on Straight Point in 1950 due the difficult conditions in the area for ships approaching the coast.[4]
Geology
[edit]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.[5] They are from the Triassic period and date from 250 million years ago.[5] 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.[6]
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
[edit]- ^ "Otterton Ledge to Straight Point 7". UK Government Environment Agency. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "South West England - Public access to military areas". UK Government. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Service Plans "Vandalism"". Western Morning News. 25 November 1946. p. 6.
- ^ "New Light Fixed at Straight Point". Western Times. 8 September 1950. p. 10.
- ^ a b "Jurassic Coast: Significance and description of the Site and Setting" (PDF). Jurassic Coast Trust. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ West, Ian (2016). "Budleigh Salterton, Littleham Cove and Straight Point, near Exmouth". Southampton University. Retrieved 29 November 2024.