Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
FIG
87.
Terminology used to describe different cliff profiles.
Much of the Exmoor coast consists of inaccessible cliffs with steep wooded
slopes, but there is a 3 km long bay (
a9
) filled by Woolacombe Sand, between Morte
Point (
a8
) and Baggy Point (
a10
). The bay appears to be the result of a bedrock change
from the strong Hangman Grits in the north to weaker Ilfracombe Slates which have
been more readily eroded by streams and coastal processes. Like Croyde Bay, just
south of Baggy Point, the beach is popular with surfers since it catches the Atlantic
swell waves from the west. Woolacombe Beach is backed by sand dunes which appear
to cover an old wave-cut platform eroded during an earlier episode of high sea level.
