A spit is visible in the top left of the map, near the Burry Inlet. A spit is a permanent landform that results from marine deposition. It is a long narrow accumulation of sand and shingle, one end is attached to the land and the other end projects at a narrow angle into the sea. The spit has a hooked end. It formed when longshore drifts moved sand and shingle along the coast and the coastline changed direction leaving a shallow sheltered area of water.
The wave cut platform is a gentle slope found extending from the base of the cliff. It consists of material removed from the cliff as a result of undercutting from waves. As undercutting increases, the cliff slowly retreats, leaving a platform. The platform widens to a point, but due to the cliff being attacked less frequently by waves, it is thought that they can only reach a maximum of 0.5km.
Longshore drift is where material is moved along a stretch of coastline. Waves approach the shore at an angle (usually in line with prevailing wind direction) and swash moves material up the beach in this direction. Backwash pulls material straight down the beach. The result is that material is transported in a zigzag fashion.
Some of the beach is wind blown but some of it was moved by LSD, the windblown sand is not covered at high tide but the sand moved by LSD is covered.
Personal Response to Col-Huw Point
Col-Huw Point is on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, 2km southwest of Llantwit Major. The area around Llantwit Major is an undulating plateau dissected by small valleys running north south to the coast. Col-Huw is one of these valleys, which provides one of only a few access points to the shore along the cliff-lined coast.
As the point is on a heritage coast, it receives many visitors for a variety of things. The main attraction of Col-Huw is for recreation. The coast receives visitors from Barry and Porthcall (a total population of over 1.75 million), this is their local beach and so would prefer for it to be preserved. Col-Huw is a popular place for surfers, and has been for over 20 years. Due to the surf industry and Surf Hut was made, where lifeguards can operate, if the coast is allowed to erode naturally then surfers will no longer be able to use the Surf Hut, as it will most likely be destroyed. The café also gets a lot of business from people using the beach. If people stop visiting the beach then they will, too, loose a lot of business.
I personally do not find it an attractive place, I prefer sandy beaches, and this is too rocky.
I think that the beach could also be quite dangerous; at least one person has died here. The cliff face is steep and the ground is rocky and hard. If the beach is preserved then I think that safety measures should be introduced around the top of the cliff.
There are mixed opinions about the beach, some people, mainly locals say that the coast should be saved but others say that it should be left in its natural state. I can see both points of view but think that the beach should be left as much as possible.
It is not the only piece of coast in the area so visitors could go somewhere else. It would be expensive to preserve the beach and that money could be spent elsewhere in the town.
