The Coastal footpath
The coastal footpath is approximately 9km long and runs a small distance along the south coast of the British Isles.
Starting at the foreland, you will observe a number of small stacks, which don’t have distinctive names, but there are also two other slightly larger stacks, which have been named Old Harry and Old Harry’s Wife.
These stacks are made out of a rock called limestone. Limestone is a pervious rock, which means that liquid can’t soak through it.
Stacks are formed by continuous erosion from the sea by waves named destructive. These waves have lots of energy and quickly erode the rocks. This continuous erosion at the bottom of an arch causes the arch to become weak and top-heavy eventually the arch collapses and becomes a stack.
At the foreland there is also an arch called a Natural Arch, this arch is made of limestone. Arches are formed, from a cave. When a cave forms in a headland. The pressure from the water on the sides of the caves may result in a wall of the cave be pushed through to the other side of the foreland, this results in an arch forming.
After you have visited these sites, south of the coastal footpath you will see an area of land called The Pinacles. West of this area is Ballard Point, which is a headland or foreland similar but smaller than the foreland that I described earlier.
If you follow the coastline south and stay to the coastal footpath, you will reach Swanage Bay, this is an area of sand and clay, and this clay is called wealden clay. The clay is impermeable, which means that water can not pass through it. The rock is therefore eroded by the destructive waves in the sea. The rock is broken off and it falls into the sea. The clay is then deposited on the shore combined with rocks, sand and other coastal material.
Further west on the coastal footpath is a small town named Swanage; it has hotels and campsites on the coast.
The bay and beach in Swanage is made of natural sand and clay.
East of the beach and bay is the pier, and east of this is the Slipway. This area of land is names Peveril point; it is a foreland or a headland.
Durlston is further, down the footpath this bay is made up of Portland and Purbeck Limestone. This bay is not as large as the one called Swanage bay, which is due north of this point.
This is because limestone has a greater resistance to weathering and erosion than the clay in Swanage bay.
The Durlston Bay has no beach, but instead cliffs, where large chunks of rock have been broken off due to erosion.
Further, down from this point there is another small headland Durlston Head. If you follow the footpath south, there are a few caves these are called Tilly Whim Caves. At this point, there is no beach. Small boulders have been broken off the cliffs. These rocks lay, visual in shallow water on the foot of the cliffs. Further, down the footpath you will then reach Anvil point, which is a small headland that sticks out in to the English Channel waters. This is where the footpath ends.
Caves
By the process of erosion and particularly by hydraulic pressure and corrasion, any vertical live in the side of a rock can be dramatically increased to form a large cave.
Headlands and forelands
Headlands are formed when the softer rock around the harder rock (headland) is eroded and carried away by long-shore drift.
The headland rock is quite hard and quite resistant to erosion. An example of a headland is Lands End.
Long-shore drift
Longshore drift is the transportation of sand, pebbles and other beach material, along the coast by the waves.
Waves often approach the coast at an angle. Some sand grains and pebbles roll down the slope at a right angle to the coastline. This is because the right angle that slopes to the sea has the steepest gradient.
Safety Issues
- Wear a hard helmet is you are exploring caves.
- This area is surrounded by countryside and there are many beaches and coastlines to explore, so old hiking boot would be great.
- Always go to the coastline with a responsible adult.
- Never swim in the sea at night.
- Do no enter restricted areas.
- Wear a warm coat.
- Never walk under dangerous looking rocks, which might fall on you from above.
- REMEMBER THESE POINTS, STAY SAFE + STAY HAPPY!
By Charlotte Miller 10s