Exmoor’s coastline is the highest in England. Cliffs rise to 250m (820 ft) and coastal hills to 433m (1420 ft). On exposed cliffs nesting birds include guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, ravens and rare peregrine falcons. Some areas sheltered from the Atlantic gales have natural woodland almost down to the beach where sessile oak, yew and rare whitebeams grow.
The rocky beaches are regularly scoured by the very high tides but there are plenty of seaweeds and molluscs. Protected by the shingle beach at Porlock is a saltmarsh where you might see curlews and oyster-catchers as well as unusual plants, including seablite and glasswort, which used to be used in glass making.
The cliffs along this coastline mainly
face North or NE and are protected from the prevailing South Westerly
winds.
The wooded cliffs near Culbone
They are the highest cliffs in England (Great
Hangman is
the highest sheer cliff at 800ft/244m). The sheltered aspect has allowed
the development of coastal woodland which is predominantly oak. The woods
between The Foreland and Porlock represent the longest stretch of coastal
woodland in England and Wales and run right down to the shore in many
places. The rare Exmoor 'hogs-back' cliffs are dramatic and awe-inspiring.
Foreland Point
The Exmoor coast is one of the most unspoilt and best protected
stretches of coastline in England and Wales.
Gillimots on the Bristol Channel Exmoor Cliffs
Gillimots on the Bristol Channel Exmoor Cliffs
Waterfall on the Bristol Channel Exmoor Cliffs
Razorbills |
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