COASTLINE
Cornwall's
spectacular coastline stretches for over 400 miles - the longest
of any county. And what a variety we have!
See
the Coastline geological timeline >>
 How
about taking on the challenge of 731 feet high cliffs between
Bude and Boscastle; across the sandy beaches and golden dunes
of Penhale, Perranporth and Gwithian; around the granite peninsula
of Land's End; past Lizard
Point, the most southerly place on mainland Britain; then
meander around the beautiful south coast estuaries and headlands
from the Fal to the Tamar. Every mile controlled by the rocks
under your feet and the continual action of the sea, wind, time
and tide.
 The
coast is probably our most dramatic and dynamic environment and
therehave been some amazing changes since the end ofthe last Ice
Age only 12,000 years ago. Sea level has fluctuated like a see-saw.
Imagine being able to walk to France when the English Channel
was an enormous river valley. You could have done this as recently
as 8,000 years ago because much of the Earth's sea water was still
locked up in the polar ice sheets. At the height of the last Ice
Age sea level was about 400 feet lower than today and all of Cornwall's
rivers cut long deep valleys. As the ice sheets melted sea level
rose again submerging woodlands and forests that became fossilised.
Our estuaries were flooded to form the deep water rias that now
provide the sheltered harbours and anchorages along the south
Cornwall coast.
 Raised
beaches provide evidence of even higher sea levels, some dating
back to pre-glacial times. We even have curious glacial debris
or erratics left behind from the Ice Age. Then Cornwall had
a climate similar to present day Siberia or northern Canada.
Rocks were shattered by the freezing conditions and ice-bergs
floated offshore. On land the frost shattered debris, known
as Head, accumulated on coastal and valley slopes, and massive
dust storms deposited layers of fine sand or loess across
much of the county. |
Experts
tell us that sea level is still rising, the climate is changing
and Cornwall is still sinking. Parts of Cornwall even bounce by
about 4 inches everytime the tide comes in and out twice a day,
making Cornwall one of the bounciest places in Britain - honest!
So
where should you go to see the best geological
features that the Cornish coastline has to offer? Well what a
choice!
Remember
that all of these amazing locations (except for those on the Isles
of Scilly) can be reached from the South West Coast Path that
traverses the whole coastline. And with links inland you can make
some spectacular round walks. Let me suggest one of my favourites
to you.
Click
here for a list of Photograph credits
Granites
| The Lizard | Killas
| Coastline
|
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