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Glamorgan Heritage Coast
 





click to view photos of the area between Llantwit and St Donat's click to view photos of the area between Nash Point and St Donats click to view photos of the area between Southerndown and Nash Point click here to view photos of the area between Ogmore and Southerndown

click to fly to Llantwit Beach with Google Earth
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click to fly to St Donat's with Google Earth
cliff and wave-cut platform near Llantwit beach
Glamorgan 35 		large sea-caves in the cliffs backing the wave-cut platform
Glamorgan 41 		sea anenome and limpet - part of the wide variety of of life in the many rock pools
Glamorgan 47		 fresh water springs seeping from the limestone cliff have produced large scale growth of moss with a permanent and steady trickle
Glamorgan 60 		The Glamorgan Heritage Coast stretches for 14 miles, with distinctive cliffs, rocky wave-cut platforms and rock pools, sandy beaches, and fresh-water springs with colourful moss and algae growths. The 18 mile coast path can be walked in one go or in short sections.
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Cliffs & foreshore
click to view photos of cliffs and the foreshore in the area between Llantwit and St Donats click to view photos of sea caves in the area between Llantwit and St Donats click to view photos of rock pools in the area between Llantwit and St Donats click to view photos of sea moss and algae in the area between Llantwit and St Donats
with one of the largest tidal ranges in the world, the sea comes in rapidly over the wave-cut platform right to the base of the cliff
Glamorgan 33 		the large expanse of wave-cut platform is soon covered by rapidly rising tide
Glamorgan 31 		the wave-cut platform has a number of distinct layers
Glamorgan 34 		outgoing tide reveals stretches of sand beyond the rocky foreshore - sometimes smooth
Glamorgan 63 		outgoing tide reveals stretches of sand beyond the rocky foreshore - sometimes rippled
Glamorgan 65

Caves & springs 		    back to the top
the dip in the cliffs gives access from the cliff-top path to the foreshore, and marks the begining of the caves which lie to the left (West) and none to the right (East)
Glamorgan 39 		wave-cut platform backed by cliffs and sea-caves
Glamorgan 40 		an indication of the many sea-caves along this stretch of the coast
Glamorgan 38 		the western-most cave on this stretch of coast, just after Tressilian Bay
Glamorgan 49		 the sea-caves are formed by collapsing rock strata, here leaving behind a massive 'lintel'
Glamorgan 43
sea-caves in cliffs backing extensice wave-cut platform
Glamorgan 45 		sea-caves in cliffs backing extensice wave-cut platform
Glamorgan 42 		rock strata show very distinctly inside the caves
Glamorgan 56 		softer rock strata are eroded more quickly, with fresh water springs emerging in some of them
Glamorgan 51 		closer view of the fresh-water spring
Glamorgan 52 		and still closer view of the fresh-water spring
Glamorgan 54 		and closer view again of the fresh-water spring
Glamorgan 55
Rock pools
shallow rock pools in smooth, near-black rock
Glamorgan 36 		small minimalist sea-water rock garden
Glamorgan 50 		detail at the boundary between the rocky foreshore and the sand
Glamorgan 75 		sea anenome and limpets
Glamorgan 46 		small sea-water rock garden
Glamorgan 48

Moss & algae 		    back to the top
moss and algal growth caused by fresh water seepage from the cliff East of St Donat's - scale shown by the figure in the cave mouth
Glamorgan 78		 algal growth on the West-facing cliff face East of St Donat's
Glamorgan 94 		in places the entire cliff is seeping with algae covering large areas
Glamorgan 73 		pattern created by algae forming on line of small freshwater seeps drip down the cliff
Glamorgan 76		 detail of algae formed on fresh water dripping from a point-source
Glamorgan 77
looking East at the moss covered cliff near St Donat's
Glamorgan 70 		close up of part of the moss outcrop
Glamorgan 58		 weak bedding has been eroded away and now drips continuously
Glamorgan 59
detail of fresh water dripping through the moss Glamorgan 62 detail of fresh water dripping through the moss
Glamorgan 25 		detail of fresh water dripping through the moss
Glamorgan 12 		detail of fresh water dripping through the moss
Glamorgan 79 		detail of fresh water dripping through the moss
Glamorgan 61
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click to fly to Nash Point with Google Earth
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click to fly to St Donat's with Google Earth
the cliff on the west side of Nash Point
Glamorgan 01		 the 'tall' lighthouse built in 1832
Glamorgan 10		 the 'tall' lighthouse at sunset
Glamorgan 09		 rocky foreshore, southern cliff and 'short' lighthouse at Nash Point
Glamorgan 05
rock and sand foreshore looking West towards Nash Point lighthouses
Glamorgan 44 		rocky foreshore looking West towards the low lighthouse at Nash Point
Glamorgan 95 		rocky foreshore looking East towards the tall lighthouse at Nash Point
Glamorgan 96 		sandy foreshore looking West towards the Nash Point lighthouses
Glamorgan 97 		the ones which get away - don't always get away: dog fish trapped by seaweed wrapped around fishing line on the rocky foreshore East of St Donat's
Glamorgan 98
Glamorgan Heritage Coast - looking East across the rocky foreshore at Nash Point
Glamorgan 16		 detail of rocky foreshore as seen from the top of the cliff
Glamorgan 07		 detail of rocky foreshore as seen from the top of the cliff
Glamorgan 14		 down on the rocky foreshore East of St Donat's
Glamorgan 66 		down on the rocky foresore East of St Donat's: different layers of limestone are eroded to give completely different 'finishes'
Glamorgan 71 		Atlantic Collage, St Donat's
Glamorgan 08
detail of rocky foreshore as seen from the top of the cliff
Glamorgan 03		 detail of rocky foreshore as seen from the top of the cliff
Glamorgan 04		 detail of the western cliff at Nash Point
Glamorgan 02		 detail of rocky foreshore as seen from the top of the cliff
Glamorgan 06		 detail of rocky foreshore as seen from the top of the cliff
Glamorgan 13
fossils are much in evidence
Glamorgan 67 		fossils are much in evidence
Glamorgan 68 		fossils are much in evidence
Glamorgan 69 		THE FOG-HORN !!!! at Nash Point (at sunset)
Glamorgan 11 		For information on the working light-house see the Trinity House web site.
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click to fly to Southerndown with Google Earth
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click to fly to Nash Point with Google Earth
incoming tide at sunset
Glamorgan 21 		cliff stack
Glamorgan 28 		cliff stack
Glamorgan 22 		cliff stack
Glamorgan 23
Southerndown beach at low tide
Glamorgan 18 		'cobbles' of the wave cut platform at Southerndown
Glamorgan 19		 wave-cut platform and pebble beach at base of cliff, Southerndown
Glamorgan 20		 wave-cut platform and pebble beach at base of cliff, Southerndown
Glamorgan 24		 towards Nash Point as the sun sets
Glamorgan 26
sharp arrete in the cliffs towards Nash Point
Glamorgan 27		 cliffs and cliff stack looking back towards Southerndown
Glamorgan 29		 detail of the lower cliffs at Southerndown
Glamorgan 17 		incoming tide over sand-covered wave-cut platform
Glamorgan 30 		rock strata in lower cliff at Southerndown, Glamorgan Heritage Coast
Glamorgan 32
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ckick to fly to Ogmore with Google Earth
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click to fly to Southerndown with Google Earth
Ogmore is the eastern extremity of the limestone cliffs and wave-cut platform
Glamorgan 83 		the rock is sculpted by wave action
Glamorgan 87 		dancing mussels
Glamorgan 92 		fossils are much in evidence
Glamorgan 90
the Ewenny Estuary at Ogmore marks the break in the Glamorgan Heritage Coast between the limestone cliffs to the East and the extensive beaches and sand dunes to the West
Glamorgan 80 		looking East along the limestone cliffs as far as Nash Point in the far distance
Glamorgan 82 		the cliffs and caves looking towards Southerndown: the tide comes to the base of the cliffs well before high tide
Glamorgan 84 		the low cliffs are much sculpted by wave action
Glamorgan 86 		a wide variety of well-rounded pebbles is found along this stretch of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast
Glamorgan 89
the low cliff tops are popular with fishermen around high tide
Glamorgan 81

back to the top 		lower cliffs sculpted by wave action
Glamorgan 85 		the low cliff tops are popular with fishermen around high tide
Glamorgan 88 		fossils are much in evidence
Glamorgan 91		 mussels cram into surface cracks in the limestone
Glamorgan 93
 

 
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