Seaton - Devon
Posted by: SMacB
N 50° 42.208 W 003° 04.253
30U E 494994 N 5616851
Seaton is also the only town on the Jurassic Coast where rocks from all three of the World Heritage Site’s geological periods – Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous – can be viewed in their natural environment.
Waymark Code: WM158BR
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/07/2021
Views: 1
Seaton is also the only town on the Jurassic Coast where rocks from all three of the World Heritage Site’s geological periods – Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous – can be viewed in their natural environment.
"Overlooking Lyme Bay and surrounded by beautiful countryside, Seaton Beach is a large pebble beach stetchching over a mile long. Gently sloping, the beach is an ideal spot for swimming or water sports - and there kayaks or Stand up Paddleboards can be hired on site.
Alongside the beach is the esplanade, a flat walking area that stretches alongside the coastline - with the town at one end, and a cafe at the other. The South West Coast Path runs alongside this stunning beach and you can walk to the nearby picturesque village of Beer.
There is a relaxing and interesting pedestrianised town centre featuring many fine examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, beautiful gardens, and a whole range of shops and entertainment.
Seaton is set in a landscape of outstanding natural beauty, and part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Start your journey and ecplore the Jurassic Coast Visitor Centre at Seaton, and learn all about this amazing area. From Seaton, it is possible to see, walk to, and visit all three eras in this 185 million-year ‘geological walk through time’."
SOURCE - (
visit link)
From an information board on Marine Crescent -
"White Cliff to the west of Seaton and Haven Cliffs to the east are composed of brown sandstones and white chalks of Cretaceous age, about 90 to 110 million years old. Their rich fossil contents show that they were deposited in relatively shallow (20m to 100m deep) sub-tropical seas. The Cretaceous rocks are brought into contact with much older, red Triassic rocks at Seaton Hole by a geological fault, a deep fracture in the Earth’s crust and the former site of large earthquakes.
The mudstones that form the cliffs between Seaton Hole and Seaton were deposited in the Triassic period about 220 - 230 million years ago. The striking red colour (caused by iron oxide) tells us that the climate was hot and dry for much of the year, similar to that of present-day deserts in the Middle East."