Straight Point

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File:2010-10-06 Sandy Bay and Straight Point.jpg
View across Sandy Bay to Straight Point

Straight Point is a coastal region, forming a headland, between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton in Devon on the south coast of England.

Location

Straight Point is about sixteen kilometres south of the city of Exeter, four kilometres southeast of Exmouth and about eleven kilometres southwest of Sidmouth.

The top of the headland is used by the marines as a firing range. To the west is Sandy Bay, a holiday beach, that can be reached either along the coastal path or through the large caravan park. To the east Otter Cove and Littleton Cove.

Geology

The red sandstone cliffs at Straight Point show an interesting sequence of sandstones in the Exmouth Formation. Most of the western section is accessible at low tide from Sandy Bay. Only a small part of the eastern side is accessible at low tide. Predominantly the cliffs are composed of layers of "Aylesbeare Mudstone", but additionally with these sandstone Layers. These rock formations are important because they represent the earliest geology along the entire coast. They are from the Triassic period and date from 250 million years ago. Both sediments are markedly red, which indicates that they were formed in a desert.

References

See also

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