Rocks and scenery of the Coastal Zone

The rock at the very edge of the Quantocks, by the sea, is world-famous to geologists. It has inspired poets and artists, and is popular with visitors. The cliff edge lets us see the layers of rock. The land behind the cliff edge is made from these layers too.

Kilve shore

  • Kilve shore

The rock is made of layers ( strata ) of hard pale grey limestone and dark shale. People often find ammonites (fossil sea creatures) in the limestone.

Looking for fossils

  • Looking for fossils

In between the limestone, there are softer layers of dark shale. This shale contains oil.link

Rock layers in the cliff

  • Rock layers in the cliff

Over the years, the waves have eroded the soft shale. The hard limestone has broken up into chunks and fallen into the sea.

The layers of rock make strange patterns and shapes in the cliffs and on the shore. Now, the rock pools and cliffs are a habitat for all sorts of shore life.

Rock pools

  • Rock pools

This old limekiln link is covered with ivy. It was built of limestone, probably collected from the beach.

Overgrown limekiln

  • Overgrown limekiln