Photo 19 (Return)

Barnes High and view northwest across Brightstone Bay, 2001. Cliffs up to 53m high formed of reddish clays and sandstones of the Wealden Wessex Formation retreat at around 0.5 metres per annum by rockfall and rotational slides. The cliffs yield fine sediments that are lost offshore in suspension and sands that contribute to the sandy lower foreshore. Small quantities of gravel supplied from superficial deposits at the cliff top contribute to the gravel storm berm of the upper beach. Note the strandlines, which indicate that wave action regularly reaches the cliff toe debris accumulations.