South Devon, England.
A somewhat dreary and chilly Sunday morning in November…
…and I am too lazy to venture out anywhere too far away from my warm and cozy caravan…
…and yet, I do want to explore Devon but only if it doesn’t involve too much trouble…
A quick search through online maps reveals an Orcombe Point nearby, somewhere along the seaside, supposedly a point of interest.
Ok so, a bit unwillingly, I drag myself into the autumnal cold and take that 15min drive to the coast.
As I arrive at the point of interest marked by brown road signs along the way, the impression I get is that it’s going to be one of those really pleasant although somewhat dull weekend walks on the beach, nothing special to write home about.
But then, turning my head to the left, I spot some rocks in the distance…
…the view doesn’t seem to promise anything terribly exciting, but I am definitely intrigued…
…and so the discovery begins…
… and to match my newly found excitement, the dull clouds are lifting as well…
As I approach the rock formations, it’s becoming clear that this little walk will be something more fascinating than your usual weekend walk on the beach.
It turns out, I’ve just arrived at Orcombe point, the most westerly point of the Jurassic Coast in the south of England, and a well-known World Heritage Site.
As I turn the corner I’m astounded by the beauty of unusually coloured rocks carved out by the sea throughout the centuries, apparently, they’ve been around for millions of years.
And the great thing is…
…when the tide is out, you can easily climb up and down the rocks (there are stairs as well) and explore all the fascinating corners under the rock formations.
The first thing that strikes the visitor is the red colour of the rocks – apparently, this is because these rocks were formed in desert conditions, but I forget the rest of the details…
Many people, me including, associate Jurassic coast with sandy or white colour rock formations, but the colouring on these rocks here are a total surprise.
I have a suspicion though, that if I had arrived at a different time of day, I wouldn’t have seen any of this beauty as the tide would have covered the cliffs. It’s a logical deduction I’ve made after seeing all sorts of small marine creatures and wet seaweed attached to the rocks.
So I think I was lucky to discover Orcombe Point when the tide was out, otherwise, it would have been just an ordinary walk by the sea.
Basically, as far as I understand, Devon Jurassic Coast is a geologist’s dream playground and a fascinating photo backdrop for the rest of us.
Before you start thinking that in order to reach this fascinating place you’ll have to drive miles on end through some rugged terrain…
…let me tell you, that all you have to do in order to get to Orcombe Point, is reach a small coastal town called Exmouth ( a comfortable bus drive from a bigger town in Devon, Exeter) and then simply walk to discover this memorable spot of the Jurassic coast.
So if you are anywhere near Exmouth or Exeter in South Devon, make sure to visit Orcombe Point, you’ll be glad you did!
And if you are someone who loves exploring the world on foot, consider taking a 96-mile walk from Orcombe Point along the Jurassic Coast following the South West Coast Path – that would be a proper adventure!
Only how long would it take?
That’s the question.
Travel England, enjoy your life!
Want to Explore Devon and its towns? Take this 5-day Tour from London. Check it out HERE
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Hi, I am Vytenė, a travel blogger originally from Lithuania. Highlighting here European destinations worth exploring. You don’t have to go far to have the time of your life!
