Beachley Point

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Gloucestershire Forest of Dean

England

Beachley Point

Severn Bridge and Aust Cliff The first Severn motorway bridge, looking east to Aust Cliff, with the motorway services building visible beyond the bridge tower. — Severn Bridge and Aust Cliff Credit: Martin Clark

Beachley Point is a prominent coastal feature located in Gloucestershire, England. It is a headland that juts out into the River Severn, forming a distinctive point that offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

Situated at the southernmost tip of the Forest of Dean, Beachley Point is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Its strategic location provides a vantage point for observing the tidal movements of the river and the vast expanse of water that stretches out towards the Severn Estuary.

The headland itself is characterized by grassy slopes, rocky outcrops, and a rugged coastline. Its elevation allows for breathtaking panoramas of the River Severn and the Welsh countryside across the water. On clear days, visitors can even catch a glimpse of the Bristol Channel and the distant hills of the Brecon Beacons.

Beachley Point is also of historical significance. It was once home to a military establishment that played a vital role in the defense of the area during World War II. Remnants of military structures, including bunkers and gun emplacements, can still be seen along the headland, providing a glimpse into the past.

Today, Beachley Point is a haven for nature enthusiasts and outdoor enthusiasts. The area is rich in wildlife, with various bird species and marine life inhabiting the surrounding waters. The headland offers opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and picnicking, making it a popular spot for families and nature lovers to enjoy the beauty of the Gloucestershire coastline.

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Beachley Point Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.610675/-2.6530999 or Grid Reference ST5490. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Severn Bridge and Aust Cliff

The first Severn motorway bridge, looking east to Aust Cliff, with the motorway services building visible beyond the bridge tower.

Martin Clark

The First Severn Road Bridge

Taken on the Severn View Path just before sunset.

Aaron Jones

The Old Severn Bridge

The east tower viewed from the cycleway on the south side of the bridge.

Philip Halling

The Severn Estuary

Power cable pylon and new Severn Bridge viewed from the old Severn Bridge.

Philip Halling

Severn estuary: the big pylon

The pylon is this big because the cables hung from it cross the Severn and have to reach the next pylon, about a mile away.

Chris Downer

Wye Bridge, Beachley

This carries the M48 over the Wye from Wales to England. The old Severn Bridge is in England. The Forest of Dean lies beyond.

Mike Penny

Aust Ferry (Looking along the pier to the slipway)

Much of the wood has rotted away but the pier and slipway can be clearly seen.

Nick Mutton 01329 000000

Aust Ferry (Looking along the pier to the slipway)

This is about as close as one can get to the water.

Nick Mutton 01329 000000

St Twrog's Chapel ruins on Chapel Rock

The Beachley Point light is right next to the ruins.

Roy Parkhouse

Approach to the Severn Bridge

Looking west along the M4 [as it was then] towards the recently completed bridge. One is hard pressed to remember the toll charges from the time, but it was probably less than the 12/6d [62.5p] charged on the old Aust ferry. Note the amount of traffic. Not many dared venture into Wales in those days.

Gordon Hatton

Pier to pylons where the National Grid crosses the River Severn

A tour-de-force of technology in its day (1958) when the National Grid crossed the Severn in a single span, the cables were fabricated from aluminium to improve the strength to weight ratio.

Dr Duncan Pepper

Aust Cliff

The alternating layers of rock in this rapidly eroding cliff are a rich source of marine fossils

Dr Duncan Pepper

Pilings, all that remains of an earlier Putcher fishing weir

The Severn Bridge in the background.

Dr Duncan Pepper

Pylon where the National Grid crosses the Severn in single span

Dr Duncan Pepper

Severn bridge at sun down

andy dolman

Landscape near Aust

Looking northwest to the large electricity pylon and the old Severn Bridge.

George Evans

Severn bridge in the mist

This is scanned from a rather old slide, so there are still a few artefacts (horizontal lines) I cannot shift. I don't think that they detract from the ethereal effect of the shot though. ST5689 : Severn bridge in the mist shows the bridge with more of the foreshore.

John Rostron