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Brownsham Cliff

Cliff, Slope in Devon Torridge

England

Brownsham Cliff

Mouthmill Beach
Mouthmill Beach Credit: Mark Percy

Brownsham Cliff is a prominent geological feature located in the county of Devon, England. It is situated on the rugged coastline of North Devon, near the village of Hartland. This cliff is part of the larger Hartland Peninsula, which is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and dramatic landscapes.

Rising to a height of approximately 100 meters (328 feet), Brownsham Cliff offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area. The cliff is composed of layers of sedimentary rock, primarily consisting of sandstone and shale, which have been shaped and eroded by the relentless forces of wind and water over millions of years.

The cliff face is steep and characterized by its reddish-brown color, giving it its name. It is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, including rare coastal vegetation and seabirds. The cliff's slopes are covered in thick grass and shrubs, providing a habitat for various insects and small mammals.

Visitors to Brownsham Cliff can enjoy walking along the coastal path that runs parallel to the cliff edge. This path offers panoramic views of the rugged coastline, with the Atlantic Ocean stretching out towards the horizon. The cliff is also a popular spot for birdwatching, as it provides an excellent vantage point for observing seabirds such as fulmars, razorbills, and guillemots.

Due to its outstanding natural beauty and ecological significance, Brownsham Cliff is protected as part of the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is a place where visitors can immerse themselves in the raw power of nature and experience the stunning landscapes that make Devon such a captivating destination.

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Brownsham Cliff Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.01229/-4.4318817 or Grid Reference SS2926. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Mouthmill Beach
Mouthmill Beach
The South West Coast Path, near Clovelly Court The South West Coast Path passing through woodland near Clovelly Court.
The South West Coast Path, near Clovelly Court
The South West Coast Path passing through woodland near Clovelly Court.
The coast path near Clovelly The South West Coast Path passing through woodland near Clovelly.
The coast path near Clovelly
The South West Coast Path passing through woodland near Clovelly.
Angel Wings, near Clovelly The Angel Wings is a folly on the coast path to the west of Clovelly, it was carved by a former butler from Clovelly Court in the early 19th century. It was built for Sir James Hamlyn Williams, a former owner of Clovelly. It was located here so that he could look across Bideford Bay to where his daughter, Lady Chichester, lived at Youlston. The structure is Grade II listed. My GPS reading differs slightly to the one given by Historic England. Historic England description Seat with canopy. Wooden dateplaque to S.:"1826" restored "1934 by Boon Bros. Boatbuilders of Northam. Wooden structure with a pyramidal shingled roof which is bellcast, lead flashing at the angles and apex, capped by a large stone ball finial. Square on plan. Central tapering square pillar with floral carving on each face, at the base of the pillar a slatted wooden bench; the pillar supports the roof principally on 4 large curving struts carved like the wings of angels, further uncarved cusped strusts set above; soffit with carved angel busts in relief. Situated on the edge of the cliffs with wide views out to sea. An unusual romantic structure, part of the landscaped park created by Sir James Hamlyn in the late C18/early C19 around Clovelly Court. Source: W G Hoskins, Devon, P370; Private archive at Clovelly Court. Source: <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1165473" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1165473">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Angel Wings, near Clovelly
The Angel Wings is a folly on the coast path to the west of Clovelly, it was carved by a former butler from Clovelly Court in the early 19th century. It was built for Sir James Hamlyn Williams, a former owner of Clovelly. It was located here so that he could look across Bideford Bay to where his daughter, Lady Chichester, lived at Youlston. The structure is Grade II listed. My GPS reading differs slightly to the one given by Historic England. Historic England description Seat with canopy. Wooden dateplaque to S.:"1826" restored "1934 by Boon Bros. Boatbuilders of Northam. Wooden structure with a pyramidal shingled roof which is bellcast, lead flashing at the angles and apex, capped by a large stone ball finial. Square on plan. Central tapering square pillar with floral carving on each face, at the base of the pillar a slatted wooden bench; the pillar supports the roof principally on 4 large curving struts carved like the wings of angels, further uncarved cusped strusts set above; soffit with carved angel busts in relief. Situated on the edge of the cliffs with wide views out to sea. An unusual romantic structure, part of the landscaped park created by Sir James Hamlyn in the late C18/early C19 around Clovelly Court. Source: W G Hoskins, Devon, P370; Private archive at Clovelly Court. Source: LinkExternal link
Cliffs below Galantry Bower A vertiginous spot above near vertical cliffs viewed from the South West Coast Path near Galantry Bower. The headland ends with Blackchurch Rock which is just visible below the end of the cliff.
Cliffs below Galantry Bower
A vertiginous spot above near vertical cliffs viewed from the South West Coast Path near Galantry Bower. The headland ends with Blackchurch Rock which is just visible below the end of the cliff.
View back towards Clovelly View back towards Clovelly from the South West Coast Path near Gallantry Bower.
View back towards Clovelly
View back towards Clovelly from the South West Coast Path near Gallantry Bower.
Another showery day on the bridleway near Court Farm, Clovelly
Another showery day on the bridleway near Court Farm, Clovelly
Clovelly Church All Saints.
Clovelly Church
All Saints.
Church at Clovelly Court
Church at Clovelly Court
Blackchurch Rock Beach at Blackchurch Rock, Devon
Blackchurch Rock
Beach at Blackchurch Rock, Devon
Hartland: Beckland Bay View from the South West Coast Path, looking north west
Hartland: Beckland Bay
View from the South West Coast Path, looking north west
South West Coast Path near Mouth Mill, Hartland
South West Coast Path near Mouth Mill, Hartland
Field above Brownsham Cliffs On the South West Coastpath between Hartland Point and Clovelly
Field above Brownsham Cliffs
On the South West Coastpath between Hartland Point and Clovelly
View from Windbury Hillfort One of the great views from this section of the South West Coastpath (from Hartland Point to Clovelly). Left foreground: part of Windbury Hill. Right: Brownsham Cliff (a different one to the one in <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/SS2726">SS2726</a>) Left: Blackchurch Rock <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/SS2926">SS2926</a>. Right: Gallantry Bower <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/SS3026">SS3026</a>
View from Windbury Hillfort
One of the great views from this section of the South West Coastpath (from Hartland Point to Clovelly). Left foreground: part of Windbury Hill. Right: Brownsham Cliff (a different one to the one in SS2726) Left: Blackchurch Rock SS2926. Right: Gallantry Bower SS3026
Blackchurch Rock from Brownsham Cliff View from the South West Coastpath.
Blackchurch Rock from Brownsham Cliff
View from the South West Coastpath.
Blackchurch Rock
Blackchurch Rock
War Memorial, Beckland Cliff In Memory of the crew of a Wellington bomber which crashed beneath these cliffs on 13 April 1942
War Memorial, Beckland Cliff
In Memory of the crew of a Wellington bomber which crashed beneath these cliffs on 13 April 1942
Public Bridleway sign, Brownsham Wood The bridleway links Brownsham with Clovelly.
Public Bridleway sign, Brownsham Wood
The bridleway links Brownsham with Clovelly.
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Brownsham Cliff is located at Grid Ref: SS2926 (Lat: 51.01229, Lng: -4.4318817)

Administrative County: Devon

District: Torridge

Police Authority: Devon and Cornwall

What 3 Words

///yield.barrel.suffice. Near Northam, Devon

Nearby Locations

Blackchurch Rock Snaxland Wood The Wilderness Mouthmill Beach Brownsham Wood Mouth Mill

Related Wikis

Windbury Head
Windbury Head

Windbury Head is the site of an Iron Age hill fort on the Hartland Peninsula, just north of Clovelly in North Devon, England. Most of the fort has been...

Clovelly Court
Clovelly Court

Clovelly Court is a privately owned country house in Clovelly, Devon. The house and adjacent stable block are Grade II listed buildings. The gardens and...

Atlantic Academy
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Atlantic Academy is a secondary free school situated in Bucks Cross in Bideford, Devon, England. It has 131 pupils as of June 2017, and its current principal...

Clovelly Lifeboat Station
Clovelly Lifeboat Station

Clovelly Lifeboat Station, serving the North Devon village of Clovelly and surrounding coastal waters, is run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution...

Burscott
Burscott

Burscott is a village in Devon, England. == External links == Media related to Burscott at Wikimedia Commons

Clovelly
Clovelly

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Clovelly Dykes

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.01229,-4.4318817
Created By: dmgroom_coastlines
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 51.013343/-4.436766
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Barrier: kissing_gate
Bicycle: yes
Foot: yes
Stile: stepover
Lat/Long: 51.0114521/-4.4292383
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Mouth Mill
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 51.0131971/-4.4276792
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Bench
Backrest: no
Material: wood
Lat/Long: 51.0118419/-4.4378999
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Shelter
The Cottage
Shelter Type: basic_hut
Lat/Long: 51.012956/-4.4249415
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Bench
Backrest: no
Lat/Long: 51.0124656/-4.4365261
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Bench
Backrest: no
Lat/Long: 51.0121788/-4.4369767
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Blackchurch Rock
Tourism: attraction
Lat/Long: 51.0138926/-4.4264241
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Bench
Backrest: no
Lat/Long: 51.0112996/-4.4325532
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Blackchurch Rock
Natural: rock
Lat/Long: 51.0139685/-4.4264414
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Bench
Backrest: no
Survey Date: 2024-04-20
Lat/Long: 51.0119736/-4.4376427
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Clò Kearvaig Sutherland
Changue Heugh Wigtownshire

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