Atherfield Rocks

Island in Hampshire

England

Atherfield Rocks

HM Coastguard on watch near Whale Chine On the day of the 2022 Round the Island race. — HM Coastguard on watch near Whale Chine Credit: Paul Coueslant

Atherfield Rocks is a prominent geological feature located on the southern coast of the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England. It is situated in the village of Atherfield, near the town of Brighstone. These rocks are renowned for their unique fossil-rich exposures, which provide valuable insights into the island's geological history.

The Atherfield Rocks consist of layers of Upper Greensand and Lower Cretaceous sandstone, dating back over 100 million years. The site offers a diverse range of fossils, including ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, brachiopods, and echinoids, which are well-preserved due to the rock's high fossilization potential. These fossils are mainly marine in origin and offer valuable information about the island's ancient marine ecosystems.

The cliffs at Atherfield Rocks also reveal evidence of past geological processes, such as erosion and sedimentation. The alternating layers of sandstone and greensand indicate periods of deposition and subsequent erosion, creating a visually stunning landscape. The site is also noteworthy for its folding and faulting structures, showcasing the tectonic forces that have shaped the region over millions of years.

Due to its geological significance, Atherfield Rocks is a popular destination for geologists, fossil enthusiasts, and tourists alike. The site offers opportunities for educational field trips and fossil collecting, with guided tours available to ensure the preservation of the delicate environment. Additionally, the nearby Atherfield Bay provides a picturesque setting for visitors to explore the unique rock formations, enjoy coastal walks, or simply appreciate the natural beauty of this geologically rich location.

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Atherfield Rocks Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.608617/-1.3634442 or Grid Reference SZ4578. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

HM Coastguard on watch near Whale Chine On the day of the 2022 Round the Island race.

HM Coastguard on watch near Whale Chine

On the day of the 2022 Round the Island race.

View to sea near Whale Chine A couple of jet skis burning up the hydrocarbons.

View to sea near Whale Chine

A couple of jet skis burning up the hydrocarbons.

Coastal path SW30 heading east Along a stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion.

Coastal path SW30 heading east

Along a stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion.

Coastguard cottages, Atherfield Point

Coastguard cottages, Atherfield Point

Cliff near Atherfield Point A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. It is a good idea to study the turf for cracks if approaching the edge. The point is caused by a layer of harder rock at a lower level, it may be seen extending out to sea here.

Cliff near Atherfield Point

A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. It is a good idea to study the turf for cracks if approaching the edge. The point is caused by a layer of harder rock at a lower level, it may be seen extending out to sea here.

Cliff east of Atherfield Point A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. It is a good idea to study the turf for cracks if approaching the edge.

Cliff east of Atherfield Point

A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. It is a good idea to study the turf for cracks if approaching the edge.

Cliff near Atherfield Point A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. The point is caused by a layer of harder rock at a lower level, it may be seen extending out to sea here.

Cliff near Atherfield Point

A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. The point is caused by a layer of harder rock at a lower level, it may be seen extending out to sea here.

Path SW30, Atherfield Point A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. It is a good idea to study the turf for cracks if approaching the edge. This part looks suspicious, it may just be mole work, on the other hand the mole may have exploited an easily delved crack.

Path SW30, Atherfield Point

A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. It is a good idea to study the turf for cracks if approaching the edge. This part looks suspicious, it may just be mole work, on the other hand the mole may have exploited an easily delved crack.

Ledge at Atherfield Point A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. The point is caused by layers of harder rock at a lower level, one may be seen extending out to sea here. There is a broader ledge further west, presumably a different stratum.

Ledge at Atherfield Point

A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. The point is caused by layers of harder rock at a lower level, one may be seen extending out to sea here. There is a broader ledge further west, presumably a different stratum.

Cliff, Atherfield Point A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion.

Cliff, Atherfield Point

A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion.

Cliff, Atherfield Point A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. Here a mud flow plays a part.

Cliff, Atherfield Point

A stretch of cliff particularly liable to erosion. Here a mud flow plays a part.

Cliff, Atherfield Point At or near the bottom is a cache of fishing equipment with a braced post. There is a similar post on the cliff top with a lightweight cable heading down, hardly visible at a distance. Perhaps this is the bottom end. The vegetated green strip is the east end of a long ledge that seems to be formed from a bodily slip of a length of cliff top, there is a bench on it, similar to those surviving elsewhere on the cliff top. The ledge rises to the west and appears to be the easy part of a descent on foot to here.

Cliff, Atherfield Point

At or near the bottom is a cache of fishing equipment with a braced post. There is a similar post on the cliff top with a lightweight cable heading down, hardly visible at a distance. Perhaps this is the bottom end. The vegetated green strip is the east end of a long ledge that seems to be formed from a bodily slip of a length of cliff top, there is a bench on it, similar to those surviving elsewhere on the cliff top. The ledge rises to the west and appears to be the easy part of a descent on foot to here.

Lookout post, Atherfield Point A lightweight cable goes down the cliff from the post, possibly connected to the post seen in <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7419923">SZ4579 : Cliff, Atherfield Point</a>. There was a weatherbeaten notice on the post with extracts from some publication detailing the vessels that foundered on the Atherfield Ledge, a rock formation off the point.

Lookout post, Atherfield Point

A lightweight cable goes down the cliff from the post, possibly connected to the post seen in SZ4579 : Cliff, Atherfield Point. There was a weatherbeaten notice on the post with extracts from some publication detailing the vessels that foundered on the Atherfield Ledge, a rock formation off the point.

Coast west of Atherfield Point

Coast west of Atherfield Point

Slumped cliff west of Atherfield Point The British Geological Society&#039;s viewer describes this as &#039;Atherfield Clay Formation - Mudstone, sandy. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 126.3 and 113 million years ago during the Cretaceous period&#039;.

Slumped cliff west of Atherfield Point

The British Geological Society's viewer describes this as 'Atherfield Clay Formation - Mudstone, sandy. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 126.3 and 113 million years ago during the Cretaceous period'.

Coastal footpath SW30 with paraglider One of two paragliders that suddenly appeared when I wasn&#039;t looking in the right direction.

Coastal footpath SW30 with paraglider

One of two paragliders that suddenly appeared when I wasn't looking in the right direction.

Cliff slide between Atherfield Point and Shepherd's Chine This embayment in the cliff top line appears from aerial photographs to have been largely initiated somewhere between 1999 and 2005, with enlargement by subsequent slips. Before this the cliff top protruded somewhat towards the sea.

Cliff slide between Atherfield Point and Shepherd's Chine

This embayment in the cliff top line appears from aerial photographs to have been largely initiated somewhere between 1999 and 2005, with enlargement by subsequent slips. Before this the cliff top protruded somewhat towards the sea.

View north from cliff top near Shepherd's Chine The far summit is on Limerstone Down.

View north from cliff top near Shepherd's Chine

The far summit is on Limerstone Down.

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Atherfield Rocks is located at Grid Ref: SZ4578 (Lat: 50.608617, Lng: -1.3634442)

Unitary Authority: Isle of Wight

Police Authority: Hampshire

What 3 Words

///older.opened.height. Near Chale, Isle of Wight

Nearby Locations

Atherfield Rocks Chale Bay Fishing Cove

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 50.608617,-1.3634442

Source: Bing

Lat/Long: 50.6094362/-1.3589459

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Lat/Long: 50.6110278/-1.3637493

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Lat/Long: 50.6115333/-1.364103

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Lat/Long: 50.6119864/-1.3645255

Source: Bing

Lat/Long: 50.6123444/-1.3648567

Source: Bing

Lat/Long: 50.6096083/-1.3615281

Source: Bing

Lat/Long: 50.6094879/-1.3607787

Aterfield Point

Place: locality

Source: OS 7th

Lat/Long: 50.6097564/-1.3630691

The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

Holm of Califf Shetland

The Tara Shetland

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