Saddle Nook

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Yorkshire

England

Saddle Nook

Selwicks Bay Chalk cliffs and Selwicks Bay by Flamborough Head. — Selwicks Bay Credit: Jonathan Wilkins

Saddle Nook is a picturesque coastal feature located in Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast, it is a prominent headland that juts out into the North Sea. With its stunning cliffs and rugged landscape, Saddle Nook offers breathtaking views of the surrounding coastline.

The headland is characterized by its unique geological formation, which gives it the appearance of a saddle, hence its name. The rocky cliffs are composed of layers of sedimentary rocks, including sandstone and limestone, providing a glimpse into the region's geological history.

Saddle Nook is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and hikers due to its diverse flora and fauna. The headland boasts a rich variety of plant life, including sea thrift, wildflowers, and grasses that thrive in the coastal environment. These plants provide habitat and food for a wide range of bird species, making it an ideal spot for birdwatching.

In addition to its natural beauty, Saddle Nook also has historical significance. The headland is home to several ancient archaeological sites, including burial mounds and ancient settlements, which offer insights into the area's human history.

Visitors to Saddle Nook can enjoy various activities, such as hiking along the cliff-top paths, exploring the rock pools at low tide, and taking in the panoramic views of the North Sea. The headland is also a popular spot for fishing and rock climbing, attracting outdoor enthusiasts from near and far.

Overall, Saddle Nook is a captivating coastal feature that combines stunning natural beauty with rich historical and geological significance.

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Saddle Nook Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.128503/-0.09677865 or Grid Reference TA2471. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Selwicks Bay

Chalk cliffs and Selwicks Bay by Flamborough Head.

Jonathan Wilkins

Beach boulders

Parts of the shore of Selwicks Bay have a surprising population of dark-coloured, or black boulders mingled with the obvious, white chalk. They are erratics of basalt which have been carried southwards from outcrops of the Whin Sill and deposited in boulder clay which lies on top of the chalk. Subsequent erosion has seen them fall to the beach platform. On this moody day with grey skies I was amused by the way that my assistant was almost perfectly camouflaged.

Jonathan Wilkins

Chalk platform

Flat-lying chalk strata have eroded into a smooth, white platform which is unlike any which I have encountered before. At lower levels on the beach, algae have attached, as can be seen in the background and on the cliffs, but this part of the shore appears to be scoured by powerful waves carrying shingle.

Jonathan Wilkins

Cliffs by Molk Hole

Chalk cliffs and beach platform. Young, soft rocks such as these are not my normal subject, and it was very interesting to examine these chalk outcrops. In fact, diagenetic variation means that the rock is actually harder here than in other places with this archetypal English rock. Cliffs here comprise the Flamborough Chalk Formation, which is notably free of flint. The underlying Burnham Chalk Formation, which is found on the wave-cut platform at the south of the bay, is locally rich in flints.

Jonathan Wilkins