Hock Cliff

Cliff, Slope in Gloucestershire Stroud

England

Hock Cliff

Shed on the bank of the River Severn at Awre Photographed on a wet and windy November. Much relieved by an excellent pub at the end of the walk. — Shed on the bank of the River Severn at Awre Credit: Jerry Fryman

Hock Cliff is a prominent geological feature located in Gloucestershire, England. It is situated on the western side of the River Severn, approximately 5 miles north of the town of Lydney. This cliff is part of the larger Hock Cliff Nature Reserve, which covers an area of approximately 34 hectares.

The cliff itself is composed of layers of sedimentary rock, primarily limestone and sandstone, dating back to the Carboniferous period, around 310 million years ago. These layers provide valuable insights into the geological history of the region.

Rising to a height of around 60 meters, Hock Cliff offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including the River Severn and the Forest of Dean. It is a popular destination for hikers, nature enthusiasts, and photographers, who are drawn by its natural beauty and unique rock formations.

The cliff is also home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. The grassy slopes provide habitat for a variety of plant species, including wildflowers, mosses, and ferns. The reserve is also known for its birdlife, with species such as peregrine falcons, kestrels, and buzzards frequently spotted in the area.

Visitors to Hock Cliff are advised to exercise caution when exploring the site, as the terrain can be uneven and slippery. It is also important to respect the natural environment and adhere to any signage or guidelines provided by the nature reserve.

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Hock Cliff Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.779629/-2.3955809 or Grid Reference SO7209. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Shed on the bank of the River Severn at Awre

Photographed on a wet and windy November. Much relieved by an excellent pub at the end of the walk.

Jerry Fryman

Fretherne (Glos) St Mary's Church

ChurchCrawler

Severn Estuary shoreline including Saul Warth

Area prone to flooding around Saul Warth, may become managed realignment scheme.

Jim Mitchell

Hock Cliff

Hock Cliff is stuffed with lower lias fossils like the devil's toenail (Gryphaea Oyster) and ammonites just waiting to be collected from the rubble at the base of the cliff. However they are grey and crumbly and so don't make great specimens. We found an Ichthysaurus vertebra this particular day. There are some hovercraft waiting to go skimming across the mudflats in the distance.

Peter Kwan

Severn Bore

This is the early stage of the Severn Bore where it is a broad whooshing wave travelling up the river that quickly covers the low tide mud and sand. Two fronts can be seen and these are travelling either side of a mudflat called "The Noose". This particular bore was early in the morning on Good Friday.

Peter Kwan

The Noose

The section of the river Severn that is known as the Noose sits entirely in the grid square SO7207. The tide is on its way out leaving massive sand banks. The distance to the opposite bank is 2Km. The church at Frampton on Severn is just left of centre.

Vincent Jones

River Severn

The river Severn has nearly completed its journey around the large horseshoe bend by Newnham. From here it starts to open up into the Noose. A large tidal area of mud and sand. The tide is on its way out uncovering the dangerous sand banks. On the horizon is May hill.

Vincent Jones

Bank of the river Severn

Close to Awre this quiet section of the river Severn is a good area for wildlife spotting. The tide is on its way out revealing the massive sand banks. Large pieces of driftwood are deposited along the bank by the high tide.

Vincent Jones

Sunset over the Severn estuary

The main channel of the River Severn is just beyond the bank of mud in the foreground. The extensive area of sandbanks known as The Noose is beyond.

David Gruar

The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, Frampton-on-Severn

View south down the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal from Fretherne Bridge at Frampton-on-Severn.

Philip Halling

Fretherne Church

Fretherne church is dedicated to St Mary.

Philip Halling

Roadside ditch at Fretherne

Philip Halling

Overton Farm, Fretherne

Attractive red brick farmhouse in Fretherne.

Philip Halling

Stile on the Severn Way, near Arlingham

With the tide in the River Severn is very wide where it negotiates the large horseshoe opposite Newnham. Due to the river's width taller pylons are used to carry power cables across the river.

Philip Halling

The River Severn near Arlingham

View downstream from the bank of the River Severn to the south of Arlingham. The Cotswolds can be seen on the horizon.

Philip Halling

Teasel on the banks of the River Severn

Teasel on the banks of the River Severn near Arlingham.

Philip Halling

St Mary's church, Fretherne

This building was constructed in the 1840's, replacing two earlier churches on the site. It is faced with Stinchcombe sandstone with Bath stone dressings.

Jonathan Billinger