Golden Cap
| Golden Cap | |
|---|---|
 Golden Cap seen from Charmouth beach | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 191 m (627 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 63 m (207 ft)[1] |
| Parent peak | Hardown Hill[1] |
| Geography | |
| Location | Dorset, England |
| Parent range | South Dorset Downs |
| OS grid | SY384934 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 193 |
Golden Cap is a hill and cliff situated on the English Channel coast between Bridport and Charmouth in Dorset, England. At 191 metres (627 ft), it is the highest point within a mile of the south coast of Great Britain (it is set back some 250 m (820 ft) from the coastline) and is visible for tens of miles along the coastline. It is accessible via a coastal footpath from Seatown, and takes around 40 minutes to reach the summit.
The hill is owned by the National Trust and forms part of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site.[2]
The base of the cliff is covered with large boulders, and is popular with fossil collectors. Storms have previously exposed fossilised ammonites and belemnites in the Blue Lias base.[3]
The name derives from the distinctive outcropping of golden greensand rock present at the very top of the cliff.[4]
Behind the cliff is Langdon Wood, a small wood of mainly Corsican Pine, planted in the 1950s, whose trees originate from a nearby copse known as "Eleanor's Clump". Langdon is owned by the National Trust, and encompasses a circular walk of approximately one mile.[5]
As a result of its height, on a clear day views can extend to Portland Bill and to Start Point and Dartmoor in Devon.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Summit Listings by Relative Height by Jonathan de Ferranti. Accessed on 27 Mar 2013.
- ^ "Golden Cap". nationaltrust.org.uk. National Trust. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "The Geology Of Dorset: The Jurassic rocks". dorsetlife.co.uk. Dorset Life. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Golden Cap". visit-dorset.com. Visit Dorest. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ Davis, Joanna (21 March 2021). "The story behind famous Jurassic Coast landmark Golden Cap". Dorset Echo. West Dorset. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
External links
- Golden Cap - official site at National Trust
- Golden Cap and Seatown — Geology of the Wessex Coast by Ian West, Southampton University