Somerset's Jurassic Coast

Generally it is the Dorset coast which is referred to as the Jurassic coast but Somerset does have it's own fossil rich stretch of coastline. Kilve is situated close to Watchet and the beach is approached via a lane in the middle of the village.

The first sign of the curiosity of this beach is reached before you  get to the beach and is just on the edge of the parking area.

This curious tower was built in the 1920s and is a brick retort for smelting oil. The shale on the beach is oil rich and the spectacular idea was to refine oil! It never really took off.

Beyond here you get your first view of this coastline that was described by Wordsworth as 'Kilve's delightful shore'.

I have visited this area before but hadn't previously been down onto the beach. Walking across the rocks is not easy but is well worth the effort. It is obviously dependent on a low tide.

The various layers of rock laid down millions of years ago are very evident and create curious patterns along the beach.

There are layers of oil rich shale and lias which is rich in fossils.

It is an area of Special Scientific Interest and it is forbidden to remove any rocks. Walking only a short distance on the rocks certainly revealed a large number of interesting rock formations and fossils.

There are a mixture of ammonites and vertebrates.

We then went for a walk along the cliff path which is an ideal place to admire both the coastline and the stretches of agricultural land.

South Wales is visible across the Bristol Channel in the distance.

Then it is possible to see further down the coast the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point being built.