Kingsbridge Estuary

Last updated

Kingsbridge estuary from Sharpitor looking upstream towards Kingsbridge. Salcombe is on the left, Sunny Cove and other beaches are visible to the right. Salcombe estuary from Sharpitor.jpg
Kingsbridge estuary from Sharpitor looking upstream towards Kingsbridge. Salcombe is on the left, Sunny Cove and other beaches are visible to the right.

The Kingsbridge Estuary (also, erroneously, known as the 'Salcombe Estuary') in the South Hams area of Devon, England runs from Kingsbridge in the north to its mouth at the English Channel near Salcombe and lies between Bolt Head and Sharpitor to the west and Portlemouth Down to the east. The estuary is some 8.6 kilometres (5.3 mi) in length, with numerous side channels. Several of its creeks have independent names, including Blanksmill, Frogmore, Southpool, Batson and Bowcombe Creek (the most northerly portion of the estuary).

It covers an area of 674 hectares (1,670 acres) of which 446 hectares (1,100 acres) are inter-tidal. At high water the length of coast within the ria is 48.6 kilometres (30.2 mi). Although there are no major water courses entering the estuary, its total catchment area is 6,800 hectares (68 km2).

The estuary is an extreme example of a ria or drowned river valley caused by rising sea levels rather than a true estuary. Prior to the sea level rise at the end of the last glacial period, it was the valley of a river. Its size is disproportionate to the size of the small streams which flow into it. [1]

In February 1987 the estuary was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is a Local Nature Reserve and lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Avon, Devon</span> River in Devon, England

The River Avon, also known as the River Aune, is a river in the county of Devon in the southwest of England. It rises in the southern half of Dartmoor National Park in an area of bog to the west of Ryder's Hill. Close to where the river leaves Dartmoor a dam was built in 1957 to form the Avon reservoir. After leaving the moor it passes through South Brent and then Avonwick and Aveton Gifford and flows into the sea at Bigbury-on-Sea. Near Loddiswell the valley flows through Fosse Copse a 1.88 hectares woodland owned and managed by the Woodland Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ria</span> A coastal inlet formed by the partial submergence of an unglaciated river valley

A ria is a coastal inlet formed by the partial submergence of an unglaciated river valley. It is a drowned river valley that remains open to the sea.

Kingsbridge is a market town and tourist hub in the South Hams district of Devon, England, with a population of 6,116 at the 2011 census. Two electoral wards bear the name of Kingsbridge. Their combined population at the above census was 4,381. It is situated at the northern end of the Kingsbridge Estuary, a ria that extends to the sea six miles south of the town. It is the third largest settlement in the South Hams and is 17 miles (27 km) southwest of Torquay and 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Plymouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Hams</span> Local government district in Devon, England

South Hams is a local government district on the south coast of Devon, England. Services divide between those provided by its own Council headquartered in Totnes, and those provided by Devon County Council headquartered in the city of Exeter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Exe</span> River in Devon and Somerset, England

The River Exe in England rises at Exe Head, near the village of Simonsbath, on Exmoor in Somerset, 8.4 kilometres (5 mi) from the Bristol Channel coast, but flows more or less directly due south, so that most of its length lies in Devon. It flows for 60 miles (96 km) and reaches the sea at a substantial ria, the Exe Estuary, on the south coast of Devon. Historically, its lowest bridging point was the Old Exe Bridge in Exeter, the largest settlement on the river, but there is now a viaduct for the M5 motorway about 3 kilometres (2 mi) south of the city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salcombe</span> Town in Devon, England

Salcombe is a popular resort town in the South Hams district of Devon, south west England. The town is close to the mouth of the Kingsbridge Estuary, mostly built on the steep west side of the estuary. It lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The town's extensive waterfront and the naturally sheltered harbour formed by the estuary gave rise to its success as a boat and shipbuilding and sailing port and, in modern times, tourism especially in the form of pleasure boats and yachting. The town is also home to a traditional shellfish fishing industry. The town is part of the electoral ward of Salcombe and Malborough, for which the 2011 census recorded a total population of 3,353.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuggerah Lake</span> Lake in the state of New South Wales, Australia

Tuggerah Lake, an intermittently open intermediate wave dominated barrier estuary that is part of the Tuggerah Lakes, is located within the Central Coast Council local government area in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The lake is located near Wyong and is situated about 90 kilometres (56 mi) north of Sydney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Portlemouth</span> Village in Devon, England

East Portlemouth is a small Devon village situated at the southern end of the Kingsbridge Estuary, on the south Devon Coast. The population of this parish taken at the 2011 census was 162. The village is sited on a hill giving views to the north to Kingsbridge and on a clear day as far as Dartmoor. There is a small ferry that runs to Salcombe in the opposite side of the estuary, and a beach that is popular with holidaymakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Erme</span> River in south Devon, England

The Erme is a river in south Devon, England. From its source on Dartmoor it flows in a generally southerly direction past some of the best-preserved archaeological remains on the moor. It leaves the moor at the town of Ivybridge and continues southward, passing the settlements of Ermington, Modbury and Holbeton. Near Holbeton it becomes a ria and empties into the English Channel in Bigbury Bay, between the rivers Yealm and Avon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Pool</span> Village in Devon, England

South Pool is a village, parish and former manor in South Devon, England. It is situated 3 1/2 miles south-east of the town of Kingsbridge and 2 1/2 miles north-east of Salcombe. It is administered by the South Hams local authority. Historically it formed part of Coleridge Hundred. It falls within Woodleigh Deanery for ecclesiastical purposes. The village is in an area of outstanding natural beauty at the head of South Pool creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Wales</span> Overview of the geography of Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and whose physical geography is characterised by a varied coastline and a largely upland interior. It is bordered by England to its east, the Irish Sea to its north and west, and the Bristol Channel to its south. It has a total area of 2,064,100 hectares and is about 170 mi (274 km) from north to south and at least 60 mi (97 km) wide. It comprises 8.35 percent of the land of the United Kingdom. It has a number of offshore islands, by far the largest of which is Anglesey. The mainland coastline, including Anglesey, is about 1,680 mi (2,704 km) in length. As of 2014, Wales had a population of about 3,092,000; Cardiff is the capital and largest city and is situated in the urbanised area of South East Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Alde</span> River system in Suffolk, England

The River Alde and River Ore form a river system in Suffolk, England passing by Snape and Aldeburgh. The River Alde and River Ore meet northwest of Blaxhall. From there downriver the combined river is known as the River Alde past Snape and Aldeburgh, and then again as the River Ore as it approaches Orford and flows by a shingle spit before emptying into the North Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Yealm</span> River in Devon, England

The Yealm is a river in Devon in England that rises 430 m (1,410 ft) above sea level on the Stall Moor mires of south Dartmoor and travels 12 miles (19 km) to the sea, passing through Cornwood, Lee Mill and Yealmpton, a mid-sized village with a population of c.2,000 which is its largest settlement, before reaching its estuary which forms a ria bounded on its western side by Wembury. A deep inlet of this ria forms the waterfront to Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo on its eastern side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Devon AONB</span>

The South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covers 337 square kilometres, including much of the South Hams area of Devon and the rugged coastline from Jennycliff Bay to Elberry Cove near Brixham. The purpose of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is to conserve and enhance the area's natural beauty. In South Devon this includes: undeveloped coastline, estuaries, geological and geomorphological features, expansive panoramic views, ancient agricultural field pattern, Devon banks, areas of high tranquility, dark night skies and natural nightscapes, historic features, green lanes, well known cultural associations, picturesque villages and hamlets. South Devon AONB was formally designated in August 1960 under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The highest point in the AONB is Blackdown Camp at 199 metres above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A381 road</span> Road in Devon, England

The A381 road is a non-trunk 'A'-class road in Devon, England which serves as an important link between the towns of Teignmouth, Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot, Totnes and Salcombe and many villages in between, with the busiest section having 6 lanes and carrying an average of over 40,000 vehicles per day. The route overlaps with other A-roads for several sections of its length. It is a faster route from Teignmouth to Salcombe than the A379 which meets it at both ends. It is under the control of Devon County Council as highway authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newtown River</span> River on the Isle of Wight, England

Newtown River is a large natural inland harbour located on the Isle of Wight's northwestern coast, named after the nearby village of Newtown. It is sometimes also referred to as Newtown Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hope Cove</span> Village in Devon, England

Hope Cove is a small seaside village within the civil parish of South Huish in South Hams District, Devon, England. It is located 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Salcombe and 5 miles (8.0 km) south west of Kingsbridge. It has two beaches, and is sheltered by the headland of Bolt Tail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Somerset</span>

The county of Somerset is in South West England, bordered by the Bristol Channel and the counties of Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, and Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south, and Devon to the west. The climate, influenced by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the prevailing westerly winds, tends to be mild, damp and windy.

South Devon is the southern part of Devon, England. Because Devon has its major population centres on its two coasts, the county is divided informally into North Devon and South Devon. In a narrower sense "South Devon" is used to refer to the part of Devon south of Exeter and Dartmoor, including Plymouth, Torbay and the districts of South Hams, West Devon and Teignbridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowcombe Creek</span> Tidal creek in south Devon, England

Bowcombe Creek is a tidal creek in Kingsbridge, Devon, England. It is the most northerly creek of the Kingsbridge Estuary. The creek is fed by a stream to the north and is located one mile south-east of Kingsbridge.

References

  1. "The Salcombe & Kingsbridge Estuary". South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 22 June 2008. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
50°15′10″N3°45′35″W / 50.25278°N 3.75972°W / 50.25278; -3.75972