Ringstead Bay

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Ringstead Bay
Ringstead Bay and White Nothe.JPG
Ringstead Bay with White Nothe to the east in the background
Dorset UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Ringstead Bay
Location Dorset, England
Coordinates 50°37′51″N2°20′16″W / 50.6309°N 2.3378°W / 50.6309; -2.3378 Coordinates: 50°37′51″N2°20′16″W / 50.6309°N 2.3378°W / 50.6309; -2.3378
Part of Jurassic Coast, English Channel
Managing agency National Trust
Website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ringstead-bay

Ringstead Bay, with the small village of Ringstead at the eastern end and the prominent headland of White Nothe at the western end, is located on the coast in Dorset, southern England. The area lies on the Jurassic Coast and is known for its natural environment and fossils. [1]

Contents

Ringstead Bay has a pebble and shingle beach with some sand. [2] [3] There are offshore reefs approximately 0.6 kilometres (0.37 mi) in length at the western end opposite the village that are uncovered at low tide. This forms is intertidal zone between the low cliffs to the north and the English Channel to the south.

The Ringstead Coral Bed a geological formation exposed at Ringstead Bay, hence the name. [4] [5] [6] It preserves fossils dating back to the Jurassic period.

Immediately to the east are the white chalk cliffs of White Nothe, dominating the bay. Below is Burning Cliff. [7] It is possible to walk to the top of White Nothe and back, with views of the bay and across to the Isle of Portland. [8] It is also possible to walk to Ringstead Bay on a circular walk from Lulworth Cove to the east, via Durdle Door and White Nothe. [9]

Ringstead Bay also has a nudist beach that is a 20-minutes walk east of the main Ringstead beach. [10] [11]

Access

Ringstead Bay is accessible by way of a private road with a car park at the end near the sea and Ringstead village. There is an alternative free car park in the National Trust area further inland, with footpath access to the sea via a 15–20 minute walk. [12]

See also

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Durdle Door

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Geology of Dorset

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Lyme Bay

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White Nothe

White Nothe is a chalk headland on the English Channel coast at the eastern end of Ringstead Bay, east of Weymouth in Dorset, England. The area is well known for its geology and fossils. Its flanks are the result of prehistoric landslides and the inaccessible slopes of the undercliff provide a secluded wildlife habitat.

Ringstead, Dorset Village in Dorset

Ringstead and the small village located on the coast in Dorset, southern England. The area lies on the Jurassic Coast and is known for its natural environment and fossils. Ringstead Bay and White Nothe are to the east. Bran Point and Osmington Mills are to the west.

Newtons Cove

Newton's Cove is a small cove with sand, shingle and rock pools, 0.5 kilometres (0.3 mi) south of Weymouth, Dorset, England, overlooking Portland Harbour and next to the Nothe Fort. The beach is mainly used by locals and by tourists who visit the Nothe Gardens and the fort.

Bran Point

Bran Point is a small headland on the Dorset coast in southern England, about halfway between the small villages of Ringstead to the east and Osmington Mills to the west. There is a picturesque cliff-top path between the two villages via Bran Point.

Kimmeridge Bay Human settlement in England

Kimmeridge Bay is a bay on the Isle of Purbeck, a peninsula on the English Channel coast in Dorset, England, close to and southeast of the village of Kimmeridge, on the Smedmore Estate. The area is renowned for its fossils, with The Etches Collection in the village of Kimmeridge displaying fossils found by Steve Etches in the area over a 30-year period. It is a popular place to access the coast for tourists. To the east are the Kimmeridge Ledges, where fossils can be found in the flat clay beds.

Redcliff Point

Redcliff Point is on the south coast of England, to the east of Weymouth in Dorset. It lies just past the eastern end of the sweeping Weymouth Bay on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape known for its geology. Fossils can be found in the Upper Oxford Clay in this area.

Black Head, Dorset

Black Head a headland on the south coast of England, to the east of Weymouth in Dorset. It lies on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape known for its geology. Fossils can be found in the area.

Furzy Cliff Human settlement in United Kingdom

Furzy Cliff is located on the coast near the village of Preston, just to the east of Weymouth, Dorset, England. It is at the northeastern end of Weymouth Beach, looking out over Weymouth Bay to Portland Harbour and the Isle of Portland. Close by to the east is Bowleaze Cove. Just inland to the north are Jordan Hill and the remains of the Jordan Hill Roman Temple. On the top of the cliff there is a large grass area with good views.

Geography of Dorset

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Durdle Pier

Durdle Pier is a disused 17th-century stone shipping quay, located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England; part of the Jurassic Coast. It is found close by Yeolands Quarry, on the east side of the island within the area of East Weares and Penn's Weare.

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Kings Pier

King's Pier is a 17th-century stone shipping quay, located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England; part of the Jurassic Coast. It is found at the boundary point of the land owned by Portland Port Ltd, on the east side of the island within the area of East Weares. To the north of the pier is Balaclava Bay, whilst further south along the coastline are the remains of Folly Pier and Folly Pier Waterworks, East Weare Rifle Range, the two Salt Pans, Little Beach and Durdle Pier respectively. When active, King's Pier was one of the most important stone shipping pier sites.

The Ringstead Coral Bed is a geologic formation in England. It preserves fossils dating back to the Jurassic period. The beds are exposed at Ringstead Bay in Dorset, on the Jurassic Coast, hence the name.

Kimmeridge Ledges Human settlement in England

Kimmeridge Ledges is a set of Kimmeridge clay ledges stretching out in to the sea on the Isle of Purbeck, a peninsula on the English Channel coast in Dorset, England.They are located to the southeast of Kimmeridge Bay and south of the villages of Kimmeridge, on the Smedmore Estate.

References

  1. "Ringstead Bay". UK: National Trust . Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  2. "Ringstead Bay". thebeachguide. UK. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  3. "Ringstead Beach". Visit Dorset. UK. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  4. "Ringstead Bay". UK Fossil Collecting. UK: UK Fossils Network. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  5. "Collection: Ringstead Bay (Ringstead coral bed) England, UK". mindat.org. UK. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  6. Winder, Jessica M. (21 March 2014). "Jurassic Coral Fossils at Ringstead". Jessica's Nature Blog. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  7. "Burning Cliff, West Dorset (DT2 8NG)". getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. UK: Ordnance Survey . Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  8. West, Ian. "Ringstead Bay to White Nothe, Dorset". Geology of the Wessex Coast of Southern England. UK: University of Southampton . Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  9. Durdle Door & White Nothe circular, The South West Coast Path National Trail, UK.
  10. "Ringstead Bay Dorset". Naturist / Nudist Beaches in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. UK: Saturday Walkers Club. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  11. "Ringstead Bay news from the Dorset Beaches". dorsetbeaches.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  12. "Top 10 Nude Beaches in the World". lastminutes.deals. Retrieved 2021-02-02.