Geology

As you journey along the coastline of Exmoor, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, the geology you walk over varies greatly and this is the main reason we have such varied scenery along the Path.

As the rocks change, so does the way the land is farmed, the shape of the cliffs and harbours, and even the wildlife, and this is what makes the Coast Path such an interesting walk.

The geological star of the route has to be the Jurassic Coast in East Devon and Dorset which has been designated as a World Heritage Site for its amazing geology and spectacular scenery. Stretching for 95 miles it is considered to be the only place in the world displaying unbroken evidence of 185 million years of evolution – a true ‘walk through time’. But it’s not the only place with amazing geology, so take a look at our video which gives you a whistle-stop tour of some of the geological highlights you can see along the Path.

We’ve also hundreds of walk descriptions on this site, and to make it easy for you to find the most interesting geological spots along the Coast Path, expand the menu on the right, and you’ll find what we think are the best geology walks in each area. Alternatively if you want to refine your choice down further, for instance to find a walk that is good for geology and has a pub, use the Walk Finder tool (the magnifying glass at the top of the page).