Porthleven Cliffs
Also within
Cornwall County Cornwall Scenic Area King Charles Way - Penzance to St Mawes National TrailSouth West Coast Path National Trail
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW622257 | — | Favourable | 2.02 | 2024-02-21 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Erratic, Raised Beach · Geological Period: Quaternary · Rock Type: Gneiss
Landscape processes: Coastal, Glacial
Description
Porthleven Cliffs SSSI Description Porthleven is famous for the Giant’s Rock, a large erratic block of garnetiferous gneiss resting on an intertidal shore platform. The Giant’s Rock is the most striking example of its type on the south coast of England. Its exact origina and mode(s) of transport have generated considerable debate and carry important implications for Quaternary glacio-marine conditions and sea-levels on the Channel coast. Porthleven is also noted for cemented raised beach deposits preserbved in caves and notches, and head deposits on the cliff top. Site Notified to Secretary of State on 27 June 1986.