Amazing geology on Cornwall's North East Coast

Very hot at the moment in Cornwall, so Barbara and I drove along the beautiful Atlantic Highway (above) and stayed overnight at Bude, on the north east border with Devon, and only 62 miles from Falmouth. This is a wonderful area, with different geology to much of Cornwall. Most of the county is composed of Devonian metaphorposed sediments (killas) and Carnoniferous granites, but north east Cornwall is dominated by Carboniferous sandstones and slates.

There is some magnificent cliff walking in this area, particularly the 9 strenuous miles from Bude to Crackington Haven, which passes one of the world's best examples of chevron-folding at Millook Haven.  Cornwall was shaped by the Variscan oregeny during the Carboniferous period, and its rocks were tortured by tectonic forces as the Rheic Ocean finally closed and Pangea was formed. These forces are nowhere more apparent than in the Crackington Haven area and most notably on the cliffs at Millook Haven.

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