Bolt Tail facts for kids
Bolt Tail is a cool piece of land that sticks out into the sea in Devon, England. It's found southwest of a place called Hope Cove. Imagine a big rocky nose poking into the ocean – that's a headland! Bolt Tail is famous for its amazing views and a bit of ancient history.
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What is Bolt Tail?
Bolt Tail is a special type of landform called a headland. This means it's a piece of land, often high and rocky, that extends out into the sea. It's located in the beautiful county of Devon, which is in the southwest of England. You can find it just southwest of a small, pretty village called Hope Cove.
A Look Back in Time: Bolt Tail's Ancient Fort
Long, long ago, during the Iron Age (which was thousands of years ago!), Bolt Tail was home to a special kind of fort. It was called a promontory fort. This means it was a fort built on a headland, using the natural cliffs for protection. People in the Iron Age built a long, straight earth wall, called a linear earthwork, across the narrowest part of the headland. This helped protect the fort from anyone trying to attack from the land side. Even though not much of the fort can be seen today, it was an important place high above the sea, about 60 meters (nearly 200 feet) up!
Exploring the Coastline Around Bolt Tail
Bolt Tail is the starting point for a fantastic walk along the coast. This path goes through land looked after by the National Trust, which is an organization that protects special places in England. The walk goes all the way to Salcombe, a lovely town with a harbor. Along the way, you'll pass places like Bolberry Down and Bolt Head, which is at the entrance to the Salcombe Estuary.
Amazing Views from Bolt Tail
From Bolt Tail, you can see incredible views! You can look across to Bantham Beach and a cool island called Burgh Island. On a clear day, you might even be able to see far down the coast into Cornwall, all the way to a spot called Dodman Point. If the weather conditions are super clear and special, you might even spot Lizard Point, which is the most southerly point of mainland Britain!
Shipwrecks Near Bolt Tail
The waters around Bolt Tail can be tricky for ships. Over the years, a few ships have run into trouble here.
The SS Jebba
In 1907, a ship called the SS Jebba ran aground (meaning it hit the bottom) near Bolt Tail. It was a sad event for the ship and its crew.
The HMS Ramillies
Even further back in history, in February 1760, a very large warship called HMS Ramillies also met a similar fate nearby. This ship was a "ship-of-the-line," which means it was a powerful warship with many cannons, designed to fight in a line formation during battles. It had 90 guns! It's a reminder of how powerful the sea can be.
