Pondfield Cove facts for kids
Pondfield Cove is a small, hidden beach on the south coast of the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England. It sits between two interesting spots: Worbarrow Tout to its west and Gad Cliff to its east. This beautiful cove is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of Wareham and 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of Swanage.
You can only visit Pondfield Cove when the Lulworth Ranges are open to the public. This area is used by the military for training, so access is sometimes restricted for safety. When it's open, you can reach the cove by walking about 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles) down an easy path. This path starts from the car park near the ghost village of Tyneham. Another way to get there is by following the South West Coast Path, a famous walking trail.
How the Rocks Were Made
The rocks around the Isle of Purbeck are very interesting and show a lot of history. At Pondfield Cove, you can clearly see how the layers of rock are bent and twisted. This shows us how the Earth's surface changed millions of years ago.
About 30 million years ago, huge forces from the Earth's tectonic plates pushed the African and European continents together. This caused the rocks in this area to fold and twist. Because of this, you can see younger rock layers, formed between 85 and 145 million years ago, further inland.
Pondfield Cove itself is made up of even older rocks. It's mostly formed from Portland limestone, which is about 150 million years old, and rocks from the Purbeck Beds, which are around 147 million years old. You can see these different layers of limestone and shale clearly in the low cliff that connects Worbarrow Tout to the mainland. This cliff separates Pondfield Cove from Worbarrow Bay, which is to the north.
Gallery
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Cliffs on the west side of the cove
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Concrete obstacles at the back of the cove
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Shell on the beach
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Nose-cone on the beach
