Prawle Point facts for kids
Prawle Point is a famous piece of land that sticks out into the sea in South Devon, England. It's the most southern point in Devon! The name "Prawle" comes from an old English word meaning "lookout hill." Just to the west, you'll find Elender Cove, and further along are Gammons Head Beach (also known as Maceley Cove) and Gammon Head.
You can reach Prawle Point from the village of East Prawle. There's a narrow road that leads to a car park, which is looked after by the National Trust. When you get to the point itself, you'll see tall cliffs dropping down to the sea. The National Coastwatch Institution has a station here, where volunteers keep an eye on the coast to help with safety.
Wildlife at Prawle Point
This area is a special place for birds. It's well-known for the cirl bunting, a type of bird that is quite rare in Britain. Prawle Point also attracts many unusual birds that have wandered off course. These birds are called "vagrants." For example, Britain's second ever chestnut-sided warbler, a very rare bird, was spotted here!
Prawle Point is part of a larger protected area called the Prawle Point and Start Point Site of Special Scientific Interest. This special area stretches all the way to Start Point. It means the land and its wildlife are very important and are looked after carefully.
Shipwrecks at Prawle Point
Many ships have unfortunately been wrecked near Prawle Point over the years.
The Lalla Rookh
The Lalla Rookh was a fast sailing ship called a tea clipper. These ships were built to carry tea quickly from faraway lands. The Lalla Rookh was wrecked after hitting Gammon Head. The ship broke apart and was carried by the waves into Elender Cove. Today, her remains are still there, buried under the sand.
The Demetrios
In December 1992, a ship named Demetrios was being pulled by a tugboat from Dunkirk to a scrapyard. The ship used to be called the Long Lin and came from China. While crossing the English Channel, there were terrible storms. The rope connecting the tug to the Demetrios broke, and the ship was left floating without control.
On December 18, the Demetrios crashed into the rocks at Prawle Point. Within a few hours, the ship broke in half. Many people came to see the wreck for weeks. Eventually, a local company cut up the ship and took the pieces to Plymouth. Some parts of the ship were left behind and can still be seen today.
