Bran Point

View west from Bran Ledge towards Redcliff Point.
View from White Nothe across Ringstead Bay with Bran Point in the distance.

Bran Point is a small headland on the Dorset coast in southern England, about half way between the small villages of Ringstead to the east and Osmington Mills to the west. There is a picturesque cliff-top path between the two villages via Bran Point.

The name derives from the brown colouring of the rock forming the cliffs of the headland, caused in part by residual oil deposits.[1] The geology of the area is particularly interesting. The coastline in the area is formed from rocks and shingle with exposed cliffs behind. The Middle White Oolite of the Osmington Oolite more visible to the west has descended to beach level here. At the middle of the cliff, there is nodular rubble consisting of calcitized sponge spicules. Higher in the cliff are reddish brown beds containing Trigonia clavellata fossils.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Watson, D. F.; Hindle, A. D. and Farrimond P. (2000) "Organic geochemistry of petroleum seepages within the Jurassic Bencliff Grit, Osmington Mills, Dorset, UK" Petroleum Geoscience 6(4): pp. 289-297
  2. ↑ West, Ian M. (2006) "Osmington Mills to Ringstead, Dorset, UK, Corallian strata" Internet Geology Field Guide

See also

External links

Coordinates: 50°37′53″N 2°21′56″W / 50.6314°N 2.3656°W / 50.6314; -2.3656


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