World Heritage Coast
UNESCO awarded Natural World Heritage Status to the coast of Dorset and East Devon in December 2001 in recognition of its unique pedigree which spans 185 million years.
One of the most dramatic sights along the World Heritage Coast is the stacks at Ladram Bay. The stacks were formed from caves that over time were hollowed out by the sea, they then became arches which eventually collapsed, forming the stacks we see today.
The red colour of both the stacks and the cliffs is due to iron minerals that have weathered over time, telling us that the land was once being a hot, desert area. These are Triassic rocks and at between 250 and 200 million years old are the oldest rocks along the World Heritage Coast.