Golden Cap
Hill and cliff in Dorset, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Golden Cap is a hill and cliff situated on the English Channel coast between Bridport and Charmouth in Dorset, England. At 191 metres (627 ft), it is the highest point within a mile of the south coast of Great Britain (it is set back some 250 m (820 ft) from the coastline) and is visible for tens of miles along the coastline. It is accessible via a coastal footpath from Seatown, and takes around 40 minutes to reach the summit.
| Golden Cap | |
|---|---|
Golden Cap seen from Charmouth beach | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 191 m (627 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 63 m (207 ft)[1] |
| Parent peak | Hardown Hill[1] |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Location | Dorset, England |
| Parent range | South Dorset Downs |
| OS grid | SY384934 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 193 |
The hill is owned by the National Trust and forms part of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site.[2]
The base of the cliff is covered with large boulders, and is popular with fossil collectors. Storms have previously exposed fossilised ammonites and belemnites in the Blue Lias base.[3]
The name derives from the distinctive outcropping of golden greensand rock present at the very top of the cliff.[4]
Behind the cliff is Langdon Wood, a small wood of mainly Corsican Pine, planted in the 1950s, whose trees originate from a nearby copse known as "Eleanor's Clump". Langdon is owned by the National Trust, and encompasses a circular walk of approximately one mile.[5]
As a result of its height, on a clear day views can extend to Portland Bill and to Start Point Lighthouse and Dartmoor in Devon.[4]