Straight Point

Straight Point is about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) south of the city of Exeter, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of Exmouth and about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) southwest of Sidmouth.

The top of the headland is used by the Royal Marines as a firing range,^[1][2] established using emergency powers during the second world war.^[3] To the west is Sandy Bay, a holiday beach, that can be reached either along the coastal path or through the large caravan park. To the east are Otter Cove and Littleton Cove. A navigational light for shipping was established on Straight Point in 1950 due the difficult conditions in the area for ships approaching the coast.^[4]

The red sandstone cliffs at Straight Point show a sequence of sandstones in the Exmouth Formation. Predominantly the cliffs are composed of layers of Aylesbeare Mudstone, including some sandstone layers. They represent the earliest geology along the entire coast.^[5] They are from the Triassic period and date from 250 million years ago.^[5] Both sediments are markedly red, which indicates that they were formed in a desert.

At the east is an erosional platform, abraded by quartzite pebbles from the Budleigh Salterton pebble bed, seen at the neighbouring Littleham Cove.^[6]

At low tide most of the western section is accessible at low tide from Sandy Bay, but only a small part of the eastern side.

50°36′24″N 3°21′42″W / 50.60660°N 3.36177°W / 50.60660; -3.36177