UNESCO Global Geopark

English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark: One of Earth’s extraordinary places.  

Did you know that the English Riviera’s breath-taking landscape has designated UNESCO Global Geopark status, one of only eight in the entire UK and 140 in the world? In fact, this patch of coast has been rated as the UK's best coastline by Stay in Cornwall in 2022.

A Geopark is an area of globally recognised, unique geological interest, designated by UNESCO.  A place where you can touch a very special part of the Earth’s story and be amazed by the extraordinary landscapes, mountains, coastlines, places and people.  UNESCO Global Geoparks share the story of our Planet. 

Raising awareness of these spectacular natural landscapes and the cultural heritage of the area helps to preserve these precious and protected environments for many generations to come.  The English Riviera’s dramatic scenery, exceptional coastline and rocks were formed millions of years ago at the bottom of a warm tropical sea and then scorched by the equatorial sun. We are very proud of our incredible local geology and rich cultural heritage and encourage visitors to explore this fascinating area. 

The Global Geopark timeline includes: 

Devonian – 400 million years ago

Grey and pink limestone rocks were formed in tropical seas south of the Equator when creatures sank to the sea floor.  You’ll find examples of this at Berry Head in Brixham and Hopes Nose in Torquay, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Carboniferous – 310 million years ago

A period when limestone rocks were moved and crushed and formed part of a mountain range. The mountains no longer exist but you can still see examples of the crushed rocks if you take a boat trip from Torquay harbour to Brixham where you can see the folded over rocks at Berry Head, or look across to Orestone Rock near Hopes Nose.

Permian – 270 million years ago

Red rocks were formed in a desert and when storms created floods, rocks called breccia, containing broken bits of limestone were transported and dumped. Sand also blew across and settled into dunes forming rocks called sandstone, which was worn away by the sea, leaving pale red sand that we still see today. You’ll see fine examples of the Permian rocks across the English Riviera, including at Preston and Oddicombe Beaches.

Quaternary – 500,000 years ago

Rainwater and underground streams carved out caves in the limestone rocks in Torquay and Brixham.  Travel back in time at Torquay’s iconic heritage attraction and Europe’s top Prehistoric Stone Age caves, Kents Cavern with its extensive labyrinth of caverns. Cavemen, mammoth and woolly rhinoceroses once lived here at this site and the remains of a human jawbone found here are now on display at Torquay Museum.

Discover the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark Key Sites

Babbacombe Cliff Railway: Take a delightful trip on the Babbacombe Cliff Railway, one of just a few working funicular railways in the UK. It was built in 1926 between the gaps in the 73m high cliffs: a fault line between the Devonian grey limestone and Permian red rocks.

Oddicombe Beach: The best way to access this charming, sheltered sandy beach is via the Babbacombe Cliff Railway or to venture down the steep, winding road which leads down to the level promenade on foot or by car. This site has evidence of limestones having been dramatically twisted and turned by geological forces. The cliff top at Oddicombe has regressed by about 30-40m over time, with some dramatic landslides taking place, effecting the coastal landscape below.

Kents Cavern: Enter one of Europe’s most exciting Stone Age caves, with its extensive labyrinth of spectacular and easily accessible caverns. Open daily all year, this is one of the gateway sites to the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. Take an underground tour and hear about the fascinating tales of Britain’s earliest humans and Ice Age beasts who once inhabited the area.A human jawbone, now on display at Torquay Museum, was discovered on site and is the oldest human fossil found in north-western Europe.

Hopes Nose:This is a unique and significant coastal area with fascinating geology including rare minerals.It is a Site of Specific Scientific Interest with spectacular views. From Hope’s Nose to Wall’s Hill you will find unrivalled exposures in the Torquay Limestone. Hidden between the layers of limestone there are bands of volcanic ash and dramatic folds and faults created by gentle undulations.

Triangle Point and Meadfoot Beach: The steep sloping surface of Triangle Point was once part of a tropical reef.To the middle and east of Meadfoot Beach sandstones and slates are exposed on the shore and cliffs.Known as the ‘Meadfoot Group’ you’ll find some of the oldest rocks on the English Riviera here.

Torquay Museum: Founded in 1844 as the Torquay Natural History Society, Torquay Museum houses a fascinating collection of exhibition and artefacts including a 41,000-year-old human jawbone discovered at nearby Kents Cavern.Other displays include the traditional Devon farmhouse and local Devonshire Marble as well as a gallery dedicated to Torquay’s most famous resident, Agatha Christie.

Chapel Woods: A small fascinating site in Torquay with designated regionally important geology and a recently restored 13th Century Scheduled Ancient Monument, St Michaels Chapel.

Torre Abbey Museum: Founded in 1196 and built with stone from the headland, Torre Abbey Museum is housed within an ancient scheduled monument, once used as a medieval monastery by Premonstratensian monks. This wonderful historic building has monastic ruins, a tithe barn named the ‘Spanish Barn’ where captured prisoners of the Spanish Armada were imprisoned, interactive displays, exhibitions and an impressive fine art collection.

Cockington Court and Country Park: Cockington is a quintessentially English village with Saxon origins which attracts many thousands of visitors each year.Some of the quaint cottages and buildings date back to the 16th Century and are mentioned in the Doomsday Book.The land and property were first owned by the Fitzmartin (De Cockington) family. Today Cockington Court and Country Park hosts a cricket lawn, water mill, mediaeval carp lakes, water meadows and an ancient gamekeeper’s cottage as well as a contemporary arts centre with maker workshops.

Occombe Farm: A 150-acre organic farm on the outskirts of Paignton with pasture, wet meadows and woodlands attracting a wonderful array of protected species. The farm has recognisable Devon red soil and winding footpaths which lead to Scadson Woods and onwards to Cockington. Onsite you’ll find a farm café, education centre, vegetable and wartime gardens, adventure trails and seasonally, cows and sheep.

Paignton Geoplay Park: A fun and informative free play park attraction in the heart of Paignton seafront for toddlers, juniors and teens. The park is designed around the English Riviera’s geological history with play areas representing the Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian and Quaternary periods. The park has a zip wire, towers, play huts, a six-way swing, climbing logs and stilts and climbing trees to explore.

Saltern Cove: Saltern Cove is a local nature reserve and a geological Site of Specific Scientific Interest.It is also the only underwater SSSI in the country with a marine local nature reserve which extends to a point 376 metres below the low water mark. There are sheltered coves and exposed cliffs with a beach, accessed via a set of steps from the coast path above. At low tide there are many rock pools to explore.

Brixham Heritage Museum: Housed in an old police station, the museum celebrates the heritage of the historic fishing town.There are fascinating exhibits and displays including many maritime models and local archaeological finds at Brixham Bone Caverns and the Napoleonic fort at Berry Head.

Berry Head National Nature Reserve: Perched up on 200 feet (60 metre) cliffs, Berry Head guards the southern edge of the English Riviera, a gateway site to the Global Geopark.The 400-million-year old limestone once formed part of a reef environment in a shallow tropical sea south of the equator. Quarrying of the limestone took place until the 1950’s and was used to build the Napoleonic forts, which can still be seen today. The area attracts a wonderful array of wildlife including cirl bunting, greater horseshoe bats, peregrine falcons and guillemots.  

Designated geology sites on the English Riviera

The designated UNESCO Global Geopark status stretches right across the entire 22-mile coastline of the English Riviera.  There are many points of interest within the Bay and our designation status is currently based upon the international importance of 32 individual geo sites, covering a story of three geological time periods, all found within a compact area. Here is the current list of designated geology sites:

1. Babbacombe Cliffs
2. Barcombe Mews Quarry, Shorton
3. Barton Quarry
4. Berry Head to Sharkham point
5. Black Head and Anstey's Cove
6. Breakwater Quarry, Brixham
7. Brokenbury Quarry, Churston Ferrers
8. Brixham Cavern
9. Chapel Hill, Torre
10. Churston Cove / Churston Point
11. Crystal Cove
12. Daddyhole
13. Dyers Quarry
14. Goodrington Quarry and Road Cutting
15. Hollicombe Head to Corbyns Head
16. Hopes Nose: Marine Devonian
17. Hopes Nose: Mineralogy of SW England
18. Hopes Nose and Thatcher Rock: Quaternary of SW England
19. Hopes Nose South
20. Kents Cavern
21. Long Quarry
22. Lummaton Quarry
23. Meadfoot Sea Rd
24. New Cut
25. Oddicombe
26. Petitor, Maidencombe
27. Quarry Woods Quarry, Cockington
28. Roundham Head
29. Saltern Cove: Marine Devonian
30. Saltern Cove: Permian Triassic
31. Sharkham Iron Mine
32. Shoalstone

For further information about the 32 geo sites visit the official English Riviera Geopark website. 

Follow in the Footsteps of Stone Age Man

Across the English Riviera you can undertake a voyage of discovery by following in the footsteps of stone age man at internationally renowned sites including Kents Cavern prehistoric caves, home to humankind for over 500,000 years.

Kents Cavern is one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe and one of Britain's best showcaves! On your visit you'll go back to a time when the cave was home to ancient humans, sheltering from extreme weather, making fires, shaping tools and hunting Ice Age animals. As you walk through the extensive labyrinth of caverns, you'll be surrounded by 400-million-year-old rocks and spectacular stalagmites and stalactites.

Open all year Kents Cavern is a very popular and all weather fascinating tourist attraction providing world class guided tours of the underground caverns. All tours around the cave are guided and begin in the Vestibule Chamber, as you enter the cave you'll feel the temperature at a constant 14c. Your tour guide will lead you through the Long Arcade to reveal how the caves were formed 2.5 million years ago and how stalagmite floors formed, sealing in the evidence of Ice Age occupations.

Discover the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark from the Sea

One of the best ways to experience the English Riviera Global Geopark is from the sea. Take a boat trip or cruise, or walk along the South West Coast Path, and see the majestic Devonian limestone headlands and the magnificent red Permian cliffs that have inspired so many including the world-famous crime writer Agatha Christie. 

Have a go at kayaking or coasteering with Reach Outdoors to get an even closer look or back on dry land you can uncover more at our local museums.  The Geoplay Park on Paignton’s seafront is a children’s play area with a difference. Themed around the amazing geological story of the English Riviera it provides free entertainment for the whole family.

For more information on the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark please visit the official English Riviera Geopark website. 

The Official Guide to the English Riviera Global Geopark is available to purchase online, from the English Riviera Visitor Information Centre in Torquay or by calling 01803 211211.