Little Beach seen on the right, with the exposed Kimmeridge Clay behind it.
Little Beach seen from further south along the coastline.

Little Beach is a small secluded beach on the eastern side of the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England; part of the Jurassic Coast. It is found at East Weares, below Grove Point, and is found in close proximity of the two Salt Pans.[1] The East Weares area, including Little Beach, has been labelled a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), largely due to the surrounding scrub and wildlife being of high nature conservation value.[2]

Along with Church Ope Cove further south along the eastern side of Portland, Little Beach is one of the few beaches on Portland. However unlike Church Ope, Little Beach is often undisturbed.[3]

As part of the anti-invasion measures during World War II, a minefield was placed above Little Beach, amongst other sites across East Weares. It formed part of the Isle of Portland Defences and Dorset Coastal Defences and was laid out in 1940-41.[4]

Access

Little Beach can be reached via a pathway veering off the official coastal path of the East Weares area. A similar pathway further north links to the Salt Pans, and the remains of the Folly Pier Waterworks. The beach can also be reached via the coastline edge as well.

References

  1. ^ Mazey, Shelagh (August 2012). Brandy Row - Shelagh Mazey - Google Books. Troubador Publishing. ISBN 9781780882451. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  2. ^ East Weares Information Sign for Portland Goats Archived 2014-11-12 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Salt pans, a mine and a dead whale on Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Detailed Result: MONUMENT NO. 1420420". Pastscape. 27 July 1944. Retrieved 10 June 2014.

50°32′55″N 2°25′00″W / 50.5486°N 2.4167°W / 50.5486; -2.4167

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