The erosional history of the cliffs around Aberystwyth

Abstract

Abstract The coastline from Borth to New Quay is described. Three points of general interest emerge. The coastal bevel (hogs back cliffs, fausses falaises) is shown to be the remains of cliffs cut by marine erosion, and degraded by sub‐aerial weathering, at several times in the past. Raised beach platforms occur at different levels, each being backed by degraded cliffs, which merge laterally with the coastal bevel. Later than these, but earlier than the spread of the latest boulder clay in this area by solifluction seawards, are steep “fossil cliffs” cut during apparently two periods of lowered sea‐level. Where the beach platform is cut in solid rocks its outer edge is coincident with the course of one or other of these fossil cliffs.