Morte Point to Minehead 6
General actions for this subsection
There are no actions generic to the whole of this subsection. For actions relating to specific locations, select an area on the map above or use the postcode/location search and click on the Action Plan tab.
All actions are subject to funding and approval, often by other parties than the Lead Organisation shown.
Download SMP documents
The information on this website represents the current SMP management approaches adopted by the local authorities within its area, and current actions needed to deliver them. These management approaches have been approved by the Environment Agency under its Strategic Overview for coastal flood and erosion risk management and are considered to be local policy.
The documents below provide the full SMP adopted locally and approved by the Environment Agency at the time of publication. Some of the information has changed in response to new government policy, new evidence or new work identified.
Data on this page
Main report
Appendices
- Appendix A - SMP Development
- Appendix B - Stakeholder Engagement
- Appendix C - Baseline Processes
- Appendix D - SEA Environmental Baseline Report (Theme Review)
- Appendix E - Issues Objectives
- Appendix F - Initial Policy Appraisal
- Appendix G - Preferred Policies Summary
- Appendix H - Economic Sensitivity
- Appendix I - SEA
- Appendix J - Appropriate Assessment
- Appendix K - WFD
- Appendix L - Metadata Bibliography
- Appendix M - Action Plan Tables
About this subsection
This 50km stretch of coast extends from the promontory at Morte Point to Minehead. It is a coast of high steeply sloping cliffs of hard rock and stony beaches intersected by wooded river valleys meeting the sea. The subsection includes the bays of Combe Martin, Lynmouth and Porlock. These are bounded by a series of headlands including Foreland Point and Hurlstone Point. Smaller coves and rocky outcrops are scattered across the whole length of coast, with the clifftops generally rising to undulating farmland.
The coast here is mostly rural with small settlements and fishing or trading ports including Combe Martin, Lynton, Lynmouth, Porlock and the larger towns of Ilfracombe and Minehead. These are popular with visitors and provide a range of local services.
This area is rich in geological and ecological features. Exmoor Coastal Heaths are a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area for Conservation. The coast between Morte Point and Lynton also forms part of the wider North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve transition zone and contains a number of SSSI’s. The area also includes parts of Exmoor National Park, North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and heritage coast as well as numerous Scheduled Monuments.