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Hopton-on-Sea cliffs
8 April 2010
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North Norfolk and Happisburgh Index |
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Access to the sea at Hopton was
along Beach Road, and from this you emerge on to a greensward
and a ramp to the beach. This is classic longshore drift and
groyne territory, with the harbour entrance to Yarmouth in the
background. |
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The beach is backed by a sea wall
of sheet piling and concrete walkway, with a sloped
concrete glacis above. This is currently being repaired, the
gaps being filled by a flexible plastic O-tube and then filled
in with a grey mastic. |
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To save time I climbed the cliff
path, one that was little more damp then expected, so the clay
made it interesting. the need to do this was due to the
promenade being closed for repairs. On the right is the southern
access to the promenade, being used by anglers. |
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Walking southwards one comes across a
mobile home park, behind a 60 metre greensward. As the cliffs recede
regularly in this area it is only wise to have your viewpoint mobile! |
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Here the sea wall and heavy fixed
defences are gone, with just the failing revetments to provide a
modicum of protection. Inevitably, cliff recession processes are
active and recession rates high. |
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Last season's pathway is about to
disappear down a cliff of crag and boulder clay (the clay I
discovered on the cliff climb!). The beach has been effectively
blocked by a mass of rip-rap behind the disintegrating
revetments. |
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The 100 metre section of old and
new rip-rap, with slumping cliffs in the foreground not having
the benefit of the rock armour. |
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Views to the north of the active
cliff line and, on the right, a summary shot of the defences and
their state of repair. |
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The blocked beach and the rip-rap
boulder field, and then the start of the revetments. |
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Returning northwards to the road
access, one could see the cliff constituents more clearly,
centre, with its till and crag. A large gully has developed into
the greensward and has been partially infilled with debris in an
attempt to limit its incursion into a gold course! |
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Views towards Great Yarmouth and
the entrance to its harbour, on the skyline. The idealised
models of beaches under the influence of longshore drift, as
revealed by the groynes, shows a northward march of sediments in
this cell. |
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The wind farm off Caister. |
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A few final shots, with the wind
turbine in Yarmouth and the construction of a massive new
building on the harbour entrance dominating the scene. |
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Pakefield |
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A brief stop-off to see what the coast
was like at Pakefield. |
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Suffolk Norfolk Great
Yarmouth Lowestoft Hopton-on-sea Pakefield coasts cliffs
erosion beaches groynes clay sand defences maintenance rip-rap rock
armour mobile
slides slumps tourism caravans
wind farms offshore concrete blocks |
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