- Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs NNR is in Devon/Dorset, England.
- A wild landslip reserve on the Jurassic Coast
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs NNR
A wild eight-mile stretch of collapsed cliff between Seaton and Lyme Regis, the Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve is one of the largest active coastal landslip systems in Europe. Its dense, tangled woodland and unstable terraces are a living record of the Jurassic Coast, where the soft Greensand and Lias clays continually slump towards the sea.
The story of Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs NNR
The Undercliffs were created by a massive landslide on Christmas Day 1839, when a 15-acre block of cliff slid seaward at Bindon near Axmouth to form a deep chasm and a new reef; a second great slip followed at Dowlands in 1840, and the events drew crowds of sightseers including the geologist William Buckland. The area was notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1954 and declared a National Nature Reserve in 1990, managed by Natural England within the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site. The reserve covers over 300 hectares of woodland, scrub and scree that has been left largely undisturbed since the landslips, allowing a rare natural forest to develop on the unstable ground.
Visiting with care
The only way through is on the South West Coast Path between Seaton and Lyme Regis, a strenuous six-mile walk with steep ascents and no road access in between. Wear sturdy boots, carry water and allow a full half-day; the path is impassable after heavy rain and there is no mobile signal in the undercliffs.
Interesting facts
- The Great Landslip of Christmas Day 1839 dropped a 15-acre cliff block seaward at Bindon, exposing a chasm still visible today.
- The reserve lies within the Dorset and East Devon Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only natural World Heritage Site in England.
- Over 300 hectares of natural woodland have developed on the unstable landslip, supporting rare lichens and bryophytes.
- The reserve is managed by Natural England and is the largest active undercliff habitat on the south coast of Britain.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.