Prawle Point

Prawle Point stands at the southern tip of Devon, a wild headland where high cliffs drop to the English Channel. The National Coastwatch Institution keeps a watch from its station at the point. A single-track road from East Prawle leads to a National Trust car park at the end. Elender Cove lies just to the west, with Gammon Head and its beach beyond. The landscape is shaped by centuries of wind and tide, creating a place where land meets sea dramatically. The point is recognised for rare birds. Cirl buntings nest in the area, a bird local to Britain. Rare visitors such as Britain’s second chestnut-sided warbler have been spotted here. The whole stretch from Prawle Point to Start Point is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This status recognises the natural value of the cliffs, coves and grasslands. Visitors find sweeping views across the Channel from the cliffs. The wreck of the tea clipper Lalla Rookh lies buried beneath the sand at Elender Cove. The Demetrios, a former Chinese ship, broke apart on the rocks in 1992 and some remains still lie visible. The windswept headland offers a quiet spot to watch passing ships and seabirds. The National Trust car park provides the only land access, keeping crowds small.