Salcombe Hill

Salcombe Hill is a prominent natural landmark situated east of Sidmouth, Devon, forming part of the Jurassic Coast—a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its geological significance and stunning coastal vistas. Salcombe Hill is located on the eastern side of the Sid Valley, to the east of Sidmouth.  Managed by the National Trust, Salcombe Hill offers a variety of walking routes that showcase the area's natural beauty.

In the early 20th century, Reverend J.G. Cornish and Dr. Vaughan Cornish entered into agreements with the Sidmouth Urban District Council to preserve areas of Salcombe Hill, including South Down Farm and adjacent cliff frontages, as open spaces in perpetuity. These efforts ensured the maintenance of public rights of way along the cliffs, even in the event of erosion. The enclosure of Salcombe Hill in the 19th century was driven partly by J.G. Cornish, who held the principal interest in the common.

Salcombe Hill is part of the Sidmouth to Beer Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is recognised for its important geology and stratigraphy. The cliffs on the western part of this SSSI, near Sidmouth, including those below Salcombe Hill, consist of New Red Sandstone with a capping of Greensand. The high ground in the district, which includes Salcombe Hill, can be capped by Clay-with-flints. The soil on Salcombe Hill was historically described as an acidic wet mixture of clay and flint.

Historically, Salcombe Hill contained lowland heath vegetation, similar to that found on Fire Beacon Hill. However, much of the heathland on Salcombe Hill has been converted to coniferous plantation, which supports very little herbaceous flora. The remaining eastern hillside is still largely under grass. Boggy ponds were once present on Salcombe Hill, mentioned by Dr. Cullen, but these are now gone, possibly leading to the loss of species like the Lesser Jointed or Bulbous Rush. Marsh Ragwort was also common in the boggy areas in Victorian times but is now much rarer.

The cliffs below Salcombe Hill, particularly at Pennington Point, are subject to cliff retreat. This retreat is influenced by rainfall and groundwater, which weaken the upper sediments (head and Clay-with-Flints), causing slumping. Falls and slides from the upper mudstone can be substantial, triggered by high rainfall. Retreat rates have varied historically, being rapid from the 1890s to the 1950s, slower until the 1990s, and more rapid since, especially since 2006. Debris wedges of sandstone blocks in a muddy/sandy matrix form after cliff falls, temporarily slowing base retreat. The width of the beach below can also affect cliff retreat.