The cliffs for about 2 km to the west of Cowbar Nab are capped by glacial till, bedrock being at 40 to 50m O.D. Staithes Beck has cut a deep channel through the till in to the solid strata. On the coast, several landslips and rockfalls can be seen and, in contrast, examples of slow, gradual marine erosion. The marine erosion has been the subject of detailed studies by Agar (1960) and by Durham University in recent years.
Make your way across the beck and follow the Cleveland Way up the steep, stepped path and then eastwards where there is a view of the Old Gut dock (marked 1 on the plan). Pass the path down to the shore at NZ 725 198 and North Warren Cottage (Tile Sheds). (2 cisterns (2) are missed unless one deviates along the coastal path). At NZ 735 197 fork left off the Cleveland Way to go down the track in to the quarries.
The alum works was started in the mid-17th century and closed in about 1860. There was a major redevelopment about 1800 when a new alum house was constructed by Hummersea beach. The history and industrial archaeology of the alum works has received much attention in recent years and, in particular, there is the major survey by English Heritage (Hunt et al. 2004). The main sites are included in the mini-geotrail.
View the geomorphology of this area (much of which has now been donated to Tees Valley Wildlife Trust. The scarp line of Saltwick Sandstone is set back from the coast and is paralleled underground by the subcrop of the Cleveland Ironstone Formation (see the geological map). The, therefore, deep embayment is infilled by till that is much landslipped on the seawards side. The Snailah Ponds, still shown on modern maps, are said to have been infilled by material from Boulby Potash Mine development.
Boulby Quarry and the sea cliffs beneath (making use of the tracks down to the shore) are where several 19th century and, more recently, geologists such as Chowns made measured sections. That by Lewis Hunton (1836) is the most notable as he independently recognized the importance of collecting fossils in-situ, and relating the fossils found to the beds in which they occur bolstering the emerging concept of biostratigraphy.
Grid Reference NZ 631 146
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Guisborough Forest 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Brief Site Description Site 7 of 7. Disused alum quarry revealing exposures of Liassic Whitby mudstone and overlying Middle Jurassic Saltwick sandstone. Following abandonment after alum working, this quarry [...]
Grid Reference NZ 581 188
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 93
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Eston Hills 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Site of fan house revealing old mining building resulting from previous ironstone mining activity
Literature References The Geology of Eston Hills – R&CBC 1998
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
Access from various [...]
Superb sea cliffs and rocky foreshore (scar) with extensive Lias Group exposures. Much geomorphological and industrial archaeological interest. The Cleveland Way passes along the cliff top. The coastal scenery is impressive.
Grid Reference NZ 708 205
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Scar consists of Redcar mudstone formation with gentle slope to cliff top. Molten industrial slag capping cliff and glacial valley
Site Description
Site Status SNCI and Nature Reserve
Description of Geodiversity eg. Upland…
Literature References Along the Scar – Denis Goldring 2001
The Regional Coastline of [...]
Grid Reference NZ 653 152
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS 30/09/03
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Disused quarry revealing exposures of Saltwick sandstone and the base of the overlying Eller Beck formation
Literature References
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
Along footpath from Stanghow Ridge
10
Safety of exposure
Excellent viewing platform
10
Restricting conditions
None
Multiple exposure
None
Note
It is [...]