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.
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 7784 192
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Skinningrove to Staithes Coast 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status Part of the Heritage Coast
Description of Geodiversity Costal cliff nab exposure consisting of the Staithes sandstone formation which is the type locality. The foreshore to the west of the coastal defences consists [...]
Grid Reference NZ 655 200
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Skelton beck 30/09/03
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Stream bed and river-cliff exposures of Staithes sandstone. Natural waterfall. Change of facies to Cleveland ironstone
Literature References
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
Along the Cleveland Way to start of section
10
Safety [...]
Grid Reference NZ 622 148
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Guisborough Forest 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity North facing escarpment revealing few exposures. Underlying geology is Staithes sandstone, Cleveland ironstone, Whitby mudstone overlain by the Saltwick sandstone formation. Old mine tips now wooded
Literature References Guisborough District Mines – [...]
Grid Reference NZ 690 228
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Saltburn to Skinningrove Coast 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Wave washed platform and cliffs revealing Redcar mudstone formation at the base overlain by Staithes sandstone in the cliffs. Cleveland ironstone in upper part of cliffs, all capped by [...]
Grid Reference NZ 663 202
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Skelton Beck 30/09/03
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Steep sided gorge revealing exposures of Staithes sandstone with a small natural waterfall
Literature References
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
Via Cleveland Way
10
Safety of exposure
In channel access only – Overhangs etc
7
Restricting [...]
Grid Reference NZ 577 124
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 93
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Roseberry Topping 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SSSI and SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Escarpment crags of Staithes sandstone
Literature References Yorkshire Rocks and Landscapes – YGS 1984
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
Down slope from footpath
5
Safety of exposure
Very steep sided slope
2
Restricting conditions
Vegetation growth [...]
Grid Reference NZ 588 196
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 93
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Eston Hills 30/09/03
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Streamside river-cliff exposure of Staithes sandstone. Smaller exposures are available around location
Literature References The Geology of Eston Hills – R&CBC 1998
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
Along footpath from Wilton Lane
10
Safety [...]