Symonds Yat Rock EarthCache
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The view from Symonds Yat Rock is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular views in the UK.
The River Wye almost encircles the cliff as it's meander runs from Coldwell Rocks, round Huntsham Hill to the Wye Rapids. This rugged spendour is home to the fastest animal on the planet. Peregrine Falcons returned to Symonds Yat in the 1980's after a 30 year absence.
The rock itself is a complicated story, but in it's simplest form a very hard limestone (Lower Dolomite) was laid down 320 million years ago when the land was covered by sea. The softer sandstone was eroded leaving the Dolomite standing. This much sought after rock is so hard that despite it's age it is rare to find fossils in it.
The rocks vertical joints mean that as well as having a craggy appearance large rocks are suseptable to falling. Don't forget that I'm talking about over millions of years though! This is how the nearby Suck Stone (thought to be the largest fallen rock in the UK) came to be. The Wye Rapids are a result of rocks which have fallen into the river. Silt built up on the rocks to form an island, which in turn caused the current to accelerate and rapids were formed. From the rapids the chimney stack shape of the Long Stone is clearly visible on the hillside. If you look north to Coppet Hill from Yat Rock you can see large fallen rocks of Quartz Conglomerate.
To claim a find you must
1.) Email us your estimate of the cliff height from river to platform. Just try your best!
2.) Email us the top speed of a Peregrine Falcon from the information boards
3.) Post a photo on your log of the view with either yourself and/or your GPSr in the foreground. Please don't email it to us.
You must provide a photo and answers or your log will be deleted.
Please have pets on a lead and kids under close supervision. The main viewing area is enclosed by a low wall which dogs may easily jump over.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)