Whitbread, K., Ellen, R., Callaghan, E., Gordon, J. E. and Arkley, S. 2015. East Lothian Geodiversity Audit. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/14/063. 192pp.
ELC_28: Tyne Estuary & Belhaven Bay
Site information
Location and summary description:
The Tyne Estuary & Belhaven Bay site is notable for a varied assemblage of dynamic coastal landforms located west of Dunbar. The main features are sand spits, intertidal sand flats, sand dunes, salt marshes, shore platforms, raised shorelines and a tsunami deposit.
National Grid reference:
Mid-point:
North-west end:
South-east end:
Site type: Natural landform; Natural view
Site ownership: Not known
Current use: Open country
Field surveyors: John Gordon
Current geological designations: Part of the site lies in the Dunbar GCR site
Date visited: 2 December 2014
Other designations: Firth of Forth SSSI, SPA and Ramsar site; John Muir Country Park.
Site map
Site description
Background
The site comprises a varied assemblage of coastal landforms, including sand spits, sand dunes, salt marshes, intertidal sand flats, raised shorelines and a tsunami deposit all developed in a highly dynamic environment
Quaternary deposits and landforms
Shore platforms and raised beaches
The east side of Belhaven Bay displays an assemblage of former shorelines represented by shore platforms and raised beach deposits. A shore platform in the present intertidal zone is cut across gently dipping Carboniferous strata and continues more extensively to the east (see (ELC_4) Dunbar Shore). At the back of the present beach, there is a low cliff and a step up to a second (raised) shore platform overlain by a Holocene raised beach that is utilised by the Winterfield Golf Course
Sections in raised beach deposits and blown sand exposed by recent coastal erosion also occur along the south side of the Tyne Estuary near Hedderwick and along the lower part of the incised Hedderwick Burn (Davies et al., 1986). The presence here of gravel layers with rip-up clasts of mud and broken shells may also represent deposits of the tsunami associated with the Holocene Storegga Slide (Hall, 2012; Smith et al., 2012); see also (ELC_23) (Lochhouses).
Beach-dune-saltmarsh complexes
The site forms a large sediment sink with significant accumulations of sand in the extensive intertidal sandflats within the Tyne Estuary and the adjacent sand dune systems and sandy beaches
Spike Island is a relatively recent recurved spit formed by coastal progradation through the growth and attachment of an offshore sandbank sometime after the 1940s (Jackes, 1973). A line of sand dunes has built up along the spit and an area of saltmarsh is developing on the former sandflats on its landward side
Additional Information
The wider geomorphological setting of the site comprises Lateglacial and Holocene raised beach deposits and a range of glacifluvial landforms and deposits that extend inland from the estuary into adjacent areas of predominantly agricultural land (Jackes, 1973; Davies et al., 1986; Firth et al., 1997). These adjacent features have not been included here, but could be evaluated as part of a revised site assessment in the future.
Stratigraphy and rock types
Age: Carboniferous
Formation: Ballagan Formation
Rock type: Sandstone, siltstone and dolomitic limestone
Assessment of site: access and safety
Road access and parking Access to the southern part of the site is from the A1 via the A1087 to Dunbar. There are public car parks and toilets at the John Muir Country Park access points at Belhaven and Linkfield. Access to the northern part of the site is from the A1 via the A199, A198 and the unclassified road (Limetree Walk) to the Tyninghame Links car park.
Safety of access No additional precautions beyond those normally associated with visiting a beach and dunes. Visitors should be aware of incoming tides if accessing the beach and intertidal flats and should note that the Belhaven bridge is not accessible at high tide.
Safety of exposure No special precautions are required. Access There is good access on footpaths.
Current condition The condition is good.
Current conflicting activities None known.
Restricting conditions The active sand spit and intertidal areas are covered at high tide.
Seasonal access restrictions may apply over parts of the site during the bird breeding season.
Nature of exposure Coastal
Assessment of site: culture, heritage & economic value
Historic, archaeological & literary associations No known associations
Aesthetic landscape Coastal landscape
History of earth sciences The John Muir Way passes the site.
Economic geology No known associations
Assessment of site: geoscientific merit
| Rarity | Quality | Literature/collections | Primary interest | |
| Lithostratigraphy | ||||
| Sedimentology | ||||
| Igneous/mineral/metamorphic geology | ||||
| Structural geology | ||||
| Palaeontology | ||||
| Geomorphology | Regional | Excellent | X |
Site geoscientific value
The Tyne Estuary & Belhaven Bay site displays an excellent suite of coastal landforms and sedimentary environments that demonstrate coastal evolution during the Quaternary, particularly during the latter part of the Holocene, and support a diversity of coastal habitats. There is significant potential for research on past and present processes of coastal evolution, as well as for education and public interpretation on coastal evolution and the links between geodiversity and biodiversity.
The Tyne Estuary & Belhaven Bay is an excellent regional example of an assemblage of dynamic coastal landforms and sedimentary environments.
Assessment of site: current site usage
Community The area is heavily used for recreation, including walking and birdwatching.
Education There is significant potential for education and public interpretation on coastal dynamics and evolution.
Assessment of site: fragility and potential use of the site
Fragility The site would be vulnerable to heavy trampling, off-road vehicle use, tree planting, tipping and coastal protection works.
Potential use School education and public interpretation addressing coastal dynamics and living with a dynamic landscape in the context of climate change and sea-level rise; research on modern coastal dynamics and sedimentary processes; monitoring coastal changes.
Geodiversity summary
The site is an excellent example of a range of active coastal landforms and there is significant potential for research on coastal dynamics and developing its educational value and public interpretation through greater promotion of existing information.