White Nothe

White Nothe is a chalk headland on the English Channel coast at the eastern end of Ringstead Bay, east of Weymouth in Dorset, England. The area is well-known for its geology and fossils. Its flanks are the result of pre-historic landslides and the inaccessible slopes of the undercliff provide a secluded wildlife habitat.

There is a spectacular zigzag path up the cliff, believed to be one of the locations used by smugglers in the book "Moonfleet". It is possible to walk to the base of White Nothe along the shore from Ringstead Bay, but it is cut off at high tide so much care should be taken.

The area is of great natural beauty and is owned by the National Trust. From the top of White Nothe, to the east, the chalk headland of Bat's Head can be viewed. It is possible to walk east along a clifftop path to Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. Out to sea, to the south-west, the Isle of Portland can be seen.

Immediately to the northeast of White Nothe is the Burning Cliff, which smouldered with an underground fire for several years from 1826 due to the bituminous shale.

External links

* [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/earthheritage/gcrdb/GCR.asp?GCR=635 White Nothe information] from the governmental Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
* [http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/Ringstead-White-Nothe.htm Ringstead Bay to White Nothe] from Ian West's [http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/ "Geology of the Wessex Coast" internet field guide]
* [http://www.whitenothe.ukfossils.co.uk/ Fossils and Geology of White Nothe, Dorset] from the [http://www.ukfossils.co.uk/ UK Fossils Network]
* [http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/ The South West Coast Path National Trail]
* [http://walks4softies.co.uk/Wd01/Ringstead/Walk3/ White Nothe, Ringstead] walk from [http://walks4softies.co.uk/ Walks4softies]
* [http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/kimfire.htm#burncliff Oil shale fire at Burning Cliff, Holworth] from Ian West's [http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/ "Geology of the Wessex Coast" internet field guide]