Our Geopark

Geological
Information

How we know our sites are internationally important.

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An elderly woman with curly hair and glasses smiling while reading a pamphlet inside a cave with illuminated rock formations.
A close-up of a curled, brown, multi-legged caterpillar on a beige surface.
Topographical map with contour lines and elevation markers in light green on a black background.

Protected Geological Heritage

The geology of the English Riviera Geopark is fully recognised as of international importance through the Global Geosites programme — the only internationally recognised and objective system for listing sites of global geological importance. Within the Geopark, a total of 15 GCR (Geological Conservation Review) sites are recognised within four Global Geosite Framework categories.

    • Devon (marine) carbonates and clastics

    • Permian–Triassic red-bed sequence (Devon coast)

    • Late Pleistocene interglacial/glacial, cave/beach sediments (Saalian–Weichselian)

    • Late Pleistocene interglacial raised beaches (southern England, Cornwall, South Wales)

    Two further categories are noteworthy internationally: cave fauna — Kents Cavern and Brixham Cavern have revealed internationally significant palaeontological, stratigraphical and archaeological information; and mineralogy — the deposits at Hope’s Nose are so unique they are virtually unknown elsewhere, hence the Geopark’s 16th GCR designation.

Coastal view of a secluded beach surrounded by greenery, with an island in the distance and a rocky shoreline.
Illustration of a mountain range with a forested slope in the foreground, with trees extending down hill.
Line drawing of a mountain range with trees and roots at the base.
Watercolor-style dragonfly with blue and black wings

Other Geological Organisations