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Maceley Cove
Heritage In the field to the left as you drop down the bridleway after leaving the road out of the village, a tall standing post can be seen. This is a rare example of an old coast- guard rocket post. It was used to simulate the mast of a ship in training rescue teams in the use of the rocket apparatus, a system of rescue from land to sea that has since been superseded, most notably by the helicopter. Just before the climb up towards Prawle Point begins, the curious looking bunker to the left of the path is the remains of a radar station. It is one of two built at Prawle during the second World War. on Prawle Point stands a lookout station. Formerly a coastguard station, it was abandoned in 1982, but reopened in 1998 under the auspices of the national Coastwatch Institute and is now staffed by volunteers. The station welcomes visitors to pop in and say hello, and to peruse the display housed there. The name Prawle stems from the Anglo saxon word ‘Prawhyll’ meaning lookout hill, and it seems likely that this spot has been used for that purpose for many centuries.
Landscape The area of low lying fields by the sea was formed as mud springs flowed over the cliffs behind many millions of years ago. These deposits have created a fertile, south-facing pasture and cropland. In the fairly recent past this land was renowned for its produce of cauliflowers, from fields ‘topdressed’ with seaweed collected for the shore below. Beyond the cliffs, rocky shelves run unevenly out into the sea. These unusual platforms were cut by waves towards the end of the last ice age - a time when the sea level was 7 metres higher than it is today. By the path beyond Prawle Point, you may come across short rows of single large flat stone slabs set on edge. These are the remains of
Painted lady butterfly
old field systems, still marked on maps, but no longer present on the ground.
Wildlife Prawle Point is the most southerly point in Devon. Because of this, it is both the departure and arrival point for many migrating birds and butterflies. The climate and richness of the habitat also contribute to a tremendous natural abundance. Migrating butterflies including painted ladies, red admirals, and clouded yellows arrive here, and can be seen along with many other species of butterfly during the summer months, particularly along the lanes, which act as ‘rides’ for the butterflies. The fields along the coast are rich in wildflowers, and are a haven for many birds, in particular the nationally rare Cirl Bunting. This is a small green and brown bird with a yellow and black striped face. It thrives on the arable weed seeds here and feeds its young on the abundant grasshoppers and similar insects in the area. stonechats and Whitethroats are also common sight- ings, perched on gorse and blackthorn scrub along the cliff edge. Residents of the many rockpools along the coast include the colourfully patterned cones of topshells, and the spiral whorls of winkles, with typi- cally purple or yellow shells. The oystercatcher, with its orange beak and black and white plumage, is one of the many wading birds to be seen here. Further out over the water, the seabirds include gannets, wheeling on long black-tipped wings and plummeting dramati- cally into the sea to catch fish. The lacy white rosettes of wild carrot grow abundantly along the coast path, and the small blue stars of spring and autumn squill are also to be found. seals can sometimes be seen from the coast path here, and very occasionally dolphins and even basking sharks.
The coast looking east, from the garden at overbecks Pic ©Christine-Matthews
Wild carrot Pic ©Anne-Burgess
Basking Shark Pic ©Ian-Andrews
start Bay from little Dartmouth Squill Pic ©Rossographer
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