Swanage Beach Landslip Evolution
The sea cliffs of Swanage Bay, situated in the far east of the
Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, are becoming increasingly degraded
by the elements (the sea and the weather). Over the past few
years many tonnes of cliff debris have subsided down onto the
beach, with potentially more to come.
Leeson House have taken series of photos from a number of
set positions along the beach to see how the cliffs change.
Most series of photos include a before and after photo, with the
before photo taken on 28th November 2012, with the after
photo taken on the 22nd August 2013 (unless otherwise stated).
Aerial photos taken from Dorset Explorer and Google Earth.
Photographs from the top of the cliff in Ballard Estate taken
with thanks to Russell Thompson of Cumulus Outdoors.
Location of Swanage in
relation to the United
Kingdom.
Location of the beach at
Swanage.
Grid Reference
SZ 0309 7915
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
Grid Reference
SZ 0310 7956
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
Grid Reference
SZ 0331 8012
Old Beach Huts
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
Grid Reference
SZ 0332 8014
Land Slide
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
Grid Reference
SZ 0346 8046
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
Grid Reference
SZ 0348 8048
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
Grid Reference
SZ 0353 8055
28th November 2012
22nd August 2013
The Pines Hotel
The Pines Hotel, perched on top of the sea cliffs, prides itself on having “unrivalled” sea
views over Swanage Bay. The owners, however, are in a battle with the elements to stop
both the beer garden and the hotel itself from slipping into the sea. Several landslides in
the last couple of years lead to the hotels private steps onto the beach being shut in
June 2013. For a period of 11 weeks the cliff had engineering works carried out to try
and halt the subsidence. www.pineshotel.co.uk/main.htm.
The houses directly to the north of the hotel in the Ballard Estate are facing similar
problems.
View southwards towards the Pines
Hotel, 11th January 2013
View northwards from the Ballard Estate,
11th January 2013
View of the base of the landslides beneath the Pines Hotel (left) and the Ballard
Estate (left), 26th January 2013.
Engineering workers below
the Pines Hotel trying to
stabilise the cliffs from
further landslides over the
summer of 2013. Picture
taken on the 22nd August
2013.
Before
After
Photos courtesy
of Swanage
Coastguards,
and taken over
an unknown
period in
December 2012.
Before
After
View onto Swanage
Beach from a garden in
the Ballard Estate, 11th
January 2013.
A very active mudflow at
the base of the landslide
below Ballard Estate,
26th January 2013.
Other useful links
• Swanage landslide caught on camera
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-20825271
• Freelance journalist photos
www.demotix.com/news/1705853/further-cliffsubsidence-swanage-causes-safetyconcerns#media-1705814
• Local newspaper reports
www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/10124955.Bea
ch_closed_off_after_landslip_at_Swanage/