Prawle Point, Maritime headland in Chivelstone, England
Prawle Point is a cape at the southernmost tip of Devon, marked by high cliffs made of volcanic rock over 400 million years old. The coastline drops sharply to the English Channel and offers wide views across the water from the headland.
The name comes from Old English 'Prǣwhyll', meaning 'lookout hill', reflecting its role as a monitoring point since Saxon times. This location has been used as a strategic observation post since the early medieval period.
The observation station is run by volunteers who watch ships passing through the English Channel, continuing a long tradition of coastal monitoring. This work is deeply tied to how local people connect with their marine surroundings.
Access to Prawle Point comes via a single-track road from East Prawle village, leading to a National Trust car park. From there, the cliffs and observation area are easily reached on foot.
The soft cliffs here are home to over 100 species of solitary bees and wasps, including the rare cuckoo bee Nomada sexfasciata found nowhere else in Britain. This specialized insect population thrives in the cliff crevices and nesting spaces.
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