Start Point

Start Point
Name	Start Point
Location	Dartmouth, Devon, England
Coordinates	50°16′N 03°36′W
Type	Headland
Grid ref	SX 874 435

Start Point Start Point is a prominent rocky headland on the English Channel coast of Devon, England, projecting into the channel near the mouth of the River Dart. The headland has served as a key reference for mariners, a subject of coastal geology and ecology studies, and a focal point for local communities such as Kingswear and Dartmouth. Its lighthouse and surrounding cliffs have connections to maritime organizations, naval history, and conservation bodies active in South West England.

Geography

Start Point lies on the south coast of Devon within the civil parish of Kingswear and close to the town of Dartmouth. The headland forms part of the dramatic coastline between Plymouth and Torbay, overlooking the approaches to the River Dart estuary and the shipping lanes to Plymouth Sound and the English Channel. The wider area falls within the boundaries of South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is influenced by the regional climate associated with the Gulf Stream. Nearby settlements include Stoke Fleming, Blackawton, and Challacombe, while transport links connect to Paignton and Newton Abbot along the A38 road corridor.

History

The headland has featured in maritime charts since the age of sail when Dutch, Spanish, and French shipping navigated the Channel Islands routes and approaches to Plymouth Harbor and Falmouth. Documents from the 18th century record shipwrecks and coastal pilotage services operating from communities such as Dartmouth and Kingswear. During the Napoleonic Wars and the two World War II campaigns, naval operations by the Royal Navy and allied convoys used the headland as a navigational marker; local lifeboat crews from organizations like the Royal National Lifeboat Institution responded to incidents in adjacent seas. The construction of the lighthouse in the mid-19th century was overseen by engineers associated with the Trinity House authority, reflecting broader Victorian investments in coastal safety driven by commercial steamship operators including the Great Western Railway era packet services.

Geology and Ecology

Geologically, the headland exposes sequences associated with the Devonian and Carboniferous stratigraphy characteristic of southern England; nearby coastal cliffs display beds of slates, shales, and sandstones studied by geologists from institutions such as the Geological Society of London and universities in Exeter and Bristol. The intertidal zones support communities of Laminaria kelps and barnacles noted in surveys by organizations like the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Birdlife includes breeding and migratory species recorded by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds volunteers and local bird clubs; sightings often reference gulls, kittiwakes, and occasional peregrine falcon observations tracked by conservationists. Marine mammals such as common dolphins and occasional harbour porpoisees are recorded by cetacean monitoring groups operating in the English Channel corridor.

Navigation and Maritime Significance

The headland's lighthouse, originally established under the authority of Trinity House, became a critical aid to navigation for vessels bound for Plymouth and the Channel approaches during the age of steam and the modern merchant marine era. Nautical charts published by the Admiralty mark the headland as a waypoint on routes between Portsmouth and continental ports such as Le Havre and Brest. Lifesaving institutions including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and harbourmasters in Dartmouth coordinated rescues in the treacherous waters where tides and currents from the English Channel meet shoals and reefs. Mariners historically referenced the headland in pilotage guides and sailing directions alongside other coastal features like Berry Head and Dodman Point.

Recreation and Tourism

The headland and its adjacent footpaths form part of the South West Coast Path, attracting walkers, birdwatchers, and landscape photographers from London, Bristol, and other urban centres. Local businesses in Dartmouth and Kingswear benefit from visitors arriving by ferry services operated seasonally to viewpoints near the headland; nearby attractions include historic sites such as Dartmouth Castle and maritime museums chronicling the regional seafaring heritage. Recreational boating, angling, and wildlife-watching excursions are offered by operators affiliated with regional tourism boards and marine tour companies. The area features in guidebooks published by regional tourist organizations and has been photographed and painted by artists associated with the Newlyn School and contemporary landscape practitioners.

Conservation and Management

Conservation of the headland involves national and local bodies including Natural England, county councils in Devon, and voluntary groups such as local branch volunteers of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and shoreline clean-up initiatives linked to Surfers Against Sewage. Management addresses coastal erosion, habitat protection, and visitor access, coordinated through mechanisms like coastal management plans and environmental assessments submitted to planning authorities in South Hams district. Scientific monitoring by universities in Exeter and agencies such as the Marine Management Organisation informs policies balancing recreation, shipping safety, and biodiversity conservation. National designations and local bylaws guide activity to protect the headland's geological exposures, seabird colonies, and intertidal communities.

Category:Headlands of Devon Category:Coastal features of England