The Settlands at Little Haven from coastal path

Structural geology of Little Haven and The Settlands

The cliffs from Little Haven to Broad Haven (and northward) display a spectacular range of geological structures, folding, faulting and thrusting, mainly in the Lower Coal Measures. The relatively weak mudstone and shale-dominated sequences show much incompetent deformation: tight, thrusted and overturned folds, in contrast to the thicker, stronger, sandstones which have formed relatively open and concentric folds.

In this northerly view, the largely concentric Fox Hole anticline is comprised of orange-brown sandstone is visible on the centre right. The cave in core of the anticline has been at least partly formed by coal mining activity.

The large bay in the centre is The Settlands. The northern headland of the bay is known as 'The Rain' and consists mostly of sandstones dipping steeply southwards (towards the camera), but actually overturned to the north.

Broad Haven beach is visible beyond The Rain towards the upper left.