Kingsbridge Estuary

Kingsbridge estuary from Sharpitor. Salcombe is on the left, Sunny Cove and other beaches are visible to the right and in the middle distance the estuary meanders towards Kingsbridge

The Kingsbridge Estuary (also, erroneously, known as the 'Salcombe Estuary') is a ria located in the South Hams area of Devon, England, running from Kingsbridge in the north to its mouth at the English Channel near Salcombe. The estuary is popular with sailors and holiday-makers, and it lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

It is an extreme example of a ria (drowned river valley), because it is disproportionate to the size of the small streams which flow into it.[1] Prior to the sea level rise at the end of the ice age, it was the valley of a river.

Several of the creeks of the estuary have independent names, including Blanksmill, Frogmore, Southpool, Batson and Bowcombe Creek (the most northerly portion of the estuary).

References

  1. ↑ "The Salcombe & Kingsbridge Estuary". South Devon AONB. 2008-06-22. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2012-08-10.

Coordinates: 50°15′10″N 3°45′35″W / 50.25278°N 3.75972°W / 50.25278; -3.75972


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