Headland and bays

• Headlands and bays are found in areas where there are bands of alternating hard and soft rock which meet the coast at right angles, for example, sandstone a hard rock and clay a soft rock.
• Headlands and bays are formed by differential erosion, where the softer, less resistant rock erodes backwards more quickly, forming bays.
• When formed, the bays become sheltered by the headlands and erosion.
• The harder rock erodes more slowly, forming headlands which are sticking out as rocky outcrops.
• The headlands are then vulnerable to erosion as the wave's energy is concentrated here.
• Swanage bay is an example of an headland and bay.