Isle of Wight on the horizon

Photographed from just above and to the west of Langton Matravers; the viewpoint is indicated on the location map.

This view looks eastwards, across northern Swanage and Swanage Bay to the Island. The chalk cliffs in the distance are those of the island's Freshwater Bay, adjacent to the Needles; the chalk cliff north of Swanage is that of Ballard Down. The two are about 14 miles apart.

Originally the chalk ridge was continuous between the two locations, but over the last 10,000 years the ridge (with its less resistant neighbouring geological layers) has been worn away by river water and the island created. The erosion continues; a similar process is under way at Lulworth Cove, albeit at a much earlier stage.