Dramatic images captured the moment vacationers watched as a cloud of orange dust swept across a beach in Devon following a cliff collapse.
The incident occurred at Jacob’s Ladder beach in Sidmouth on Saturday, July 18, just days before an auction for a thatched cottage situated at the cliff’s edge. The three-bedroom property failed to sell for £250,000 on July 21 after its value had already decreased due to a previous cliff fall in 2024.
The house, originally constructed in the 1960s for the author R. F. Delderfield, is perched on Peak Hill Road with a view overlooking the beach. Its market value typically ranges between £1.1 million to £1.6 million, with the current owner purchasing it for £695,000 in 2011.
Both the Grade II-listed Jacob’s Ladder steps and the Millennium Walkway were closed earlier in the year for safety reasons and are expected to remain shut until at least 2027.
Sidmouth town beach and Jacob’s Ladder beach are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Jurassic Coast, spanning 95 miles from Exmouth to Dorset.
A spokesperson for East Devon Council informed the BBC that the soft rock cliffs in the area are prone to rock falls and landslides. The council conducts regular inspections and safety measures at various locations but clarified that the cliff where the property sits is not part of their monitoring program.
To ensure beachgoer safety, the council provides warning signs at managed beaches and advises keeping a safe distance from cliffs. In case of a cliff fall incident, people are urged to contact emergency services immediately and avoid approaching recent cliff collapses.
