The beach on this stretch of coastline is backed by 'heughs' - raised beaches which rise 120 feet above the current high water mark and are composed mainly of glacially deposited boulder clay. For the most part they are stabilised by (impenetrable) vegetation, but here the boulder clay is eroding at a spot where the steepness of the cliff makes it difficult for bushes to keep a hold.
Uploaded to Geograph by David Baird on 4 December 2013
Photo © David Baird, 4 December 2013. Licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons licence