Historic Cottage Near Cliff Edge After Rockfall

A dramatic rockfall along the Jurassic Coast in Sidmouth, Devon, has left a historic cottage perilously close to a 400ft drop, only about 10-12 meters from the edge. The incident involved thousands of tonnes of earth collapsing and has prompted East Devon District Council to close the popular South West Coastal Path for safety reasons and issue warnings to the public. The cliffs, made of soft rock, are known for being prone to unpredictable rockfalls and landslides, with previous similar collapses occurring in 2020, 2022, and 2023. This latest landslide is considered one of the largest in recent years, and council and safety officials are urging visitors to maintain a safe distance from the cliffs, highlighting the ongoing risk of further falls due to natural erosion and heavy rainfall. Local residents and authorities are on high alert, with the Beer coastguard team having closed off affected areas to prevent accidents.