Geograph - photograph every grid square

The rocks here are of the Late Carboniferous Bude Formation. They are characterised by clastic sediments known as turbidites, which are deep marine sediments originating at the continental shelf, drawn down to ocean basins by turbidity currents. The folds were formed in the Carboniferous during the later stages of the Variscan Orogeny (continental collision): as the basin was compressed by the colliding continents, the strata were intensely folded, producing the dramatic zig-zag folding visible here.

A recent rockfall is visible at the cliff base.

A closer look at the famous folding of the strata can be seen at SS1800 : Chevron folding at Millook Haven, Cornwall.