Find out more about the erosion of a headland.

A discordant coastline is where the geology alternates between strata (bands) of soft and hard rock.

Find out more about discordant coastlines.

A headland is a cliff that sticks out into the sea and is surrounded by water on three sides.

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A concordant coastline is where the same rock runs along the length of the coast. Concordant coastlines tend to have fewer bays and headlands.

Find out more about concordant coastlines.

The bands of soft rock, such as sand and clay, erode more quickly than those of more resistant rock, such as chalk. This leaves a section of land jutting out into the sea called a headland. The areas where the soft rock has eroded away, next to the headland, are called bays.

Find out more about bays and headlands.