The views from the old thatched cottage perched on Sidmouth cliffs in Devon have always been spectacular. But now they are downright terrifying after part of the 185m-year-old sandstone cliff collapsed, leaving the period property teetering on the edge of a 120-metre (400ft) drop.
A rockfall directly below the cottage occurred days after a large portion of the cliff collapsed a few hundred metres away, at Jacob’s Ladder Beach. The cottage is now just 10 metres from the cliff edge.
In the first landslip, on Friday last week, thousands of tonnes of earth from the cliff came crashing down, forcing East Devon district council to close the popular south-west coastal path for safety reasons.
The council warned visitors to “keep their distance from cliffs” on social media.
“Rockfalls and landslides are unpredictable events, occurring without warning, and can cause serious injury or death,” the council states on its website.
“You should always take care around the cliffs of East Devon as all are made of soft rock and pose a cliff-fall danger.”
Similar collapses of the Sidmouth cliffs occurred in 2020, 2022 and 2023 but this landslip was bigger than most.
Ian Hosker, who captured drone footage of the impact of the Jacob’s Ladder collapse, told Devon Live: “It was a big one. But perhaps not yet finished. It is the largest I have seen here in my 35 years living here.”
Local beachgoers are advised to stay well clear of the cliff base – the coastguard recommends staying at least the height of the cliff away from the base – and keep an eye out for fresh fall material or water running down the cliffs which may indicate an area that is weakened and loose. “If in doubt, don’t walk under or near the cliffs,” the council warns.
