Berry Head

Berry Head is a coastal headland at the southern end of Torbay, to the southeast of Brixham, Devon, England.

National Nature Reserve

Berry Head to Sharkham Point is a haven for several nationally rare and threatened species which are dependent upon the thin limestone soils, mild climate and exposed conditions of the headland.

The coastal cliffs here are home to a seabird colony, including Guillemots, Razorbills and Black-legged Kittiwakes. Several rare vagrant birds have occurred here, including a long-staying Gyrfalcon in 1986.

The guillemot colony on the cliffs below the Southern Fort is one of the largest on England's south coast and can be closely watched live on CCTV in the Visitor Centre. Berry Head also acts as an important staging post for migrant birds.

The site is one of only two locations in Great Britain at which the white rock-rose, small hare’s ear and small restharrow occurs. Spring gentian, honewort, and goldilocks aster are also dependent upon the thin soils, mild climate and exposed conditions of the headland.

Caves at Berry Head are home to the endangered greater horseshoe bat. A small herd of North Devon Reds which have been reintroduced to Berry Head produce cow pats which in turn provide food for the bats in the form of dung beetles.

The Fort

The two forts were built on the pre-existing Iron Age Hill fort site overlooking Torbay naval anchorage. Fortifications were erected on the headland in 1793 against threatened invasion by French armies and strengthened with limestone in 1803, when gun batteries were added to protect the anchorages. They were abandoned after two years when the War of American Independence finished, and the armaments were moved to Plymouth, but the ramparts remain.

The former artillery house now houses a public display, featuring details about the history of the area, its wildlife and how it became an important strategic point.

Lighthouse

At the end of Berry Head, beyond the coastguard station, is the lighthouse, which forms part of the chain of south coast beacons. It is administered by Trinity House. The lighthouse, which was built in 1906, was converted to unwatched acetylene operation in 1921 and modernised and converted to mains electricity in 1994. The light being visible over 20 miles away, It gives a double flash every 15 secs. It came to be known as the smallest, highest and deepest light in the British Isles - the tower is diminutive, requiring no further elevation than that given by the headland itself, and the optic was originally turned by the action of a weight falling down a 45m deep shaft, now made redundant by a small motor. Semaphore signalling apparatus was on Berry Head before 1875 and acted as the Lloyds' Signal Station for Torbay.

Radio Navigation Beacon

Berry Head also has a VOR/DME Beacon used for air traffic control.

External links

* [http://www.torbytes.co.uk/op/tm7/lv2/item370.htm History of Berry Head]
* [http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/interactive/gallery/berry_head.html Trinity House - Berry Head Lighthouse]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A3739845 Attack On The Lighthouse!]
* [http://www.aphotofauna.com/ A Photo Fauna of the Devon & Cornwall Peninsular]