The pebbles on Budleigh Salterton beach

We came across Budleigh Salterton beach from Exeter via Exmouth. Approaching the pebble beach, it didn’t look anything special, but once we were walking on the pebbles it was a different matter. In fact, I don’t think either of us looked up once, until suddenly we realised we’d walked to the end of the beach, transfixed by the patterns on the pebbles.

The beach is famous for its pebbles. Some can be split open and contain fossils. The pebbles have unique patterns. Walking along the beach felt like a history lesson in 20th century abstract art, encompassing abstract expressionism to minimalism. There were Pollock, Riley, Kline and Rothko pebbles. Some were striped, some were blobby, some were birthmarks, some were geological maps. They were all smooth as if polished. Many were so perfectly oval-shaped and smooth they could be sold in crystal shops as semi-precious stone eggs.

The beach has a local bylaw prohibiting the removal of any pebbles; the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The fine is £2000 per pebble. It’s going to take my daughter a while to save up and pay the £8k fines.

Previously on Barnflakes
On the beach at Lyme Regis
Sea urchin shells