The coastline from Dover Harbour to Kingsdown is extremely important, both geologically and for its many rare floral and faunal species. This SSSI is an internationally important stratigraphic reference site that provides extensive and near continuous cliff and shore exposures of the Cenomanian, Turonian and Coniacian stages of the Cretaceous period (the Lower, Middle and Upper Chalk). The site is historically very important as many geological principles, such as biostratigraphic zonation, were tested here during the early development of geology.

For more information on this SSSI site visit the English Nature website.