Nefyn is a small coastal community in North Wales on the Llyn Peninsula. The coastal cliffs in Nefyn Bay are formed in unconsolidated glacial deposits and this area has a long history of shallow landslides — the scars of former landslides are clear in the photograph on this page. The landslide that took place on 19 April 2021 is especially interesting because the slump developed into a fast-moving earthflow that ran across the beach for some 100 metres. Note the high concentrations of suspended sediment where wave action is eroding the toe. The landslide event was filmed at close quarters from the beach, and you can view the footage here: www.tinyurl.com/3p6asbsp.
This landslide was not generated by heavy rainfall or a large storm as the weather had been dry in the period leading up to the event. The large scar has left several clifftop houses in a precarious position. The landslide hazard in this part of the Welsh coastline has been studied for many years. A series of landslides occurred in Nefyn Bay on 2 January 2001 causing major damage to a beach access road. Several cars were caught in the landslip and there was one fatality. Can you make out the garden bench sitting upright in the middle of the slide? The Nefyn cliffs are formed in glacial deposits related to the retreat of Irish Sea ice during the last glacial period.
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