Chesil Cove is the southern end and the start of the amazing 18-mile long Chesil Beach which forms an unbroken defense from here to West Bay against the prevailing south-westerly gales. The beach, sometimes also known as Chesil Bank, rises to a maximum height of sixty feet (18m) and is composed of millions and millions of pebles. These are large at this end but gradually reduce to shingle at the northerly end. So perfect is the size reduction that experienced fishermen can pin-point their position at night if they beach.