In turn, the soil associated with the Whin Sill gives rise to a distinct pattern of vegetation which on its own merits is at this site found notable.

The site is 'T'shaped, the bar of the T running for approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) along the north-west - south-east orientated beachfront north of Bamburgh, and the descender running inland for some 0.9 miles (1.4 km) following a south-east facing escarpment as high ground at circa 60 metres (200 ft) above sea level falls to a new level at circa 30 metres (98 ft).

Both the coast and the escarpment expose sections of strata of Whin Sill and underlying rock, making the site advantageous for studies of local geology.

Annual plants including knotted clover (Trifolium striatum), forget-me-nots (Myosotis spp), dove's-foot cranesbill (Geranium molle), parsley-piert (Aphanes arvensis), heath groundsel (Senecio sylvaticus) and squirreltail fescue (Vulpia bromoides).

Heath areas exhibit heather (Calluna vulgaris) and bell heather with meadow oat-grass, bitter vetch (Lathyrus montanus), devil's-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis), hawkweeds (Hieracium spp), wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) and the uncommon mountain everlasting (Antennaria dioica).