Kingsbridge Estuary

The Kingsbridge Estuary (also, erroneously, known as the 'Salcombe Estuary') in the South Hams area of Devon, England runs from Kingsbridge in the north to its mouth at the English Channel near Salcombe and lies between Bolt Head and Sharpitor to the west and Portlemouth Down to the east.

At high water the length of coast within the ria is 48.6 kilometres (30.2 mi).

Although there are no major water courses entering the estuary, its total catchment area is 6,800 hectares (68 km2).

Prior to the sea level rise at the end of the last glacial period, it was the valley of a river.

[1] In February 1987 the estuary was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.