The town centre lies to the east of the Yar Bridge (Fig. 1 ). Low-lying shoreline extends a few kilometres to the south, and tidal inflows to the large Yarmouth Freshwater floodplain are prevented by sluice gates, to protect freshwater habitats. Yarmouth is sheltered from large waves by its north-facing orientation, and from south-westerly waves by the Hurst Spit shingle barrier