A headland is a cliff that sticks out into the sea and is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are formed from hard rock, that is more resistant to erosion, such as limestone, chalk and granite.Headlands form along discordant coastlines where bands of soft and hard rock outcrop at a right angle to the coastline (see image below). Due to the different nature of rock erosion occurs at different rates. Less resistant rock (e.g. boulder clay) erodes more rapidly than more resistant rock (e.g. chalk).The bands of soft rock, such as sand and clay, erode more quickly than those of more resistant rock, such as chalk. This leaves a section of land jutting out into the sea called a headland. The areas where the soft rock has eroded away, next to the headland, are called bays. Sandy beaches are often found the sheltered bays where waves lose energy, and their capacity to transport material decreases resulting in material being deposited.