- Beaches are formed through deposition of sand and pebbles in sheltered bays by waves that have refracted around the bay and lost energy. Ridges called berms form along beaches and show high tide marks.
- Spits form when longshore drift carries sediment along a coastline. When the coastline changes direction, the water deposits the material, forming a long ridge called a spit. Hooked ends can develop from seasonal wind changes. Salt marshes often form behind spits.
- Bars can form when a spit builds across a bay and connects two headlands, blocking water flow like at Slapton Ley in Devon.