This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so check the code of conduct before visiting. Access to the beach is via steps cut into the cliff, although they can get washed away in the winter. Jurassic fossils can be found in the boulder clay which falls during heavy rain or high tides you might find mammalian and bird remains. In winter the beach can be cut off by the tide.įinds from the fossilised forest bed are mostly below beach level ammonites, shells and reptile fossils may be discovered on the foreshore when the tide is out. Again it's advisable to keep small children on the sandy beach as rock falls are frequent. ![]() Fresh cliff falls can be worked easily otherwise you'll need a hammer - but either way it's a very productive site, with fossils of fish, shark, echinoids (sea urchins) and shells. Walk east to find well-preserved fossils in the boulders and slabs that have been washed toward the sea, but stay away from the high cliffs as rock falls are common.Īt a large, square-mouthed estuary on the south entrance to The Wash, the red rock and white chalk at Hunstanton are rich in fossils. Although there are cliffs in the area, all of the fossils are found in the foreshore, and you don't have to walk far to find them - just take care not to disturb the birds nesting here in summer.Īnd here's the best spot for Jurassic fossils in Wales, offering corals, giant shells (brachiopods and gastropods) and bones. They are rich in plant, reptile and fish remains, as well as the occasional ammonite. The best place to collect Jurassic fossils in Scotland is in the boulder beds at Hemsdale. Children should be kept away from the soft clay or mud flap. The most common finds are sharks' teeth, ray teeth, and turtle shells. The best time to visit is spring, when storms expose more fossils, or in the winter when clay beds are exposed. Fossils are found in the sand along the foreshore, so there's no need for the heavy hammering needed at other locations. It's not recommended for children.Īn ideal family location, with its large sandy beach and ease of access. The walk down to the beach is difficult, and can be slippery in the rain. These can be found on the foreshore, particularly after stormy seas, or you can try the scree slopes on the cliffs. But the best place for fossils is just south of Robin Hood's Bay at Port Mulgrave where you can find ammonites as well as dinosaur and reptile fossils. The Yorkshire coast exposes a wide range of marine and terrestrial rocks, and pterosaur and dinosaur footprints have been found here. As this is part of a world heritage site, you should not hammer directly on the cliffs. ![]() Soft layers in the earth can be pulled apart by hand, or tapped with a chisel, to reveal plentiful ammonites. East from Charmouth car park, the softer, low cliffs are great for kids. There are often rock falls and slippage at Church Cliffs, and although the rocks are hard, you can find very large ammonites along the foreshore - but beware the area gets cut off at high tide. Along this mighty 90 miles of world heritage coast the exposed cliffs create fantastic opportunities to hunt for fossils.
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