You don’t need a PhD or a carry case full of the latest field equipment to find fossils. All you really need is a keen pair of eyes and an appetite for adventure, however, a pocket-sized fossil guidebook could prove a handy little addition, as would an old toothbrush (for brushing away mud and debris) and a magnifying glass. Here are our suggestions for anyone wanting to give fossil hunting a try on the Jurassic Coast. Our top, number one, most important and crucial tip of all is… go out with a guide! Why not have a search through our extensive listings and see what you can dig up. It will take you through the magnificent story of the Site’s world-class palaeontology, with all profit from the book helping to protect the World Heritage Status of this special coastline. Along popular fossil hunting beaches, such as those below the clifftops around Charmouth and Lyme Regis, you are most likely to find ammonites and belemnites which are types of prehistoric mollusc and descendants of mussels, clams and snails; the kinds of species that we still see today. It stretches from Exmouth in East Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset, a distance of about 96 miles (154 km), and was inscribed on the World Heritage List in mid-December 2001.. A great place to start would be to sign up for a guided fossil hunt where you’ll have the opportunity to learn from the experts and hone your skills. Stuart Godman, Jurassic Coast Fossil Warden. The cliffs at Charmouth and Lyme Regis used to be a sea bed during the Jurassic Period. A falling tide is the safest and best time to spend time on the beach. Our current Fossil Warden is Stuart Godman, who covers the coast between Lyme Regis and Charmouth, armed with a pocketful of fossils and years of collecting experience. Click here to have a look at the different types of fossils you might find. Photo © Lyme Regis Museum/Matt Austin. The scattered backbones of Ichthyosaurs, a type of giant marine reptile, are relatively common around Charmouth and Lyme Regis, but you still have to be pretty lucky to find one. The cliffs around this coast are the remains of a Jurassic seafloor that was teeming with life 190 million years ago. Don’t be one of them. As a result Portland Museum has one of the most important collections of … (Tommy Trenchard) For any beginner, the beaches between Charmouth and Lyme Regis are the best and safest place to try fossil hunting. They are lots of different types of fossils sea shell found along the Jurassic Coast, including relatives of oysters, clams and scallops. Fossils can come from almost anywhere along the Jurassic Coast, but they are mostly quite hard to find and in some places fossil collecting is not allowed without permission. With so many collectors scouring the beach, ammonites and other popular fossils get snapped up quickly, encouraging many regulars to seek out new and overlooked types of fossils, such as insects and fish, many of which turn out to be new to science. Lyme Regis is the fossil capital, with plenty of fossil shops, museums and guided tours, and even the lampposts are sculptured into ammonites. Visit Lulworth Cove and the nearby fossil forest, the most complete fossil record of a Jurassic forest in the world Hang out with the swans at the Abbotsbury Swannery at Chesil Beach Ride a steam train and visit the ruins of Corfe Castle Enjoy the colours of the quaint beach huts lining the shore along most of the beaches Here, there are loads of opportunities to scour the beach for some ( of the millions of year old) fossils. The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre (pictured) and Lyme Regis Museum run regular guided fossil hunting walks throughout the year. These are nice complete examples. The Jurassic Coast Trust Fossil Finder provides lots more information on the Jurassic Coast fossils found around Charmouth and Lyme Regis. Part of this work involves employing a Fossil Warden to speak to people along the coast’s most popular fossil beaches during busy periods of the year. The museum houses the remarkable collection of one…. ‘I’m not going to Charmouth or Lyme Regis… what do I do?’ – there are plenty of opportunities to see fantastic fossils, even if you’re not in a good place to give fossil hunting a go. Lyme Regis is often the first place that people head to when they learn that the Jurassic Coast is packed full of fossils, and Church cliffs are the town’s best spot for exposed rock. Fossil collecting near Lyme Regis. Beer Head 6. Just to the west of Seatown is … Croyde 1… This has been an amazing summer, and I think records must have been broken for people visiting the Jurassic Coast. The Jurassic Coast extends from Exmouth in Devon all the way to Studland Bay in Dorset. The soft rocks and clay of the Jurassic Coast on the south coast of England release a steady stream of fossils onto the beach with each new high tide or winter storm. Share it with your friends! Ammonites graveyard at monmouth beach (visit at low tide!!). There are fossils all along the Jurassic Coast. You could also invest in our official guide to Fossils of the Jurassic Coast. Charmouth Beach, a little further east, and Monmouth Beach, west of … When you are planning a fossil hunt, always check the tides. The best time to go fossil hunting is during calmer weather on the outgoing tide. Also, one of the best places to go fossil hunting within the Jurassic Coast is Charmouth Beach. This part of the Jurassic coastline erodes rapidly, resulting in fossils falling from landslides in the surrounding cliffs onto the beaches. Cliff falls and landslides can happen without warning so stay away from all cliffs and remember to check tide tables to avoid getting cut off by a rising sea. What makes the Jurassic Coast such a great location for finding fossils? If you see Stuart whilst you’re out on the coast, do pop over and say hi, and don’t be afraid to ask him for fossil hunting tips! Always be aware of the tide movements: the ideal time to go fossil hunting is on … If you want to go fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast, Charmouth is the place to head. We tend to visit Charmouth which is the town next to Lyme Regis. Dec 28, 2020 - Examples of the fossils you can find at Seatown and Charmouth. Ammonite fossils can often be found laying on the beach after stormy tides, the beach being easily accessible from the car park. It is also extremely dangerous to climb or attempt to walk on the cliffs or mud flows. 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