Fossil Hunting in Dorset is a popular activity for visitors of all ages. The county’s stunning beaches are full of fascinating fossils, making it a fun and educational family activity all year round. Thanks to the Jurassic Coast, England’s only natural World Heritage Site, Dorset offers some of the best opportunities to discover ancient remains along the coastline.
During the Jurassic era, much of Dorset was covered by a shallow sea. As the waters retreated, they left behind fossils of marine organisms embedded in the cliffs and beaches. Today, fossil hunting in Dorset lets you uncover a direct connection to life millions of years ago, making it a must-do activity for anyone exploring the Jurassic Coast.
What Is A Fossil?
A fossil is the remains of animals and plants that lived in the past. They are formed when an animal or plant dies and are buried in mud or water areas. Over time the mud will harden and form rock which encases around the remains and forms a fossil.
Where Can I Find Fossils In Dorset
Dorset is home to some amazing beaches that are known for their fossil hunting. Many of these beaches are both family and dog friendly making it a great way to entertain the whole family throughout the year.
Fossil Hunting In Charmouth
Probably one of the best places for fossil hunting in Dorset is Charmouth Beach. Also home to the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. Entry is free of charge into the centre and you can take a look at some of the amazing fossils that have been found in Charmouth over the years.
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Many of the Charmouth beach fossils can be found among the shingle beach, but it’s important not to fossil hunt in the cliffs. There are also guided fossil walks along the Jurassic Coast which can be booked. You’ll be led by the expertly skilled Jurassic Coast guides at Charmouth, which is great if you’re looking for more in-depth knowledge. Why not also discover the great rock pools along Charmouth beach.
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Kimmeridge Bay
Fossils are aplenty at Kimmeridge Bay along the rocks. It’s important to note the tide times at Kimmeridge because you don’t want to get stranded along the rocks. You are permitted to hunt for fossils however the use of hammers is prohibited.
Lulworth Cove
Lulworth Cove is a popular beauty spot along the Dorset coast. It’s not as well known for fossil hunting as other locations, but certainly fossils can be found at Lulworth. The area wont be nearly as quiet as other locations in Dorset though.
Fossil Hunting In Lyme Regis
One of the best fossil beaches in Dorset is Lyme Regis. Known as the fossil capital because of its attractions such as the Lyme Regis museum and the wealth of information available.
Lyme Regis fossils are in abundance due to the cliffs along the shore line crumbling. This reveals more and more fossils each time.
The most common fossil found is the ammonite, a spiral shaped shell from creatures living over 65 million years ago. They became extinct along with dinosaurs.
When fossil collecting you can often find them washed up on the beaches from the cliffs around Lyme Regis. It’s important to take note of any signage along the beaches and ensure you’re not breaking up the cliff faces.
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Ringstead Bay
Another popular location for fossil hunting along the Jurassic Coast is Ringstead Bay. There are plenty of clay and rock areas, which are rife for fossil hunting. Ringstead Bay is also a lovely shingle beach, with a short walk to Osmington Mills across the South West Coastal Path.
Pirates Cove
DT4 9GL
Close to Weymouth in Wyke Regis, the area known as Pirates Cove is a nice place to do some fossil hunting. It’s always advisable to check the tide times before you visit, and be conscious of when the weather has been wet. This location can get muddy in places.
Many of the fossils can be found along the shore.
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Golden Cap
The most well known Jurassic Coast fossils are ammonite and belemnites. Seatown beach in Lyme Regis next to Golden Cap is a treasure trove for finding ammonite fossils. The beach is privately owned but is open to the public. There is a small car park near the beach with capacity for around 100 cars.
Burton Bradstock
The cliffs at Burton Bradstock are full of fossils such as echinoids, shark fins, bivalves, ammonites and brachiopods. When parts of the cliff naturally fall away, there are plenty of fossils to be found.
West Bay Fossils
If you’re fossil hunting at West Bay in Dorset, check out the area near Watton Cliff. It’s part of West Cliff popular for collecting microfossils including ostracods. Watton Cliff is best accessed via Eype beach, and much safer especially with children.
Fossil Hunting Rules
Before taking yourself off to the beach to go searching for fossils, you should check out the rules of where you would like to visit. Some places won’t allow you to take fossils without prior permission, and some places won’t allow you to use tools such as a fossil hammer to hunt for fossils.
Other places such as Charmouth Beach however, fossil hunting is encouraged and fossil hammers are available to hire for the day.
How To Find Fossils On The Beach
Fossils are found in sedimentary rocks. These are rocks that have been exposed to the elements and look like they are made of many layers that have formed over many years. You will soon spot the difference between a sedimentary rock and a standard rock when you are fossil hunting.
Many fossils are generally found near the base of the cliffs as they have fallen away, or on the beach in between the shingle. Popular beaches for fossil hunting are generally shingle and stone beaches rather than sandy beaches.
What To Take Fossil Hunting
If you are going out to do some fossil hunting in Dorset, then it’s a good idea to take the following with you.
- Bag to bring any fossils home (checking localised rules)
- Notebook to write down what you have found
- Camera to take some pictures
- Fossil hammer (or hire one at the beach if available)
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