Jurassic Coast Fossil Hunting Tips
Stretching across East Devon’s Orcombe Point all the way to Old Harry Rocks in West Dorset, the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site is a beautiful region of the south coast that spans an incredible 96 miles.
The Dorset coast has many stunning cliffs and walks to explore, making it perfect for families of all ages. It includes natural landmarks like Durdle Door.
Here, many tourists enjoy Jurassic Coast fossil hunting as a fun pastime, with the name coming from the best known of the geological periods found within it, created millions of years ago.
However, the region also includes rocks from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. All of these are of scientific interest.
How do I find fossils here?
Most fossils are found on the beach due to natural erosion or get washed from the cliffs. So the safest place to hunt for fossils is along the beach amongst the loose shingle. The best time to go fossil hunting is during calmer weather on the outgoing tide.
The most common types of fossils in this area are Ammonites and Belemnites; both extinct types of Mollusc, which includes mussels, clams, snails, and slugs.
Ammonites had spiral shells, which fossilised to form the ammonite fossils we find today. Like modern cephalopods, ammonites had soft body tissue, in which tentacles are attached to the heads to catch prey, such as crustaceans, plankton, and other ammonites. They were born with small shells, building new shell chambers as they grew, used for buoyancy. Ammonites had sharp, beaklike jaws, capable of hunting larger fish and reptiles.
In contrast, belemnites were closer in appearance to squid and had a rear part commonly named as ‘bullet-shaped’ fossils. Belemnites were marine animals with squid-like bodies with a hard internal skeleton. Most belemnites lived in oxygenated water masses. They survived 1 to 200 meters water deep and with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 30°C.
Sometimes, fossil collectors may also find parts of fossil bone from marine reptiles, most often sections of vertebrae.
What do I need to know before fossil hunting?
Fossil hunting is a great activity for the whole family, and it can be exciting if you find fossils to take home from your day at the beach.
As well as doing it alone, there is also the option for a guided fossil hunt. Here, an expert Jurassic Coast guide will take you on a tour of the beach and you will be able to learn from experienced fossil hunters on how to find them.
Before beginning your fossil hunting walks, there are a few things you need to know: it is recommended to only collect loose fossils on the beach, and not chisel or dig our rocks from the Jurassic Coast cliffs, as some parts of the coast are fragile and easily eroded.
There are a couple of places along the way that do not allow fossil collecting, so be sure to check out local information to make sure that you are in the correct spot before beginning your hunt.
If you want to learn more about the fossils you’ve collected, you could pay a visit to the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre or the Lyme Regis Museum.
To stay close by, Sweetcombe Cottage Holidays has a selection of seafront accommodation for those who enjoy the sand between their toes from morning to evening.
Magpie Chalet is a gorgeous detached cedarwood chalet situated on the beach at Branscombe with direct sea views. This location offers total peace and quiet along one of the most stunning parts of the English coastline. Which is perfect to retire to after a day of fossil hunting and exploring.
What do I need for fossil hunting?
For many aspiring palaeontologists, the idea of digging your first fossil is a milestone that brings a great chance to be a part of history. So, what do you need to make fossil hunting more unforgettable and productive?
If you are going fossil hunting with children, it may be handy to take a magnifying glass and a small brush to allow you to clean off debris and see the fossil in more detail.
A camera and a notebook may also come in handy if you want to record and take pictures of your findings. If you are visiting on a winter’s day, be sure to wrap up warm and always wear the correct footwear for rocky areas.
As you become more acquainted with the Jurassic Coast and fossil hunting, you’ll need a drilling hammer and a geological hammer to break away rocks. You’ll also need chisels to extract fossils. Of course, don’t forget to wear gloves and goggles for protection, as extracting fossils from rocks may put you at risk for cuts, abrasions, and wounds. If you search in water, it’s best to wear a pair of good quality waders for convenience and to search easier.
Whilst on the Jurassic Coast, you must make sure to pay attention to the tides that sweep in and out at certain times of the day. The tide can be dangerous, so you should always make sure you are walking along the beach at the safest time.
While you are visiting this vast stretch of coast, enjoy the views of unspoilt land and have a brilliant fun-packed day out.
Have you ever been fossil hunting, what did you find?
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Great tips, we absolutely love the Jurassic coast and it is such a beautiful place to visit. We were supposed to go on a guided tour last holiday but it was rained off so it is on our list to do next summer! My son especially is fascinated by fossils so I think they will both love it.
Oh no that’s such a shame! I hope you manage to do it at some point and have a great time.
The Jurassic coast is very picturesque and to do a guided fossil hunt activity sounds like a lot of fun and educational too if you involve your kids.
It really is such a beautiful place isn’t it – absolutely stunning and so much to do and see.
Seems a place worth a visit, sometime.
It is a beautiful location and there is so much to do and see.
Wow! That sounds like a very fun and exciting thing to do! I can’t wait to experience this, too.
It is such an amazing area and such fun to go and look for your own fossils.
I have never done fossil hunting so this would be a new expereince for me, although I sure it would be fun and relaxing!
It is fantastic honestly, it is such a thrill finding something from so many years ago.
I would have so much fun doing this. My kids and I have a nice collection of fossils.
It is awesome that you can do it isn’t it? Nothing like finding some for yourself.
Wow, wow, wow. I’ve never been fossil hunting at all, but this sounds like so much fun! And what a beautiful place to visit!
I hope you manage to get to try it for yourself one day it is a fantastic thing to do.
Oh my gosh, I love this post! I want to take my family fossil hunting, what fun! When this quarantine is over we will have to try this out.
I hope you have an amazing time and find some great fossils when you go!
What a great post I remember when I was younger and I found a fossil I was so excited, maybe I can relive my childhood again
There’s something so exciting about it isn’t there?
Fossil hunting can be a lot of fun to do it as a family activity. Love this idea!
Definitely nothing like finding something from the past.
My mom has told me about Dorset, but I had no idea it was this beautiful! Wow.
It is a beautiful place for sure. Well worth visiting if you get the chance.
I love fossil-hunting and this must be a great destination for it; who knows what you may find among the rocks!
So much so and as the beaches are pure rock, so many places to just go and check for things.
Oh wow. That would be so exciting! I would be thrilled to find a fossil and take it home with me! I would be there in a heartbeat if I only lived close!
It’s fantastic you can often see samples of what you might find in the shops locally as well so you know what to look for!
I didn’t even know this was a thing but it sounds so fun! Thanks for the idea. My kids would love this!
It is amazing and something so fun to do around the shores of the Jurassic Coast.
I’ve never taken the kids fossil hunting. I live in Cornwall so not too far away, might just head up to the Jurassic coast for a day trip soon
Oh you should definitely go – I adore Cornwall as well as Devon, as my uncles, aunts and cousins are all Cornish!
This is nice! I barely seen a nice fossil when we’re in beaches and that sucks.
Aww that’s a shame have you been fossil hunting around the Jurrasic Coast as well?
Wow Sarah thanks for this. A great guide for sure and will be using it when I pay a visit to the coast. It just looks so beautiful and the history is amazing
It is amazing honestly there is so much to do and see in the area!
This is so cool! I never would have even thought to go fussil hunting. This is something to check out.
Definitely it is such an awesome day out and you can often borrow tools from the local shops as well.
What a fabulous place! I would love it here. I could spend hours looking.
It’s such a beautiful area, I love going just to relax as well.
Lovely pictures and some great tips. The UK really does have a lot to offer out there.
It does have some beautiful places to go to and explore.
When I was a kid, yes, yes I have and we would find loads of arrow heads!
Ohh that is so cool – hands up I’m still a big kid and love collecting fossil lol.
I have never heard of this place, but I know my son would flip if he had a chance to go there and explore. He loves his dinos.
It is incredible – the beaches are beautiful! I’m sad we won’t be going this year with everything going on as I love Devon.
That is so cool! I’ve always been fascinated with fossils, especially those that are embedded into rocks. I love the beautiful scenery here, too. It has all kinds of pluses.
It is gorgeous – I have been for the past couple of years and was meant to go this year, but delayed it until next. It is such an incredible place.
Oh, that is beautiful! England has been on my bucket list for travel for ages. I want to spend a month just traveling around the country!
It is beautiful I love Devon (and Cornwall) just stunning locations to visit.
No. Sounds interesting. A guided tour sounds like a good idea . Beautiful picture headlining the blog.
You can just go and join in with groups which is awesome – they often have the details by the shore.