12 of the best fossil finding beaches

Whilst fossils can be found in many places, including marine animals on top of Mount Everest, the best place is on the beach. And despite the fact that modern day Britain might not be home to the most exciting wildlife on the planet, things were very different millions of years ago.

Over the centuries British beaches have yielded some incredible fossil finds from dinosaurs to giant shark's teeth. With the constant churn of the sea and the erosion of the coast constantly exposing more fossils, there are plenty more exciting discoveries to be made.

Fossil hotspots are all about the geology and it's not just the type of rock but the age of the rock that affects what you will find.From the Jurassic Coast's layered cliffs to the rugged landscapes of Scotland fossil hunting in the UK offers an exciting peek into the Earth's ancient past.

Here we take a look at the best places to find fossils in the UK along with some helpful tips on how to find them.

Monmouth Beach, Dorset

If fossil hunting has a spiritual home in the UK then it would definitely by Lyme Regis. Set at the heart of the Jurassic Coast, this is where legendary paleontologist, Mary Anning, found complete ichthyosaur and plesiosaur fossils.

It isn't too difficult to find fossils anywhere along Dorset's Jurassic Coast, but there are a few hot spots. Just to the west of Lyme Regis' main beach, beyond the Cobb, is Monmouth beach.

Backed by high cliffs, the shore here is littered with rocks. Speaking from personal experience it shouldn't take you long to find some ammonite fossils here. We spotted around five in less than an hour.

Saltwick Bay, North Yorkshire

^{Photo: Bob Embleton}

Saltwick Bay is tucked away just along the coast from the harbour town of Whitby. The sandy beach is backed by cliffs with some interesting rock formations to either end. In fact the beach was the site of an alum quarry in the 17th and 18th century.

This part of the Yorkshire coast is a great place to find fossils. At Saltwick the ever-eroding cliffs provide a constant supply of Jurassic era finds, most commonly ammonites. Belemnites and bivalves are also often found with fossilised marine reptiles somewhat rarer.

The best place for finding fossils at Saltwick are in front of the unstable cliffs, particularly after a fresh rock fall. Caution is advised when approaching the cliffs. Fossils are most commonly found in smooth rock "nodules" which can be split open with a geological hammer.

Charmouth, Dorset

Another fossil hotspot from Dorset's Jurassic Coast, Charmouth is globally renown for the quality of the finds here.

There are two sections of pebble beach stretching in either direction from the main car park. To the east, the main beach and high cliffs of Stonebarrow, and to the west, the crumbling land slips of Black Ven.

Both present excellent fossil-finding opportunities with an abundance of specimens to be found loose along the shore. Ammonites and belemnites are the most common finds but some far more exciting discoveries have been made here.

The constant churn of rocks towards Black Ven has exposed numerous partial, and even some complete, marine reptile skeletons. These include ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs which only occur in the higher levels of the cliff strata.

Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex

^{Photo: Mark Wordy}

Most of hour fossil-hunting locations are somewhat dramatic, remote spots backed by treacherous cliffs. This is not the case for the popular beach at Bracklesham Bay with its traditional seaside appeals. As such it is one of the most family-friendly fossil collecting beaches in the UK.

Unlike the other places on the list the fossils found at Bracklesham are quite literally washed up on the beach. They come from the clay formations that form the sea bed and this is constantly eroded by the wave action. Laid down in the Eocene period, 46 million years ago, these beds are known as the Bracklesham Formation.

By far the most common fossil find at Bracklesham is sharks teeth. It would be pretty unlikely to leave the beach empty handed as these wash up by the thousand. Other particularly abundant fossils include bivalve and gastropod shells.

Helwell Bay, Watchet, Somerset

^{Photo: Colin Park}

Known locally as "Fossil Beach", Helwell Bay is located a 5 minute walk east of Watchet. The geology here is particularly interesting with numerous major faults running across the bay. Red rocks from the late Triassic period rise up and pass through grey sedimentary beds laid down in the early Jurassic. All of which is great news for fossil hunters.

The crumbling cliffs in Watchet are constantly eroding and provide a rich source of finds. Over the years marine reptile remains, such as a nearly-complete ichthyosaur have been found here, and more recently a plesiosaur rib.

The foreshore is also a great place for fossils with some giant ammonite imprints clearly visible on the flat rocks.

Please note that while you are free to collect fossils from the beach this is an SSSI so using a hammer on the bedrock is not allowed.

Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex

This popular Essex beach is well known for its beach huts and pier, but it is also a great place for finding fossils. Just head northwards towards the ochre coloured cliffs, overlooked by the 18th century Naze Tower and you won't leave empty handed.

There are two main sources of fossils on the beach at Walton; the Red Crag which forms the cliffs and the dark-coloured London Clay beds. These date from very different geological periods with the clay having been laid down 50 million years ago and the sediments of the cliff as recently as 2 to 3 mya. As a result they yield a different array of fossils.

The Red Crag is particularly rich in shells which can be found at the base of the ever-eroding cliffs. More excitingly teeth from the giant prehistoric shark, Carcharocles megalodon have also been found here.

The London Clay contains a wider variety of both marine and land animals and plants. Many species of fossilised birds have been found on the Naze beach including ancient specimens with teeth.

Whilst you would be lucky to find a whole specimen on the shore there are plenty of tantalising finds to be discovered loose on the beach.

Compton Bay, Isle of Wight

^{Photo: Ian Capper}

Sometimes referred to as "Dinosaur Isle", the Isle of Wight is home to more dinosaur remains than anywhere else in Europe. This is due to the landscape here 125 million years ago. Back then the coastline was broken up into muddy lagoons - the perfect haunt for prehistoric reptiles, and also the perfect substrate for preserving them.

Few places on the island have a better geology for fossil hunting than Compton Bay. The soft cliffs here form a timeline from the white chalk in the west, which dates back about 67 million years, to the orange sedimentary rocks towards the eastern end that are around 126 million years old.

Compton Bay is best known for its dinosaur footprints. Occurring along much of the beach some particularly fine iguanodon prints can be seen at Hanover Point at the far-eastern end of the beach.

Fossilised dinosaur bones are commonly found in the loose stones on the beach itself. To date more than 20 different species have been identified. Dinosaur teeth are a little rarer, but still commonly found on the foreshore.

Dunraven Bay, Glamorgan

^{Photo: Ruth Sharville}

The geology on this stretch of the South Wales coast is similar to that of Somerset just across the Bristol Channel. Dominated by the limestone / shale striations of the Blue Lias formation, the rocks here date back to the late Triassic / early Jurassic era around 200 million years ago.

The fossils at Dunraven Bay reflect these periods with bivalves, and to a lesser extent ammonites, most commonly found. Particularly abundant are the fossil remains of Gryphaea. These prehistoric oysters have the amusing moniker of "Devil's toenails" and in olden days it was believed keeping one in your pocket would prevent rheumatism.

On occasion, reptile and fish fossils have been found at Dunraven, but these are generally quite rare.

Danes Dyke, East Riding of Yorkshire

^{Photo: JThomas}

Located on the southern side of Flamborough Head, just north of Bridlington, is the quiet beach of Danes Dyke. Backed by the woodlands of Danes Dyke Nature Reserve this is a world away from the town beaches just down the coast.

Perhaps the most striking feature of this beach are the white cliffs, and indeed the white rocks that lie above the tide line. These are all chalk and as a rule chalk is a great place to find fossils. In fact the cliffs and Danes Dyke are particularly rich in fossils.

Laid down around 145 to 66 million years ago the chalk here (like elsewhere) was formed from the tiny skeletons of prehistoric plankton settling on the sea floor. It should therefore be no surprise that the finds at Danes Dyke are a snapshot of the marine ecosystem from this era.

Sponges are one of the most common fossils with a variety of types occurring here. Echinoids such as starfish and and urchins, bivalves, brachiopods and crinoids are also abundant in the loose chalk. You may also find belemnite fossils.

Helmsdale Beach, Scotland

^{Photo: Carron K}

Helmsdale is situated in Caithness, on Scotland's north east coast. A pleasant little harbour town with an unremarkable beach, it makes for a good stopping off point on the NC500 route.

Unbeknown to many visitors, the shoreline here is possibly the best place in Scotland for finding Jurassic era fossils. This is attributed to the boulder beds which are comprised of areas of Kimmeridgian oil shale - the same rocks as those found on sections of Dorset's Jurassic Coast. Geologists have spent many years trying to figure out just how these beds were formed.

Perhaps the most common finds at Helmsdale are corals and reptile remains. Other familiar Jurassic fossils such as ammonites also turn up on occasion. Fish remains are commonly found with at least one complete Devonian era specimen unearthed.

West Runton, Norfolk

^{Photo: Chris Morgan}

The lovely beaches of Norfolk are well known for seals but not so much for elephants. Whilst there may not be many pachyderms wandering the coast these days there apparently were around a million years ago. West Runton was put on the fossil hunting map back in 1990 when the near-complete skeleton of a Steppe mammoth was discovered here.

Other finds of a similar nature include a rhino, a hippopotamus and fossilised hyena poo. The source of all these wonderful specimens is what is known as the Cromer forest bed formation; a layer of estuarine sands and mud laid down before the Ice Age. This was a time when Norfolk was a verdant landscape of forests, grasslands and marshes with the kind of megafauna we nowadays associate with the plains of Africa.

There are also chalk beds at West Runton which yield much older marine fossils. Sponges, corals, echinoids and bivalves are all to be found on the foreshore.

Herne Bay, Kent

^{Photo: Nana B Agyei}

Like Bracklesham, Herne Bay on Kent's north coast is a great place for finding shark teeth. It is also very family-friendly, being easy to get to and having all the facilities you'd expect from a seaside town.

The part of the beach where you will have the most success at finding fossils of any description is a little away from the promenade and pier of the main town beach. Instead head eastwards along the promenade in the direction of the 12th century Reculver Towers. The section of beach is known as Beltinge, and this is where to start looking.

As the tide goes out what is known as the Beltinge fish beds are exposed. These were laid down around 50 million years ago when this area was a shallow tropical sea. On the lowest spring tides shark's teeth are plentiful here. Teeth from over 20 different species have been found with the most impressive being from Otodus obliquus, a huge extinct great white-like shark capable of reaching over 10 metres in length.

Safety First

As pastimes go, fossil hunting is generally pretty safe providing you use a little common sense. That said there are a few things to be aware of that will help get you home in one piece.

The first thing to be aware of are the tide times. You should always arrive on the beach as the tide is going out. Getting caught out by an rising tide is not a problem at many beaches but at some spots this can mean you become cut off by the sea. All the beaches above have links to tide timetables.

The other major danger for fossil hunters are cliffs. At many of the best fossil hunting spots the cliff sides are unstable. Whilst this is great news for unearthing new material it has its inherent dangers. Do not attempt to climb such cliffs or extract material as this may cause a landslide.

A final piece of safety advice; always wear safety glasses if you are hammering rocks.

Fossil Finding FAQ

Is it legal to take fossils from the beach in the UK?

Generally, fossil collecting for personal use is allowed at most beaches, however, collecting fossils for commercial purposes requires permission. Most of the sites listed are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which generally have stricter regulations to prevent damage. Chief among these is no hammering of the bedrock. So always check the local rules for the specific area before you start collecting.

What equipment will I need for fossil hunting?

Basic tools include a sturdy hammer, chisel, and safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris. A hand lens can be useful for examining smaller fossils. Always wear appropriate clothing for the weather, and sturdy footwear is a must.

How do you remove a fossil from rock?

This is where the hard work begins! Great care must be taken not to damage the fossil. Use a hammer and chisel to gently tap around the fossil, which will hopefully free it from the surrounding rock. For more delicate extractions, professional tools and techniques might be necessary. This can include the use of chemicals and air chisels.

When is the best time to find fossils?

Generally speaking the best time of year to find fossils is during the winter months. From October to April the sea will have churned up an scoured the shoreline bringing more fossils to the surface. The increased rain is also more likely to call land slips on unstable cliff sides revealing even more.

Whatever time of year you choose to go fossil hunting it is essential to check the tide times. Always plan to go on a dropping towards low tide.

What should I do if I find a significant fossil?

If you believe you've found a scientifically important fossil, such as a rare specimen, it's best to contact a local museum or university. This way, experts can evaluate and possibly preserve the fossil for further scientific study.