Fossil Collecting

Are you excited to watch the BBC's new 'Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster' programme due to be shown on New Year's day? If it inspires you to go on adventures in search of fossils, read below for all the tips you need: 

Fossil hunting is one of the most popular activities on the Jurassic Coast, and enables you to connect in a profound way with millions of year's of Earth's history; to hold in your hand a piece of buried treasure that's waited patiently through time for you to discover it.

Fossil hunting also connects you with two centuries' worth of trail-blazing fossil collectors who have scoured our coastline for hidden treasures since before humankind understood what fossils even were. In this comprehensive guide, our expert team have pulled together everything you need to forge your own Jurassic Coast fossil hunting adventure.

Where to Go Fossil Hunting

Fossils can come from almost anywhere along the Jurassic Coast, but most are quite hard to find. In some places, fossil collecting is not allowed without permission. 

For beginners, the beaches between Charmouth and Lyme Regis are the best and safest places to try fossil hunting.

‘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. Why not visit one of our brilliant local museums or visitor centres?

When to Go

Winter is by far the best season to go fossil hunting – the beaches are quieter and the fossils are more plentiful. Rough weather causes higher rates of erosion, which in turn washes fossils out of the soft clays and muds for us to find. Learn more about the important role erosion plays on the Jurassic Coast.

When you are planning a fossil hunt, there are two important things to remember: Always check the tides before heading to the beach. A falling tide is the safest and best time to visit the beach; Check the West Dorset Fossil Collecting Code for a guide to safe and responsible fossil collecting.

See the below video with our Fossil Warden Georgie Bull with everything you need to know about fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast.

What to bring with you to the beach

Unless you plan to make fossil hunting a regular hobby, taking a hammer is a waste of time. It can take months to learn how to find fossils that are hidden within the rocks.

Here’s the good news - many fossils are found among the beach pebbles, just waiting to be spotted.

Your most important tool? … your eyes.

Our top tip? … be patient. Fossil hunting is mostly about luck. The more time spent searching, the better the chance of finding something.

Don’t forget – wear suitable clothes for the weather, especially if it’s cold. Fossil hunting often involves moving slowly along the shore, so it can be hard to stay warm. Take some small bags or tupperware pots to carry any fossils you find. If you do choose to use a hammer, always wear eye protection. 

Meet Our Jurassic Coast Fossil Wardens

The Jurassic Coast Trust works to promote responsible fossil collecting across the World Heritage Site. 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.

Our long-time 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. Stuart speaks to around 2,000 people per year, encouraging them to search for fossils responsibly and safely. In Summer 2022, Georgie Bull joined our team as a Fossil Warden, working in tandem with Stuart.

If you see one of our Fossil Wardens whilst they're out on the coast, do pop over and say hi, and don't be afraid to ask them for fossil hunting tips! Our Fossil Wardens carry a QR code that you can scan to easily access our Top Tips for Fossil Hunting on the Jurassic Coast.

What to Look For (the trickiest bit)

Our top, number one, most important and crucial tip of all is … go out with a professional guide! If you are trying fossil hunting for the first time, it can be daunting. A guided fossil walk is the best way to build confidence and learn from an experienced collector.

The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre and Lyme Regis Museum run regular guided fossil walks throughout the year.

To start you off, check out the selection of fossils below. These are common fossils found on the beaches around Charmouth and Lyme Regis.

You could also invest in our official guide to the Fossils of the Jurassic Coast. It will tell you the story of the Jurassic Coast’s remarkable fossil record and all profits from the book go towards helping us to protect the World Heritage Site for future generations.

Don’t forget! ... whilst you search for fossils you should also be looking out for dangers. Avoid fresh rockfalls, mudflows and landslides. The coastguard is called out many times every single year for people getting stuck or cut off by the tide. Don’t be one of them.

Top Jurassic Coast Fossils

Iron pyrite or ‘fool’s gold’ ammonites are an iconic Charmouth fossil and are often found after a storm. They are the shells of extinct animals closely related to squid and octopus. 

Belemnites are the internal hard parts of a squid-like animal. These are complete examples but they are often found broken into smaller sections. 

The scattered backbones of ichthyosaurs are relatively common around Charmouth and Lyme Regis, but you still have to be pretty lucky to find one.

Many fossil sea shells look just like the modern shells you might find on the beach. There are lots of different types of fossil sea shell to be found along the Jurassic Coast, including relatives of oysters, clams and scallops. This one from Charmouth looks a bit like a cockle shell.

These fossil sea urchins are preserved by a very hard rock called flint. They can be found on almost any pebble beach along the Jurassic Coast, but they are very hard to spot and are the rarest of the fossils shown here.