Charmouth fossils and fossil collecting
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Suitable for Children
Charmouth is One of the best locations for children, they can sit on the beach, or walk along the foreshore and pick up ammonites etc. |
Foreshore, Cliffs
Fossils are mostly found on the foreshore at Charmouth but can also be found at the bottom of scree slopes, slippages and occasionally the cliff. Please note that hammering the cliff is not permitted since Charmouth is part of the Jurassic Heritage Coastline. You are far more likely to find fossils from the foreshore. |
No Hammering Cliff
This site is part of the Jurassic World Heritage Coastline. Please follow the Fossil Code of Conduct. Access is permitted SSSI -
NO HAMMERING THE CLIFF PRIVATE LAND
This is 'Private Land', Access for digging is strictly forbidden.
Damage has already been caused to this heritage site by people using power tools. This is strictly against SSSI rules and any attempt to ignore these rules may result in prosecution. |
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. Care should be especially taken at Charmouth of tide times as often the sea will cut you off, especially at Black Ven.
Climbing slippages is not recommended and this is dangerous for sinking mud. flows of rain water and streams under the mud may seem hard at first glimpse but could be fatal. The high cliffs at Stonebarrow are dangerious for falling debris. |
Charmouth
Tide Times
UK Tidal data is owned by Crown Copyright, and therefore sadly we are not allowed to display tide times without paying expensive annual contracts. However we sell them via our store, including FREE POSTAGE
Click here to buy a tide table
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Accommodation
Higher Spence
Farm Cottage, beautiful location 3 miles Charmouth. Double and Family rooms En Suite.
Contact: Christine Nutkins
Tel: UK (01297) 560556
Tel: International +441297 560556 Address: Higher Spence, Wootton, Fitzpaine, Charmouth, Dorset.
Email: higherspence@eurolink.ltd.net Website: (Typing "Higher Spence into your search engine)
Dorset coastal cottages
We are a holiday agent for 120 carefully selected and inspected cottages within 10 miles of Dorset's spectacular World Heritage Coast and Path. All are old, many are beamy and thatched, most have open fires or logburners plus central heating. Rents include electricity, gas etc. and all linen/towels.
Please call: 0800 9804070 for a Brochure or visit our website on www.dorsetcoastalcottages.com
Jennifer Owens:
01305 851033 jen.o@dorsetcoastalcottages.com
If you would like to advertise on this page, please 'contact us'.
£10/Year or 'FREE' for return links from accommodation website pages. |
| Last updated: |
2008 |
| last visited: |
2008 |
| Written by: |
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks |
 
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There is a large range of fossils that may be found between Black ven and Stonebarrow at Charmouth. The most common place to find fossils and indeed the most easiest is from along the beach. Search in the shingle and on the tide line, especially as the tide retreats. The key is to focus on a particular area, such as walking along the tide line where you are most likely to find them. You may have to get on our hands and knees to find the tiny Ammonites. Look out for patches of dark gold coloured grains or small lumps. These are Iron Pyrites or (Fools Gold). fossils are most common in these areas amongst this pyrites, so ensure you look hard at any areas covered in these pyrites.
You can also search in the clay on the foreshore at Black Ven, this is also a good area to find them. The sea acts as a giant sieve and does all the hard work for you. Please do not climb the slippages as these are both very dangerous but also pointless, you have a much higher chance of finding fossils on the foreshore. .... [more]
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Jurassic, 195mya |
As soon as you enter the beach, to the West the Birchi Nodules are seen in the low cliff, it has been known in times of extreme low tide, that traces of a submerged forest including bones of mammoth and red deer can be revealed. The bones have been found close to the Western groyne.
Just below the Birchi nodule layer, the bed of Shale's with Beef occur, this bed has many common ammonites including Arnioceras, Cymbites and Coroniceras. Occasional teeth and bones of ichthyosaurs including many other reptiles can be found. It is often the case that landslips at Black Ven will expose these beds and regular tides will keep the beds fresh. The upper beds from the beef and shale's can be found at Stonebarrow, just below beach level. ....[more]
Geology of Charmouth, Black ven
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By far the most common fossil at Charmouth is the Ammonite. Many of these small ammonites can be simply collected from along the foreshore. The larger gold ammonites can be found along Stonebarrow during scouring tides exposed in the clay particularly at the far end of Stone Barrow, or you may be lucky enough to pick up one from the foreshore. Crinoids can also be found at Stone barrow by searching the tide line.
Flatstones at Charmouth can contain well preserved ammonites and insects which are unfortunately rare and only a small percentage contain fossils, in the past several complete fish have also been found in these nodules in perfect condition....[more]
Common pyretic ammonite from Charmouth....[more]
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It really depends on what you aim to collect as to what tools to take. Collecting is best done on the foreshore in which case, just good eyes are required. Collecting from the soft clays would be best done with a knife / pick and small spade. Collecting via splitting rocks especially nodules would ideally need a good hammer and possibly chisels .Please DO NOT dig in the cliff at Charmouth both for safety reasons and because you have a much greater chance of finding fossils on the foreshore. ....[more] |
Other Locations similar to Charmouth
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There are many locations in the UK which can be seen to be similar to Charmouth. apart from those in the nearby proximity such as Chippel Bay, Seatown (Golden Cap), Thorncombe Beacon and Lyme Regis,
in South Wales, you can also try Llantwit Major, and Lavernock. There are plenty of good locations along the Yorkshire Coast too, such as Staithes, Saltwick Bay, Port Mulgrave, Kettleness, Whitby, Ravenscar, Runswick Bay, Sandsend, and many more. In Somerset there are also many locations such as Watchet, Quantoxhead, Kilve, Doniford Bay, St Audries Bay, Lilstock, and Hinkley Point.
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Stone Tumblers |
Microscopes |
Geological Supplies |
If you are interested in fossil collecting, then you may also be interested in a stone tumbler (Lapidary). You can polish stones and rocks from the beach which
will look fantastic polished using a stone tumbler.
You can polish rough rock and beach glass whilst collecting fossils, on those days where you come back empty handed.
These are all high quality machines to give a professional finish to your samples. They can even be used for amber and fossils. |
At most locations, you can find microfossils. You only need a small sample of the sand. You then need to wash it in water and sieve using a test sieve. Once the sand is processed, you can then view the contents using a microscope.
We have a wide range of microscopes for sale, you will need a Stereomicroscope for viewing microfossils. The best one we sell is the IMXZ, but a basic microscope will be fine. Once you have found microfossils, you will need to store these microfossils.
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UKGE, the owners of UK Fossils, are your market leader for Geological Supplies and Geology Equipment. Suppling Retail, Education and Trade in the UK, Europe and beyond.
We sell a wide range of geological hammer and geological picks as well as fossil tools, starter packs and geological chisels.
UKGE is your geological superstore, selling a wide range of field equipment, rocks, minerals, fossils, geological and even microscopy! |
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Charmouth beach is easy to access, simply head into Charmouth then down lower sea lane, where a car park will take you right onto the beach. Toilets, and an information centre and cafe/food are all directly available. 
