Kimmeridge Bay fossils and fossil collecting
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 Kimmeridge is one of the most challenging parts of the coastline for collecting. It is NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FAMILIES, PARTIES or during winter/spring months.
Kimmeridge is in one of the most remote parts of the Dorset coast and is very difficult to access. There are two methods of access, one is to park at Kimmeridge bay and walk East, and the other is to park at Chapmans Pool and walk West. Both are a vast distance apart.
It is possible to walk the full length from Kimmeridge Bay to Chapmans Pool, but this gives little time for collecting.
GRID REF: 50.60890°N, 2.12903°W
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Kimmeridge Bay has more reptile remains than any other Kimmeridge Clay location in the UK. It also has some excellent ammonites, but most of these are found between Kimmeridge Bay and Chapmans Pool. This is often too dangerious for most people to visit, so this guide concentrates onthe bay. There are still some lovely fossils to be found within the bay, but hammering is not allowed.
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Not for Children
Because Kimmeridge Baycan be very dangerious for collecting fossils due to tides and also regular cliff falls, it is not recommended for children. |
Very Poor Access
Kimmeridge Bay is a remote location, it is fairly easy to find and has its own car park, but if planning to walk from Kimmeridge Bay to the more productive beds, then this really is one of the hardest locations in Dorset to access. In some headlands along the coastline, the sea doesnt actually retreat fully, so you would have to take your shoes and socks off to get past. |
Cliff, Foreshore
Fossils can be found on the foreshore or within the cliff face. Collecting from the cliff face is dangerous and not recommended, most fossils can be collected from the foreshore, especially in areas of shingle. |
No Hammers
This site is part of the Jurassic World Heritage Coastline. Please follow the Fossil Code of Conduct. Access is permitted SSSI -
NO HAMMERS ALLOWED AT THIS SITE
The cliffs are so dangerous that the slightest noise can cause a cliff fall, fossils are found washed up on the foreshore and so hammers are not required.
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Kimmeridge is one of the most dangerous places to collect along the Dorset coast. The tides always hit the base of the cliff and can easily cut you off. The walk is such a long way round several headlands, that Tide Times are ESSENTIAL and DOUBLE Check. Be aware of double tides too. If you plan the whole walk from Kimmeridge Bay to Chapmans Pool, you will have little time to collect and should reach your destination BEFORE the tide starts to turn. The tides come in very quickly.
At Kimmeridge Bay Particularly, falling shale is frequent, hard hats should be worn and you should try to keep away from the base of the cliff. Please note HAMMERS are not allowed at Kimmeridge If you do take a hammer, be warned that lumping rocks will cause rocks and shale to fall from the cliff.
The Beach at Kimmeridge is VERY slippery. During the last trip (2001), we had planned to photograph the entire coastline from Kimmeridge Bay to Chapmans pool. Whilst taking Photos at Kimmeridge Bay, the photographer slipped on the foreshore covered in algae breaking the expensive camera. We managed to recover the photos you see on this page however. |
Kimmeridge Bay
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.
Rentable by the week or 3 day Short Break all year round!!
Please call: 0800 9804070 for a Brochure or visit our website on www.dorsetcoastalcottages.com
Jennifer Owens Direct:
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:
last visited:
Written by: |
29/05/08
2001
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks
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The first section of cliffs do not contain any fossils, but the eastern area of the bay is where the fossil yielding beds begin. The best fossils are found along the foreshore amongst the shingle. Most fossils can be collected with any tools, and indeed hammers are not allowed at Kimmeridge Bay.
The best area to collect is at Freshwater Steps, but this is simply too dangerous for more people to visit.
Ammonite from Clavells Hard
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Jurassic, 150mya |
In spite of the difficulty in getting to Kimmeridge, it is a most fantastic place for geology, and the views are fantastic. It is also one of the most peaceful and quiet places alone the Dorset Coast. The Hill View at Chapmans Pool, though a VERY Steep climb, follows some breathtaking views. From Kimmeridge Bay, the immediate shale beds are first seen, this is Hen Cliff. From here walking East you will eventually reach Yellow Ledges, (marked by the yellow stone band) then Burning beach (often built up of shingle). This will take you to Fresh Water Steps. Clavells Hard follows with Rope Lake Head some distance away. Finally Chapmans Pool can be reached.
Over 243m of Kimmeridge Clay is exposed at the bay. The Famous Oil Shale, can be seen and is often marked by black areas in the sea. The first part of Kimmeridge bay is mostly unfossiliferous.
At
clavells hard, a small waterfall descends over the Kimmeridge oil shale. You may notice a pinky colour, this is the result of a fire which burned for many years, set alight by school boys and is one of the most famous features of Kimmeridge...[more]
Oyster from Kimmeridge Bay
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KIMMERIDGE BAY (The bay where you park):
Here, the first part of Kimmeridge bay is mostly unfossiliferous, but at the eastern end of the bay, ammonites and oysters can be collected. The ammonites here are flat.
CLAVELLS HARD (1.5 Miles East from the car park):
It is a long walk before you get to Clavells hard, here a small waterfall descends over the Kimmeridge oil shale. You may notice a pinky colour, this is the result of a fire which burned for many years, set alight by school boys and is one of the most famous features of Kimmeridge. From Clavells Hard to Rope Lake Head, many flat ammonites can be found in the shale, but good thick ammonites can be found in the shingle.
FRESHWATER STEPS (2 miles from the car park) - A 15 mile round trip
This part is NOT RECOMMENDED other than for the more serious collectors, in the summer months with low tides and if you plan to take the foot-top footpath on return. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO VISIT THIS LOCATION AND RETURN BACK BEFORE THE TIDE TURNS. Since to get to this location, and Rope Head, you will need to pass at low tide. This means that the whole trip will be around 15 miles of walking to get back to the car park.
The foreshore and cliff yields the crinoid Saccocoma which is pyritised. Freshwater steps is the main collecting location at Kimmeridge and is of equal distance from Kimmeridge Bay and Chapmans pool. In the cliffs, many reptilian remains including plesiosaurs, icthyosaurs, crocodiles, pterosaurs and chelonians have been found. Past Freshwater Steps, from here to Chapmans Pool, larger ammonites both flat and solid have been found. Many fragments lay scattered at Chapmans Pool.
Brachiopod from Kimmeridge Bay
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Other Locations similar to Kimmeridge Bay
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TOOLS: HAMMERS ARE NOT ALLOWED, and we do not recommend that you use them. Hard Hats should be worn.
CONTAINERS: Bags and containers are suitable, take plenty of drink and food if planning the full walk....[more] |
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Stone Tumblers |
Microscopes |
Test Sieves for Microfossils |
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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Test Sieves are used when searching for microfossils. Microfossils can be found in many locations, and all you need is a small amount of sample such as clays, sands and shales, or if you have acid, limestone, oolite or chalk.
Our UKGE Store sells Endecotts Test Sieves, which are the highest in accuracy and extremely durable and long lasting. These Test Sieves are fantastic for microfossils. Endecotts Test Sieves come in a variety of sizes, frame material and types, they are certificated to EU Standards. |
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