Fossil hunting

 

How to Fossil Hunt!

Fossil hunting is one of life’s simple pleasures. There’s nothing quite like that feeling of holding a 200 million year old fossil in the palm of your hand and knowing it dates back to the age of the dinosaurs!

Collecting loose fossils from the foreshore is permitted in Watchet, but please never hammer at the rocks or cliffs as they are soft, fragile and the cliffs are very dangerous.

Please read the fossil collecting code  before you start your fossil hunt. See the link at the bottom of the page.

What you will need:

Sturdy walking boots, knowledge of tide times (fossil hunting is best done at low tide), weather protection (sunhat and sun cream or wet weather gear), eagle eyes and plenty of time.

What would be good to have (but not essential):

Magnifying glass, first aid kit (just in case you fall over slippery rocks), bottle of drinking water, note pad and pen.

And don’t forget: Your camera!  Some of the most beautiful large fossils are embedded into the hard bedrock. You can’t take these home, so take a photo instead and post it on social media with the hashtag #lovewatchet

Fossil identification: The best way to identify a fossil is to take with you a fossil identification sheet, available from the Watchet Visitor Centre.

Top tip: There’s always an element of luck when fossil hunting, because it depends on what the last tide brought in, so a good time to come is after a high tide storm. Check tide times first.  Calmness and patience will help you get you ‘fossil eye’ in, so take your time, be slow and enjoy looking at all the treasures of the beach.

 

Fossil Identification Guide
Fossil Collecting Code

 

We also have regular fossil walks throughout the year which are organised by Watchet Visitor Centre. For more information phone 01984 632101 or email: info@lovewatchet.co.uk