East Sussex · Sussex
Fossil hunting at Hastings and Fairlight
Wealden sandstones east of Hastings, with plant fossils and dinosaur footprint casts.
Representative photography of this stretch of coast, not a photograph of the site on a particular day.
What can you find?
- Plant fossilsLeaf, frond and stem impressions, mostly in Carboniferous shales.Identify →
- Fossilised woodDriftwood and tree remains replaced by minerals, sometimes as jet or lignite.Identify →
- Dinosaur fossilsBone fragments and footprint casts, chiefly from the Isle of Wight's Wealden beds.Identify →
- BivalvesFossil shellfish with two matching valves, common on most marine sites.Identify →
About the site
The cliffs east of Hastings towards Fairlight expose Early Cretaceous Wealden sandstones and mudstones laid down by rivers and floodplains. Plant fossils and fossil wood are the usual finds, and dinosaur footprint casts have been recorded in fallen blocks on the foreshore.
The walk from Hastings Old Town along the beach is long and the tide must be respected, but the geology is genuinely interesting and the setting is fine.
Planning a visit
- Geological period
- Early Cretaceous (Wealden Group), around 140–135 million years old
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Suitable for children
- Not recommended for young children at this site.
- Best time to go
- Low tide in winter, after storms.
- Tides
- The foreshore east of Hastings is cut off at high tide with no escape in places. Only walk out on a falling tide and turn back in good time.
- Access
- Long walk over rock and shingle; not suitable for limited mobility.
- Parking
- Car parks in Hastings Old Town.
- Walking and terrain
- 1.5–3 km along the foreshore from the Old Town.
- Location type
- Beach, Cliff
- Collecting
- Much of this coast is SSSI. Do not remove footprints or hammer the cliffs; record and report notable finds to Hastings Museum.
Safety
- Genuine risk of being cut off by the tide on this stretch — plan carefully.
- Unstable sandstone cliffs with rockfall.
What to bring
- Boots
- Tide table
- Phone
- Waterproofs