Northumberland · Northumberland and Durham
Fossil hunting at Howick Haven
Carboniferous limestone foreshore on the Northumberland coast, with corals, brachiopods and crinoids.
Representative photography of this stretch of coast, not a photograph of the site on a particular day.
What can you find?
- CoralsColonial and solitary corals preserved in limestone.Identify →
- BrachiopodsTwo-shelled marine animals, abundant in limestone and chalk.Identify →
- CrinoidsSea lilies, usually found as circular stem segments in limestone.Identify →
- BivalvesFossil shellfish with two matching valves, common on most marine sites.Identify →
About the site
The rocky foreshore around Howick exposes Carboniferous limestone, sandstone and shale. Weathered limestone surfaces show corals, brachiopods and crinoid stems clearly, and the coast path makes it a fine walk in its own right.
This is a look-and-record site more than a collecting site: the fossils are largely in the bedrock, and the coast is designated. Bring a hand lens rather than a hammer.
Planning a visit
- Geological period
- Carboniferous, around 340–320 million years old
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Suitable for children
- Yes, with supervision and attention to the tide and cliffs.
- Best time to go
- Low tide in calm, dry weather, when the rock surfaces are clear.
- Tides
- The best surfaces are exposed at low water. Watch the returning tide over flat rock.
- Access
- Coast path with rough sections; the foreshore is uneven rock.
- Parking
- Parking along the Howick coastal road and at nearby Craster.
- Walking and terrain
- Several hundred metres from parking, along the coast path.
- Location type
- Beach, Geological site
- Collecting
- Much of the Northumberland coast is designated (SSSI and AONB). Do not hammer the bedrock; photograph and record instead.
Check before you travel: Designations along this coast are strict — confirm current guidance with Natural England or the AONB before collecting.
Safety
- Slippery, weeded rock.
- Exposed coast in bad weather.
- Watch the tide on flat ground.
What to bring
- Boots with grip
- Hand lens
- Camera
- Tide table