Dorset · Dorset
Fossil hunting at Kimmeridge Bay
Late Jurassic shales and ledges on a protected bay. Ammonites and bivalves, with strict collecting rules.
Representative photography of this stretch of coast, not a photograph of the site on a particular day.
What can you find?
- AmmonitesCoiled shells of extinct marine molluscs, the classic British fossil.Identify →
- BivalvesFossil shellfish with two matching valves, common on most marine sites.Identify →
- Fossilised woodDriftwood and tree remains replaced by minerals, sometimes as jet or lignite.Identify →
- Marine reptile remainsIchthyosaur and plesiosaur vertebrae, teeth and bone fragments.Identify →
About the site
Kimmeridge Bay gives its name to the Kimmeridge Clay, a Late Jurassic marine mudstone exposed here in dark shale cliffs and flat rock ledges. Ammonites, bivalves and fish remains occur, and the bay is also a marine conservation area with an active visitor centre.
This is a site to visit carefully. Much of the bay lies within protected areas and on the Smedmore Estate; collecting is restricted and hammering the ledges is not permitted. Loose material on the beach is the only thing to look at.
Planning a visit
- Geological period
- Late Jurassic (Kimmeridge Clay), around 155–150 million years old
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Suitable for children
- Yes, with supervision and attention to the tide and cliffs.
- Best time to go
- Low tide exposes the ledges. Winter brings fresher material but the bay is exposed.
- Tides
- Go out on a falling tide and turn back well before low water. Check a local tide table on the day and allow time to return.
- Access
- Toll road to the bay, then a short walk. The foreshore is rocky and uneven.
- Parking
- Pay and display parking at the bay, reached via a private toll road.
- Walking and terrain
- Short walk from the car park to the foreshore.
- Location type
- Beach, Cliff, Geological site
- Collecting
- Kimmeridge sits within protected designations and private estate land. Hammering and digging are not permitted. Check current rules at the Etches Collection or with the estate before visiting.
Check before you travel: Access arrangements and collecting rules are set locally and change — confirm before travelling.
Safety
- The shale ledges are extremely slippery when wet or weeded.
- Cliffs here shed rock frequently; keep your distance.
- The bay is exposed to south-westerly weather.
What to bring
- Boots with strong grip
- Tide table
- Camera — much here is better recorded than collected