Vale of Glamorgan · Wales
Fossil hunting at Penarth
Triassic and earliest Jurassic rocks south of Cardiff, the type area for the Penarth Group.
Representative photography of this stretch of coast, not a photograph of the site on a particular day.
What can you find?
- BivalvesFossil shellfish with two matching valves, common on most marine sites.Identify →
- Shark teethSmall, glossy, triangular teeth weathered out of Eocene and Pliocene beds.Identify →
- AmmonitesCoiled shells of extinct marine molluscs, the classic British fossil.Identify →
- BrachiopodsTwo-shelled marine animals, abundant in limestone and chalk.Identify →
About the site
The cliffs between Penarth and Lavernock expose the Penarth Group — the Late Triassic rocks that give the group its name — passing up into the Lower Jurassic. Bivalves, fish remains and bone-bed material occur, and the sequence is of considerable scientific importance.
It is an easy site to reach from Cardiff, with a promenade and a straightforward beach, though the geology rewards patience more than it rewards a quick look.
Planning a visit
- Geological period
- Late Triassic to Early Jurassic (Penarth Group and Blue Lias), around 205–199 million years old
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Suitable for children
- Yes, with supervision and attention to the tide and cliffs.
- Best time to go
- Low tide.
- Tides
- Severn Estuary tidal range is very large and the foreshore floods rapidly. Work a falling tide.
- Access
- Promenade access at Penarth; the foreshore towards Lavernock is rough and rocky.
- Parking
- Parking at Penarth seafront.
- Walking and terrain
- 1–2 km along the foreshore south towards Lavernock Point.
- Location type
- Beach, Cliff, Geological site
- Collecting
- SSSI designations apply along this coast. Collect loose material only.
Safety
- Unstable cliffs.
- Very fast tides and estuary mud.
- Slippery rock ledges.
What to bring
- Boots
- Tide table
- Hand lens
Nearby fossil locations
- 01Llantwit MajorVale of Glamorgan · WalesAmmonites · Bivalves · Brachiopods · CrinoidsEasyFamily friendlyBeach, CliffExplore location →
- 02Dunraven Bay, SoutherndownVale of Glamorgan · WalesAmmonites · Bivalves · Brachiopods · BelemnitesEasyFamily friendlyBeach, Cliff, Geological siteExplore location →
- 03Aust CliffSouth Gloucestershire · Gloucestershire and the SevernShark teeth · Bivalves · Marine reptile remainsExperiencedCliff, Geological siteExplore location →