North Yorkshire · Yorkshire and the North East coast
Fossil hunting at Runswick Bay
A sheltered north Yorkshire bay with nodules containing ammonites, plus belemnites and fossil wood.
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 →
- BelemnitesBullet-shaped internal guards of squid-like Jurassic and Cretaceous animals.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 →
- JetFossilised monkey puzzle wood from the Yorkshire coast, black and very light.Identify →
About the site
Runswick Bay is a sheltered, sandy bay backed by Lower Jurassic cliffs. Hard nodules on the foreshore frequently contain ammonites, and belemnites, bivalves and pieces of fossil wood occur in the shingle.
The bay is attractive and family-friendly, with a village, a beach café and a straightforward walk onto the sand. It is one of the best introductions to the Yorkshire coast.
Fresh material appears constantly as the cliffs erode, so it is worth visiting after rough weather.
Planning a visit
- Geological period
- Early Jurassic (Redcar and Whitby Mudstone formations), around 190–180 million years old
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Suitable for children
- Yes, with supervision and attention to the tide and cliffs.
- Best time to go
- Winter and spring after storms; a falling tide at any season.
- Tides
- The north end of the bay towards Kettleness is cut off at high tide. Work a falling tide.
- Access
- A very steep road down to the village, then level access onto the sand.
- Parking
- Car park at the top of the bank and a smaller car park in the village.
- Walking and terrain
- Short walk to the beach; the productive ground extends 1 km north.
- Location type
- Beach, Cliff
- Collecting
- Loose foreshore material only. Do not dig the cliffs.
Safety
- Cliff falls and mudslides are common here.
- Serious tidal cut-off risk towards Kettleness.
- Slippery boulders on the foreshore.
What to bring
- Boots
- Tide table
- Bag
Nearby fossil locations
- 01StaithesNorth Yorkshire · Yorkshire and the North East coastAmmonites · Belemnites · Bivalves · BrachiopodsModerateBeach, CliffExplore location →
- 02Port MulgraveNorth Yorkshire · Yorkshire and the North East coastAmmonites · Belemnites · Bivalves · JetExperiencedBeach, CliffExplore location →
- 03WhitbyNorth Yorkshire · Yorkshire and the North East coastAmmonites · Belemnites · Jet · BivalvesEasyFamily friendlyBeach, CliffExplore location →