Watton Cliff fossils and fossil collecting
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 Follow the narrow road from the A35. This road is just west of Bridport and leads through the Eype village. There is limited parking here near the shore, otherwise it is possible to park in a field. This road is not suitable for large vehicles such as buses or coaches.
From here, walk East along the beach until you reach Watton Cliff.
It is too dangerous to access this location from West Bay, and many people have injured themselves trying to access the beach from the rocks at the end of the promenade. Eype is a much better access point, and one which we recommend.
GRID REF: 50.71271°N, 2.77215°W
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Not for Children
Locations for microfossils are generally not recommend for children 'searching for fossils', as the finds will be made back at home or in the lab once you process them. |
Good Access
Accessibility to the Watton Cliff is easy if you drive to Eype and walk east along the beach, its not too far to walk. We do not recommend the route from West Bay as access to the beach is difficult, and in the past people have slipped and injured themselves on the rocks. |
Microfossils
Fossils at Watton Cliff are found when processing samples of Forest Marble which can be found on the foreshore. |
World Heritage Site
Watton Cliff is part of the Jurassic World Heritage Coastline. Please follow the Fossil Code of Conduct on the safety notes page below. |
Common sense when collecting at all
locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. Care should be taken of tides at all locations and at Watton Cliff, the tide often reaches the base of the cliff. It is easy to get cut off from the tide. To reach the cliff, you will need to climb down the rocks at the end of the promenade, extreme care must be taken. |
Watton Cliff
Tide Times
UK Tidal data is owned by Crown Copyright, and therefore sadly we are not allowed to display tide times without paying expensive annual contracts. However we sell them via our store, including FREE POSTAGE
Click here to buy a tide table
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Accommodation
Higher Spence
Farm Cottage, beautiful location 3 miles Charmouth. Double and Family rooms En Suite.
£20-£22.00 per night per adult. Under 12, Half Price.
Contact: Christine Nutkins
Tel: UK (01297) 560556
Tel: International +441297 560556 Address: Higher Spence, Wootton, Fitzpaine, Charmouth, Dorset.
Email: higherspence@eurolink.ltd.net Website: (Typing "Higher Spence into your search engine)
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Please call: 0800 9804070 for a Brochure or visit our website on www.dorsetcoastalcottages.com
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Last updated:
last visited:
Written by: |
08/03/08
2008
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks
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Microfossils are mostly found in the soft sandy beds from the Forest Marble, these are more orange colour and crumble in your hands, although many other beds yield small fossils such as mammals, reptiles etc. Since the Forest Marble is found at the very top of the cliff, you need to search the blocks of fallen material at the base of the cliff. Brachiopods and corals can be found from the underlying Frome Clay, but these are not common.
Although the cliff-top exposures at Watton Cliff look fairly thin, they are actually the most complete section of the Forest Marble Formation found in Dorset, the section is some 25m in thickness, but only two beds are good for microfossils. These can be detailed below.....[more]
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Jurassic, 170mya |
The lower succession at Watton Cliff comprises of the Frome Clay Formation (Jurassic age). Of this, three beds have been identified. In total, nearly 30m of this formation can be seen, the bulk of which (25m) are the lowest beds of the Frome Clay, the Grey Marls. Above this, a thin bed 0.84m thick has gard, fissile white marl, whilst at the top of this formation there are some 2.74m of bluish-yellow mark containing a thin band of hard white marl.
The uppermost succession is the 'Forest Marble Formation' being the most complete succession in Dorset. Here, the lowest thin bed (0.30m thick), make up the Boueti Bed where microfossils can be found. This bed is hard, sandy and stained reddish brown....[more]
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Microfossils from Watton Cliff are well-documented. In particular, four mammal species have been found. These are Eleutherodon oxfordensis, Amphilestes broderipii, Borealestes serendipitus and Trenchnotheria indet. A single tritylodont tooth has also been recovered from Stereognatbus sp.
Fossil fish teeth and fragments, shark teeth(Asteracanthus sp.), crocodile remains (Teleosaurus sp.), reptile remains, amphibians, crinoid fragments (Apiocrinites sp.), bryozoans and ostracods are also found. Small brachiopods including Goniorhynchia boueti, Avonothyris langtonensis, Ornithella digona and bivalves including Chlamys vagans, Camptonectes sp., Plagiostoma sp., Praeexogyra sp are also common....[more]
Bryozoan from Watton Cliff....[more]
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Fossils from Watton Cliff are 'Microfossils' so you will need to take samples back home and process, then view in a microscope. You will need sample bags to collect the samples and a pick to break apart the bed. You will also need a sieve later for processing these and something to store your microfossils....[more] |
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Other Locations similar to Watton Cliff
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Stone Tumblers |
Microscopes |
Test Sieves for Microfossils |
If you are interested in fossil collecting, then you may also be interested in a stone tumbler (Lapidary). You can polish stones and rocks from the beach which
will look fantastic polished using a stone tumbler.
You can polish rough rock and beach glass whilst collecting fossils, on those days where you come back empty handed.
These are all high quality machines to give a professional finish to your samples. They can even be used for amber and fossils. |
At most locations, you can find microfossils. You only need a small sample of the sand. You then need to wash it in water and sieve using a test sieve. Once the sand is processed, you can then view the contents using a microscope.
We have a wide range of microscopes for sale, you will need a Stereomicroscope for viewing microfossils. The best one we sell is the IMXZ, but a basic microscope will be fine. Once you have found microfossils, you will need to store these microfossils.
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Test Sieves are used when searching for microfossils. Microfossils can be found in many locations, and all you need is a small amount of sample such as clays, sands and shales, or if you have acid, limestone, oolite or chalk.
Our UKGE Store sells Endecotts Test Sieves, which are the highest in accuracy and extremely durable and long lasting. These Test Sieves are fantastic for microfossils. Endecotts Test Sieves come in a variety of sizes, frame material and types, they are certificated to EU Standards. |
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