Lulworth Cove fossils and fossil collecting |
Medium
Most of the fossils at Lulworth are found from the Upper and Lower chalk at Bindon Hill (the middle of the Cove). But also from the Greensand.
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Suitable for Children
Lulworth Cove is suitable for children, although please keep away from the cliff face, and watch tide times. |
Good Access
The car park at Lulworth Cove is very large and has toilets. The only problem is if you plan to visit the fossil forest, you will need to check opening times of the firing ranges. They are mostly open during August, or on Sundays and Bank Holidays. |
Foreshore, Cliffs
Fossils are mostly found on the foreshore at Lulworth Cove but can also be found at the bottom of scree slopes, slippages and occasionally the cliff. Please note that hammering the cliff is not permitted since Lulworth Cove is part of the Jurassic Heritage Coastline. You are far more likely to find fossils from the foreshore. |
No Hammering Cliff
This site is part of the Jurassic World Heritage Coastline. Please follow the Fossil Code of Conduct. Access is permitted SSSI -
NO HAMMERING THE CLIFF PRIVATE LAND OWNED BY THE FIRING RANGE.
This is 'Private Land', Access for digging is strictly forbidden.
Damage has already been caused to this heritage site by people using power tools. This is strictly against SSSI rules and any attempt to ignore these rules may result in prosecution. |
 
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Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. The main issue one should be aware of is the tide. It is easy to become cut off so it is important to return at least 3 hours before high tide. The other danger is falling debris. Rocks frequently fall due to weather and birds. Hard hats are recommended.
PLEASE NOTE: You should not walk to the Fossil Forest if the Army Range is open and this is highly dangerous There is normally warnings of this danger when the range is open. |
Lulworth Cove
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 |
Accommodation
Higher Spence
Farm Cottage, beautiful location 3 miles Lulworth Cove. Double and Family rooms En Suite.
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)
Dorset coastal cottages
We are a holiday agent for 120 carefully selected and inspected cottages within 10 miles of Dorset's spectacular World Heritage Coast and Path. All are old, many are beamy and thatched, most have open fires or logburners plus central heating. Rents include electricity, gas etc. and all linen/towels.
Rentable by the week or 3 day Short Break all year round!!
Please call: 0800 9804070 for a Brochure or visit our website on www.dorsetcoastalcottages.com
Jennifer Owens Direct:
01305 851033 jen.o@dorsetcoastalcottages.com
If you would like to advertise on this page, please 'contact us'.
£10/Year or 'FREE' for return links from accommodation website pages. |
| Last updated: |
2008 |
| last visited: |
2008 |
| Written by: |
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks |
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There is so much to look at at Lulworth Cove, that you never know what fossils you might come back with! At the middle of the cove, the chalk is the most likely to yield fossils. You can find these by simply searching the loose material on the foreshore.
At the north-east and north-west end of the cove, the Lower and Upper Greensand, also is a very good area for fossils. The Wealden is badly slipped here, and you will have to look hard to find any fossils.
The mouth of Lulworth Cove, the beds are extremely hard and collecting is quite a challenge. Generally most fossils are best collected from the loost material.
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Cretaceous, 86-150mya |
The Portland Beds form the horns at the mouth of the cove, the cove has been formed by erosion of the softer beds to the North. Erosion at the cove slowed dramatically once the Wealden had been eroded and the bay extended to the Chalk of Bindon Hill.
On the west side, sections at Stair Hole provide a chance to see the full succession of the Purbeck Beds. Some 54m of these beds including the Cinder Bed with Lulworth Beds below.
The upper cliffs at the middle of the cove are Upper Chalk of the Cortestudinarium and Coranguinum zones. There is also a fault here with middle and lower chalk exposures dipping 55 degrees north. The North-east and North-west of the cove cuts into Wealden and Lower Greensand, Gault and Upper Greensand...[more]
Geology of Lulworth Cove
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The best area to collect is from the Chalk. This is full of fossils, including bivalves, brachiopods, sponges, echinoid's and belemnites. The Lower and Upper Greensand also yields brachiopods and bivalves.
Fossils found at the headlands of Lulworth Cove, are poorly preserved, although the upper Dulston Beds can yield fish and crocodile remains, but are very rare. Don't miss the famous fossil forest East of the bay...[more]
Fossil Sponge from the Lower Chalk at Lulworth Cove....[more]
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Hammers are not aloud at this location, however, we recommend. Fossils can easily be seen along the foreshore often loose. Fossils can also be found in chalk, if you can carry these, take them back home and then you can work on them using a hammer and chisel...[more] |
Other Locations similar to Lulworth Cove
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Other locations good for chalk neabry are White Nothe, Pinhay Bay, Beer Head, Hookend Cliff, and Swanage, which is also a very good location for chalk fossils.
There are so many chalk locations, some of the best are in Sussex and Kent. The most popular being Seven Sisters, Peacehaven, Beachy Head and Eastbourne. There are also good chalk locations in Norfolk, mostly foreshore exposures at Overstrand, West Runton and Weybourne. In Kent you can also try Dover. North of England, Chalk locations such as Danes Dyke are very popular with the famous white cliffs of Bempton. At Whitecliff Bay and Culver Cliff on the Isle of Wight, Culver Cliff (west of the bay) has tall cliffs of Upper Chalk.
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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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Lulworth Cove is a popular destination and has an enormous car park near the cove. 
