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Lyme Regis Fossils and Lyme Regis Fossil Hunting
(Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, UK)



The fossil hunting opportunities in Lyme Regis are famous the world over and amongst the very best that the United Kingdom has to offer. Brought to the attention of the nation by the acclaimed British fossil hunter Mary Anning (1799 to 1847) in the 19th century, Lyme Regis has been the site of many important fossil discoveries.

Some of the best fossils found beneath the cliffs of Lyme Regis include the skeletons of prehistoric fish, marine reptiles known as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, giant ammonites and similar nautilus creatures, squid-like belemnites, and Bennettitalean seed ferns, all of which date back more than 100 million years.




Lyme Regis Fossil Hunting: General Information - Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, UK
Almost every single day of the year sees visitors searching for fossils along the coastline between Lyme Regis and Charmouth, which is part of the Jurassic Coast. The periodic landslides from the cliffs ensure that the available fossils are constantly being refreshed, meaning that there is usually something new to find and collect.

The oldest rocks and fossils at Lyme Regis belong to the Blue Lias Formation, which forms the lower section of the cliffs and is clearly visible at Monmouth Beach and Church Cliffs, together with layers from the Jurassic (189 to 199 million years ago) and Cretaceous (102 to 106 million years ago) periods.

Fossil hunting on the beaches of Lyme Regis is always an enjoyable experience, although you will find that many of the ammonites are too big to even consider transporting.

However, with a little persevering, it may well be possible to find something more manageable. Serious fossils hunters coming to Lyme Regis bring with them geology hammers and possibly chisels, to split the rocks with telltale signs that a fossil is lurking inside. Walking boots are also recommended, since the rocks are very uneven and at times, rather slippery.

If you want to learn more about what to look for on the shoreline of Lyme Regis, then you can book your own fossil hunting guide. Each year at nearby Charmouth, there is a very popular fossil hunting weekend in mid-September led by local geologist and fossil hunter, Chris Pamplin, a member of Dorset's Important Geological Sites Group (DIGS) - see Fossil Walks for further information.

Each Sunday throughout the year, Lyme Regis fossil hunting tours led by Colin Dawes depart from the Old Forge Fossil Shop, which is situated just across from the Royal Lion Hotel. These hunts do not need advance booking and generally last around two and a half hours - and in the unlikely event that you don't find a fossil, Colin will give you one himself!

 
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