Lowest Tides of the Year Likely to Draw Hordes of Fossil Hunters to the Dorset Coast

The lowest tides of the year are forecast to occur along parts of the UK’s Jurassic coast this weekend says the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.  This could lead to a number of exciting fossil finds as a combination of rough seas in the previous few days and low tides expose potential new discoveries.  Fossil hunters are likely to be out in force scouring the beaches for rare specimens.

Fossil hunters are expected to flock to Lyme Regis and nearby Charmouth on the hunt for ammonites, belemnites and fossils of marine reptiles.  Although the chances of finding a dinosaur are remote, the low tides will expose areas not normally able to be explored and the recent pounding the cliffs have taken from the bad weather could reveal many new finds.

Fossil Finds at Lyme Regis

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Fossil Hunters

The picture above shows a selection of fossils found at Monmouth beach west of Lyme Regis in just a few minutes from one of our Everything Dinosaur team members.  A mixture of ammonites, belemnites and a piece of fossilised vertebrate bone was discovered.  The chances of finding such items are increased this weekend with the lowest tides of the year forecast, however, there is a caveat to all this.  True, there may be low tides as a result of the extreme spring tides this autumn but this will also result in higher than normal high tides.

Dangerous Cliffs

The beaches and cliffs around Lyme Regis can be dangerous places.  It is all too easy to get cut off and trapped by an incoming tide.  Care needs to be taken and it is vitally important to check the tide times.

For an enjoyable fossil hunting experience, Everything Dinosaur team members recommend visitors to the Dorset coast take advantage of the many professionals who offer fossil finding walks.

One such professional fossil hunter is Brandon Lennon, who runs daily fossil hunting trips at Lyme Regis.

To visit Brandon’s website: Lyme Regis Fossil Walks.

We look forward to hearing about all the new finds, perhaps even another Scelidosaurus fossil – that would be fantastic!

An Ammonite Fossil on Display with a Model

A Bullyland ammonite model is used to help illustrate a display of ammonite fossils. Fossil hunters will be on the look out for ammonite fossils.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The model in the photograph (above), is the large ammonite model from Bullyland.

To view the Bullyland range of prehistoric animal figures: Bullyland Prehistoric Animal Models.