How to fossil hunt

Updated: Jun 10

There are several things you need to think about when collecting fossils on the Isle of

Wight. Take a look at the headings below:

Step 1: SAFETY AND PERMISSION FIRST - AKA do your research!

Many beaches are remote, but on any beach rising tides can easily cut off the unwary.
All parts of the coast are protected by law.
Collectors must understand the rules for the sites they are visiting.
Some beaches such as Alum Bay, and the coast between East Cowes, Osborne and King’s Quay are privately owned, so the public have no rights of access, this includes the intertidal zone.
Most beaches are Crown Estate, National Trust or Isle of Wight Council owned.
Ownership of the beach is more than often different to the cliff.

There are several books and websites which give details of the Islands classic geological

locations which include details around access and safety, such as

The Geologists Association Guide No 60. The Isle of Wight by Professor Andy Gale. (ISBN 978 0900717 96 3)

This website describes the Island's classic locations: https://ukfossils.co.uk/

Below is a summary of the key things visitors to the Island’s beaches should think about

before setting out.

Step 2: Tides and sea state

Always assume that collecting times are dependent on the tides.
Check the tide times (there are many websites and printed guides available) and be cautious, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Visit when the tide is falling (going out).
Consider the type of tide, spring tides will come higher up the beach than neap tides and therefore cut off your route back faster.
The tide times vary around the coast. Be as location accurate as possible when getting a tidal prediction.
Weather will affect the tides; the southwest coast is open to Atlantic storms which can hold the tide higher than normal and produce huge waves.
It might be that the weather is not that bad, but it is always worth checking the sea conditions before setting out, particularly to sites between St Catherine's and Compton Bay.
Be aware of debris washed up on the beach it might be dangerous!

Step 3: Access to sites

Almost all the classic collecting sites on the Island are protected by law, as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s). This includes the whole of the south coast from Compton Bay to Steephill Cove, and Yaverland to Culver Cliff, and the northwest coast of the Island.
Natural England’s website (https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk) gives details of the various protected sites and has links to additional details of the protection; so always check before setting out that you understand any restrictions on the site you are visiting.
Unauthorised digging into the cliff and foreshore is prohibited at the sites listed by Natural England, without their written permission (see map copied in 2025 from Natural England’s Website, SSSI areas are highlighted in blue.)

All collectors looking to visit Island beaches should also read the Geologists

Association “Code for Geological Fieldwork” which can be downloaded from

their website at:

The pamphlet is aimed at professional geological field workers but does contain

valuable information for amateurs working in the field and collecting.

Step 4: When on the beach

Some beaches are very rocky with large boulders which can be very slippery.
Some cliffs are made of clays which produce mudflows when wet can be impossible to cross. Every year people are rescued from mudflows. We urge people to be very cautious and not attempt to cross wet mudflows, find another way round.
Rockfalls happen without notice! If approaching the cliffs always wear a safety helmet, remain cautious, but always best to just stay away.
Finally, if using a geological hammer please wear goggles, rocks splinter into tiny pieces, and you don’t want one of these in your eye!

Step 5: Where to look

The majority of fossils found on the island are easily picked up at the tide line, or in the shingle produced on the beach.
There is very rarely any need to bring a hammer when out fossil hunting at most beaches.
Common fossils include rolled or worn down bits of bone, fish, turtle shell or crocodile scutes. Teeth can also be found in the shingle.
More often than not, fossil bone is black in colour, and has a characteristic "bubbly" pattern that shows the internal structure of the bone marrow.

Step 6: Identify your finds

If you find something that you want identifying always consider asking the palaeontologists at Dinosaur Isle Museum.
Identifications can be done in person, by email or by Facebook messenger. If you wish to come to us in person, always make an appointment to ensure someone is there to meet you.
Some major discoveries have been made because of bringing finds to the museum, for example the dinosaur Vectareovenator. You could be making history!
The museum is not there to take your finds away from you, they will only ever request your finds if they are of scientific importance.
The museum is the only accredited museum for fossils on the Island, which means that any fossils donated are available for scientific study. Your “find” might be something new to science and could be named after you as the finder.

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