Eype fossils and fossil collecting
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Fairly High
If you are prepared to take heavy lump hammers and split blocks from the Dorset Junction Bed, there is plenty to be found, superb ammonites and a wide range of species along with starfish and many other fossils.
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Older Children Only
This location is suitable for family trips but not for young children, although you can find fossils on the foreshore, most have to be worked for. |
Easy Access
Access to the beach is nice and easy with a car park. Walking along the beach is much harder due to the large number of rocks and slippages. |
Foreshore, Cliffs This is a foreshore and cliff location, so fossils can be found in both. The vast majority of fossils need to be worked for by smashing Dorset Junction Blocks on 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
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. |
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 and the cliffs. 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 so hard hats are recommended here. |
Eype
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.
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:
last visited:
Written by: |
28/05/08
2004
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks
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If you have parked at Eype itself, you should descend at Eype mouth, here the Eype nodule bed is raised above sea level and can normally be seen. Walking west at Thorncombe Beacon, the Eype Nodule bed can be seen in the cliff.
You need to look out for blocks of 'Dorset Junction Bed', for information on what these look like and how to spot them, look at our 'What to Find' page. Search the rocks around the foreshore, look out for the layered colours unique to the Junction Bed and smash these open with a heavy lump hammer, then fine split using normal splitting hammers. The are usually packed full of Ammonites, shells and many other finds.
Keep an eye on the surface of weathered rocks, most of the starfish are found simply in rocks around the foreshore. Please think twice before trying to get these out, you will need the right tools and recommended is cutting equipment. Attempts to try and get these out by hammers will often result in destroying the fossils....[more]
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Jurassic, 180-195mya |
The Dorset Junction Bed contains all of the North Yorkshire Geology in one Boulder. At Eype mouth, the Eype Clay forms the base of the cliff with the Eype Nodule Bed running along from Thorncombe Beacon. Above this the Down Cliff Sands with the Starfish Bed lying between the two. Above this, the Thorncombe sands with the Junction Bed resting on its top. At West Cliff, West of Eype Mouth, a major fault (the Fault Corner) marks the change in formation, here Frome Clay and Forest Marble are present with the Thorncombe formation missing. ...[more]
Geology of North Yorkshire in one boulder at Eype
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Ammonites of Tragophylloceras, Metacymbites, Leptaleoceras, Amaltheus and Liparoceras can be collected along with the brachiopod, Davidsonella moorei. On the east side, Ammonites of Pleuroceras can be found along with the brachiopod of Quadratirhynchia...[more]
An ammonite ( Lytoceras fibriatum) from Eype....[more]
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Eype is a location where you have to work for your finds, take good strong heavy hammers to crack the Dorset Junction Bed rocks. Some people also take diamond cutting equipment to slice rocks that contain any starfish, although this is a little above the average collector....[more] |
Other Locations similar to Eype
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Eype is in a class of its own, the whole of the North Yorkshire Coast can be sumiarised in the rocks, technically most ammonites found in Yorkshire can be found here. The beds continue to Thorncombe Beacon. If you enjoy this type of location, you could try nearby Osmington Mills.
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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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Our International Rock
and Fossil Magazine |
 
 
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The best way to access Eype is to either walk from Seatown, which can be quite a walk, or better via a narrow road from the A35. If you walk from Seatown, please double check tide times to ensure you can return the same way safely. 
