The Isle of Wight, although just a small island, is famously known as “Dinosaur Island”, being the richest place in the UK for dinosaur remains, and home to a handful of new species. It is often featured on the TV in a host of various documentaries. Apart from dinosaurs, the Isle of Wight has a remarkable diversity spanning the whole of the Cretaceous period. At some locations, such as Alum Bay and Whitecliff Bay, you can see the transition of these beds in vertical strata. There are younger Oligocene deposits in the north that yields mammal remains, crocodile remains and slightly older Eocene beds at various locations.
The entire section of coast along Compton Bay provides a worthwhile day out, with opportunities to find pieces of dinosaur bone (mostly rolled) and possibly teeth; and to see the large number of dinosaur footprints scattered along the coast. This section is famous for the remains and footprints of dinosaurs, for which the Isle of Wight is famous. Both commonly occur on the foreshore. Cretaceous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
The foreland at Bembridge consists of a Quaternary cliff (which is a raised beach), with Bembridge Limestone and Marls exposed on the foreshore as a wave cut platform and as rocks. This limestone is rich in gastropods, brachiopods and other fossils. Eocene, Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
Shanklin is a very good location on the Isle of Wight for Lower Greensand fossils, in particular, dinosaur remains and molluscs. When the Lower Greensand is exposed to air and left to dry, it becomes extremely hard. However, when fresh and, especially when exposed on the foreshore, it is like clay. Cretaceous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
Gurnard Bay is a classic location for finding insects. These are found in the Bembridge Marls (Eocene) and over 200 species have been found. Today, the famous insect bed has become less productive, but specimens can still be found. Oligocene, Cretaceous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
Thorness Bay sees a continuation of the Hamstead Beds, which can also be seen at Hamstead Bay and Yarmouth, and the start of the famous Insect Beds of the Bembridge Marls seen at Gurnard Bay. However, the beds are much thinner and less productive. Eocene, Oligocene, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
Whitecliff Bay is a geologist’s heaven. Where else can you collect from the Upper Chalk, London Clay, Reading Clay, Bagshot Beds, Bracklesham Beds, Barton Clay, Fishbourne member, Cliff End Member and Totland Bay Member, plus much more? Eocene, Cretaceous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
Shepherd’s Chine and Whale Chine are superb locations that yields some superb fish remains, lobsters, ammonites, brachiopods, bivalves, and occasional reptile and dinosaur bones. During the right conditions, you can come back with some great specimens. Cretaceous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
This famous location is well known for dinosaur bones, reptile and fish remains, but you need the right conditions to have any luck, with the best collecting after winter and spring high tides. Yaverland is often sadly over collected. Cretaceous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
Brighstone Bay is famous for the partial sauropod skeleton found by Portsmouth University, and reptile and dinosaur remains are often found along this coastline. Barnes High was also featured on the live television programme, ‘The Big Dig’. Cretaceous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
Brook Bay is popular for dinosaur fragments along the beach. Here, many rolled fragments get caught up in the shingle and you can find these remains by simply searching along the foreshore. Other reptile and larger bones can also be found. Cretaceous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
In a peaceful corner of the Isle of Wight, Rocken End is a less visited location with a small inland quarry. It is ideal for anyone interested in ammonites and other molluscs, and also makes for an excellent day out for all the family. Cretaceous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
While most people remember Blackgang Chine for its popular theme park, the cliffs of Blackgang Chine (which are slowly shrinking the theme park) also yield some fossils. These include trace fossils and occasional, but rare, dinosaur bones. Cretaceous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦
The early Oligocene beds at Hamstead are highly fossiliferous in mammal, crocodile, turtle, crustaceans and fish remains. Molluscs, plants and seeds can also be found simply lying on the foreshore. Oligocene, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
This small quarry, along the B3395 near Bembridge, yields sponges and fish remains. There are lots of clean faces and scree to look through, although fossils are not common. Cretaceous, Disused Quarry, Rating: ♦
The huge cliffs of Culver Cliff can yield some superb sponges and large echinoids, with occasional fish remains. However, collecting from this location can be dangerous and difficult. Extreme care must be taken at all times. Cretaceous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦
