The foreshore at Gileston is full of Jurassic Boulders. Many of these contain shells and ammonites. This is an ideal location for along who likes splitting rocks on the foreshore or families where children can also collect fossils too.
DIRECTIONS
♦ From the B4265 at Gileston, take the turnoff to West Aberthaw, you will pass a church, at the junction, turn right.
♦ The power station will be on your left, continue along this road straight over at the next junction and following down all the way until you reach the car park.
♦ There are two large car parks here next to the power station.
♦ The beach is only a matter of yards away and you will instantly notice the Jurassic boulders and pebbles along the foreshore.♦ Ref: 51.38777°N, 3.40985°W
PROFILE INFO
FIND FREQUENCY: ♦♦ – There are no cliffs or any decent foreshore exposures at Gileston, fossils are collected from the boulders along the beach. Therefore fossils found are very low, often a shell or crinoid stones.
CHILDREN: ♦♦♦♦ – Gileston is suitable for children since there are no cliffs, it is a short walk.
ACCESS: ♦♦♦♦♦ – Two large car parks are near to the power station, and access is easy with only a short walk to the beach.
TYPE: – Fossils are found in boulders which are all over the foreshore. These boulders are from the Blue Lias further up the coast.
FOSSIL HUNTING
Along the beach at Gileston is a long ridge of pebbles and Boulders, these are all from the Lias and can contain fossils. It is best to search the rocks for any signs of fossils and then split the rocks down. You can find ammonites and shells in the rocks. Further along West, small outcrops can be seen with high cliffs in the distance.
GEOLOGY
SAFETY
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. There are no special danger notes for this location but please keep away from the power station for your own safety.
EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that you take a hammer and chisel, because most of the fossils are in large boulders and slabs on the foreshore, and these normally require splitting. Wrap up fossils well and place them in containers or bags.
ACCESS RIGHTS
There are no restrictions at this site, hammering and collecting is permitted. However we ask that you follow our fossil code of conduct which can be found in the link below.
It is important to follow our ‘Code of Conduct’ when collecting fossils or visiting any site. Please also read our ‘Terms and Conditions‘
LINKS
♦ Buy Fossils, Crystals, Tools
♦ Location Discussions
♦ Deposits Magazine
♦ Join Fossil Hunts
♦ UK Fossils Network