Saltwick Bay yields many ammonites, reptiles and shells, and is also famous for jet, which is a type of lignite and considered to be a minor gemstone and popular for jewellery. Ammonites are often found in nodules, which are easy to split and found along the foreshore.
DIRECTIONS
♦ Take the coastal road from Saltwick Bay Abbey. Not far after the abbey, there is a caravan park signposted ‘Holiday Park’.
♦ Drive down this lane until you reach the wooden barriers. Park here and there are steps down to the foreshore.
♦ Postcode to car park: YO22 4JX, Google Maps Link
♦ What3Words to location: ///variety.otherwise.deleting
PROFILE INFO
FIND FREQUENCY: ♦♦♦♦♦ – Saltwick Bay yields excellent ammonite specimens and dinosaur/reptile remains, but there is also quite a lot of competition. Plant remains can sometimes be found, if there have been rock falls from the top of the cliffs have brought blocks of the Whitby Plant Bed. The best time to collect is during the winter storms, or scouring conditions.
CHILDREN: ♦♦♦♦♦ – Ammonites and other fossils can easily be found in the foreshore rocks in the centre of the Bay. Children should focus on this area, and not near the cliff face.
ACCESS: ♦♦♦♦ – You can park at the top of the cliff and follow the path and steps down to the beach. These can be very slippery after rain and during the winter months.There is a small store and a snack bar.
TYPE: – Most fossils can be found on the foreshore, especially after storms or scouring conditions, in nodules or loose in areas of shingle and shale. However, fossils are also commonly found fallen out of the cliff and on the scree slopes, either in nodules or loose.
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FOSSIL HUNTING
Like many Yorkshire coastal localities, fossil collecting at Saltwick Bay is most productive along the foreshore, particularly after storms or strong tides have cleared sand and exposed fresh material. Careful searching between rocks and larger boulders often reveals siderite nodules that have fallen from the cliffs above. These nodules can be split with a geological hammer to reveal well-preserved ammonites, most commonly Dactylioceras commune and Hildoceras bifrons. Look for nodules that show faint ribbing or a curved edge on the surface — often the outer whorl of the ammonite is just visible around the margin. Nodules frequently become trapped beneath larger rocks, so checking these natural collection points can be especially rewarding.
The nodules are relatively common and originate from the Alum Shale Member higher in the cliff sequence. In addition to ammonites, bivalves such as Dacryomya ovum and Pleuromya species are frequent finds, often preserved flattened within shale. Belemnites are also abundant, typically occurring as solid calcite guards weathered free from softer rock. Near Black Nab, long, slender belemnites such as Cuspiteuthis tubularis can often be found lying on the surface of exposed shale beds.
Saltwick Bay is not limited to marine fossils. Plant remains are also well represented, reflecting the nearby terrestrial environments that existed during the Middle Jurassic. The Dogger Group of fine-grained sandstones reaches down to beach level in places, and the famous Whitby Plant Bed is exposed in the small bay area. Here, fossil leaves are commonly preserved as dark carbon impressions on pale sandstone bedding planes. Genera recorded from this horizon include Williamsonia (a cycad-like plant), Baiera, Coniopteris and Czekanowskia. These plants formed part of a warm, humid Jurassic flora that bordered river deltas and coastal plains.
Tree trunks and branches are occasionally preserved as flattened, coal-like bands within the sediment. In some cases, woody material has been mineralised into stone, and more rarely, transformed into jet — a compact form of fossilised wood associated with organic-rich marine deposits.
At the small bay, the Dogger Formation reaches beach level, marking a shift from marine shale deposition to more nearshore and deltaic sandstone environments. This transition adds to the diversity of fossil material found at Saltwick Bay, combining marine invertebrates from the Whitby Mudstone Formation with terrestrial plant remains from the overlying Middle Jurassic strata.
Fossil collecting at Saltwick Bay can, however, be hazardous. The cliffs are highly unstable and frequently shed material, ranging from small flakes of shale to large sandstone boulders. Fresh exposures are often created by these collapses, but collectors should never work directly beneath unstable sections and must remain aware of both falling debris and tide conditions.
Saltwick Bay offers an exceptional mix of ammonites, belemnites, bivalves and Middle Jurassic plant fossils, making it one of the most varied and scientifically interesting collecting sites along the Yorkshire coast.
GEOLOGY
Saltwick Bay exposes an important and varied Jurassic succession, spanning the Late Early Jurassic (Toarcian Stage) through into the Middle Jurassic (Aalenian–Bajocian stages). The bay provides a clear transition from deeper marine shale deposition to nearshore, deltaic and terrestrial sandstone environments.
Lower Jurassic – Whitby Mudstone Formation (Toarcian)
The lower part of the exposed sequence belongs to the Whitby Mudstone Formation, deposited during the Toarcian Stage (approximately 183–174 million years ago). This formation represents offshore marine conditions within the Cleveland Basin.
At Saltwick Bay, the Whitby Mudstone Formation includes:
- Grey Shale Member
- Mulgrave Shale Member
- Alum Shale Member
These units consist mainly of dark grey to black marine mudstones and shales deposited in relatively deep, low-energy environments. Periodically, bottom waters became oxygen-poor, allowing organic-rich sediments to accumulate — particularly within the Alum Shale Member.
The Alum Shale Member is especially significant. Historically worked for alum extraction, it contains abundant marine fossils, including ammonites such as Dactylioceras and Hildoceras, along with numerous bivalves and belemnites. The organic-rich nature of these shales also contributed to the formation of jet in nearby localities.
The Mulgrave Shale Member and Grey Shale Member below record similar offshore marine conditions, with fossil assemblages often preserved in nodules or concentrated in distinct horizons.
Transition to the Middle Jurassic – The Ravenscar Group
Overlying the Whitby Mudstone Formation is a major environmental shift represented by the Ravenscar Group, deposited during the Aalenian and Bajocian stages (approximately 180–170 million years ago).
At Saltwick Bay, this includes:
- The Dogger Formation (Dogger Group)
- The Saltwick Formation (Saltwick Bay Formation)
The Dogger Formation marks a change from deeper marine shale deposition to shallower marine and nearshore sandstone sedimentation. These sandstones were laid down in more energetic coastal environments as sea levels fluctuated and sediment input from nearby land increased.
Within these fine-grained sandstones occur the famous Whitby Plant Beds, which preserve fossil leaves and plant debris as carbonised impressions. These plant beds represent deltaic and coastal plain environments, where vegetation from nearby land was washed into lagoons and estuaries and rapidly buried.
Above the Dogger Formation lies the Saltwick Formation, which represents further development of deltaic, fluvial and lagoonal systems. These deposits indicate that the area was transitioning from open marine conditions toward more terrestrial-dominated environments during the Middle Jurassic.
SAFETY
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be used and knowledge of tide times is essential. It is very easy to get cut off at Saltwick Bay, as the sea always reaches the base of the cliff. You should ensure you return before the tide turns. Also be aware of sticky areas on the slippages, as it is easy to get stuck, especially after rain.
EQUIPMENT
At Saltwick Bay, most fossils are found within foreshore nodules or loose amongst shale and shingle, particularly after storms have cleared fresh material from the cliffs. A geological hammer (16–24 oz) is essential for splitting siderite nodules and carefully opening blocks that may contain ammonites or plant remains. A small hand pick can also be useful for working softer shale or teasing fossils from partially weathered rock, but controlled, precise blows are always preferable to heavy strikes. Eye protection should be worn at all times when breaking rock, and sturdy footwear with good grip is vital due to uneven boulders, loose shingle and potentially slippery surfaces. Because the cliffs are unstable and prone to rockfall, never work directly beneath them and always remain aware of tide conditions. Any specimens collected should be wrapped securely and placed in a rigid container to prevent damage during transport.
CLEANING AND TREATING
Begin by removing any loose sediment very carefully using a soft toothbrush. Take your time, as many fossils—particularly pyritic specimens—are fragile and easily damaged. Once cleaned, fossils should be desalinated by soaking them in fresh water for at least 24 hours to remove residual salt. After soaking, allow specimens to dry naturally at room temperature. Do not dry them on radiators or other heat sources, as rapid drying can cause cracking or long-term damage.
Once fully dry, we recommend sealing fossils with Paraloid B-72, dissolved in acetone. This is a museum-grade consolidant that is widely available in pre-mixed bottles. Paraloid B-72 is stable, long-lasting, and does not yellow or react chemically over time. Importantly, it is also fully reversible, making it suitable for scientifically important or display-quality specimens.
Some collectors prefer to treat ammonites with artists’ varnish. This is acceptable for common species that are not of scientific importance, as it enhances colour and contrast and can make a specimen really “pop”. However, varnish is not reversible and is therefore not recommended for rarer or research-grade fossils.
ACCESS RIGHTS
This site is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). This means you can visit the site, but hammering the bedrock is not permitted. For full information about the reasons for the status of the site and restrictions, download the PDF from Natural England.
It is important to follow our ‘Code of Conduct’ when collecting fossils or visiting any site. Please also read our ‘Terms and Conditions‘
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