Reighton Gap is an ideal location to stop by when walking to the popular nearby Speeton Cliffs. It has Kimmeridge Clay rich in ammonites and shells, but this is often covered up and requires scouring tides. The boulder clay however, yields a variety of erratic fossils of Jurassic, Cretaceous and Carboniferous age.
DIRECTIONS
♦ To the north of the village of Reighton, along the A165, you will see signs to the Reighton Sands Holiday Village. Take this road, passing the holiday village to Reighton Gap. You will come to a gravel car parking area with a walk down to the beach.
♦ The concrete slipway down is slipped, being cracked and worn with parts that are a little steep. Near the bottom, the path can be muddy and slippery.
♦ Postcode to Parking at Reighton Gap, YO14 9SN, Google Maps Link
♦ What3Words to fossil site area: ///donates.painting.detergent
PROFILE INFO
FIND FREQUENCY: ♦♦♦ – Fossils found here will mostly be from the boulder clay, which include: corals and crinoids from the Carboniferous period; ammonites, belemnites and other molluscs of Jurassic age; and Cretaceous echinoids. However, during scouring tides, when the Kimmeridge Clay is exposed, you can find flat ammonites and shells.
CHILDREN: ♦♦♦ – This location is suitable for children, but they may need help getting down, as the concrete path is badly slipped and cracked. The beach itself has soft sands and is ideal for children.
ACCESS: ♦♦♦ – There is parking at the top of the cliff with a slipway down; and you can immediately start finding fossils as soon as you enter the beach. Unfortunately, the slipway down is now badly slipped and there are some deep gaps in the concrete path.
TYPE: – You can find fossils in the scree, foreshore exposure and in the cliff face. The sea often washes out fresh material, so there is always plenty to look through. Most fossils found here will be from the boulder clay.
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FOSSIL HUNTING
Reighton Gap can be a very productive location for fossil collecting, particularly after periods of strong tides or storms. At such times the sea often washes away the fine clay from the beach and cliff base, naturally sieving the sediment and leaving behind concentrations of rocks, nodules and fossils along the foreshore. These conditions can make fossil hunting relatively easy, as specimens may simply be picked up from the beach surface. However, some of the best fossils are still found by splitting loose rocks and nodules.
Most fossils found at Reighton Gap come from the boulder clay rather than from the bedrock itself. These fossils are known as erratics, meaning they have been transported from elsewhere. During the last Ice Age, large glaciers moved southwards across Yorkshire, carrying rocks and fossils within the ice. As the glaciers melted, this material was deposited within the clay along the coast. As a result, fossils from many different geological periods can be found here, particularly from Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks of Yorkshire, along with occasional Carboniferous material.
Because of this glacial transport, a wide variety of fossils may be discovered. Ammonites are among the most common finds and may include species such as Dactylioceras commune, Hildoceras bifrons, Perisphinctes, Kosmoceras, Cardioceras, Aulacostephanus hudlestoni and Pectinatites pectinatus. Belemnites are also frequent and may include forms such as Passaloteuthis, Acrocoelites and Hibolithes. Marine bivalves are common and include species such as Gryphaea arcuata, Pecten, Inoceramus and Trigonia. Echinoids may also occur, particularly chalk-derived species such as Micraster and Echinocorys. Corals and other marine invertebrates can also occasionally be found within transported limestone blocks.
Vertebrate remains are rarer but can occur, as Jurassic marine reptile material is sometimes present within the glacial deposits. Isolated bones or fragments from reptiles such as Ichthyosaurus and Plesiosaurus have been reported from the Yorkshire coast and may occasionally appear amongst the erratic material washed out from the boulder clay.
When searching the beach, examine the scree slopes, slipped clay and the foreshore carefully. Fossils are often hidden within the clay or trapped between rocks. Many of the best specimens are contained within hard nodules or limestone blocks, so bringing a hammer and splitting chisel can be useful. Some rocks display worn ammonites on the outer surface, which can indicate that well-preserved specimens may be present inside. Splitting these nodules carefully may reveal complete ammonites preserved in excellent condition.
During periods of strong scouring tides, parts of the Kimmeridge Clay may occasionally become exposed on the foreshore. When this happens, flattened ammonites and bivalves can sometimes be found weathering directly from the clay. The beds exposed here belong to the Aulacostephanus hudlestoni to Pectinatites pectinatus zones of the Kimmeridge Clay, and fossils from these beds may occasionally be recovered during favourable conditions. Shortly beyond this area, the rocks transition into the Speeton Formation further along the coast near Speeton.
GEOLOGY
At Reighton Gap the geology is dominated by glacial deposits, although older Jurassic bedrock can occasionally be seen on the foreshore. The cliffs are largely composed of thick boulder clay, which was deposited during the Devensian glaciation in the late Pleistocene. This clay forms the steep and often unstable cliffs along this section of the Yorkshire coast. It typically appears as a reddish-brown to grey clay containing numerous stones, pebbles and large boulders that were transported by ice during the last Ice Age.
During the Devensian glaciation, large ice sheets advanced southwards across northern England from Scandinavia and the North Sea basin. As the glaciers moved, they eroded rocks from a wide range of geological formations across Yorkshire and beyond. These rocks were carried within the ice and eventually deposited as the glaciers melted and retreated. The result is the thick glacial till seen at Reighton Gap today. This material contains a mixture of rock fragments and fossils derived from many different geological periods, including Jurassic, Cretaceous and Carboniferous strata. These transported rocks are known as glacial erratics, and they are responsible for the wide variety of fossils that can be found along the beach.
The boulder clay cliffs are constantly being eroded by the sea. Wave action undercuts the base of the cliffs, causing regular slumping and landslips that release fresh material onto the foreshore. As the clay is broken down and washed away by the tides, the heavier stones and fossils become concentrated on the beach surface. This natural process continually exposes new erratics and fossils for collectors to find.
Beneath the glacial deposits lie the much older Jurassic rocks of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation, although these are rarely visible because they are usually buried beneath the thick glacial sediments. During periods of strong wave action or scouring tides, however, patches of the Kimmeridge Clay can sometimes be exposed on the foreshore. This dark blue-grey clay represents marine sediment deposited during the Late Jurassic, around 150 million years ago. The beds exposed at Reighton belong to the Aulacostephanus hudlestoni to Pectinatites pectinatus ammonite zones.
The presence of both Jurassic bedrock and extensive glacial deposits makes Reighton Gap geologically interesting, as it illustrates two very different geological processes. The Jurassic rocks record conditions in a warm marine sea during the Late Jurassic period, while the overlying glacial sediments represent the much more recent effects of Ice Age glaciers that shaped the modern Yorkshire coastline. The constant erosion of the glacial cliffs continues to expose new material, ensuring that the beach at Reighton Gap remains a productive location for fossil collectors.
SAFETY
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be used. Take care when walking down the slipway and be sure to return before the tide turns, as the sea often reaches the base of the cliff. Keep away from the cliffs at all times.
EQUIPMENT
Equipment requirements at Reighton Gap are fairly simple, as many fossils can be collected directly from the foreshore. After strong or scouring tides, the sea often washes away much of the fine clay, leaving behind rocks, nodules and fossils concentrated on the beach surface. At such times, fossils can sometimes be picked up simply by carefully searching the foreshore.
A small geological pick or trowel can be useful for easing fossils out of the boulder clay, particularly where fossils are still partly embedded in the sediment. The clay can be quite firm when dry but softer after rain or high tides, making it easier to work with simple hand tools. In many cases, however, the most important piece of equipment is simply a good eye, as careful searching often reveals fossils hidden amongst the stones.
A geological hammer may also be useful for splitting loose rocks or nodules that show signs of fossils on the surface. Some of the best specimens can be found inside these rocks, especially if worn ammonites or shell fragments are visible externally. As always, care should be taken when using hammers, and safety goggles are recommended when breaking rocks.
Because many fossils can be fragile, it is important to bring wrapping materials such as tissue, newspaper or bubble wrap to protect your finds during transport. Small containers or specimen boxes can also be useful for delicate fossils.
For footwear, trainers or walking boots are usually sufficient for exploring the foreshore. However, after exceptionally high tides or periods of wet weather, the clay on the beach can become very soft and sticky. In such conditions, sturdy waterproof boots with good grip are advisable to prevent slipping and to make walking across the clay easier.
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 (unless fragile like those from the Kimmeridge Clay). 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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