Fossil Hunting in Wales – Southwest

Southwest Wales is an important area of geological interest, with many sites designated as SSSI due to their significance. These locations provide access to a range of fossil-bearing strata, particularly along coastal foreshores.

Fossils such as graptolites can be collected at sites like Abereiddy, while other locations yield corals, brachiopods, and trilobites from older deposits. The coastal exposures regularly reveal fossil material through natural erosion.

Sites including Marloes Sands and West Angle Bay offer accessible collecting opportunities, with a mixture of rock types and fossil content across the region, making it a productive area for fossil hunting.

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Aug 15, 201410:19 am

Abereiddy Bay

Abereiddy is the best and easiest place in the UK to find graptolites. It is also an outstanding place where you can see and photograph in situ graptolites, crammed into the sloping bedrocks. Although this site is a SSSI (so hammering the bedrock is strictly prohibited), there is no reason why you would want to disturb the bedrock. The foreshore is full of rocks that can be picked up without tools and contain better specimens than those in the bedrock. Ordovician, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Mar 18, 20149:11 am

Fishguard

Fishguard is a similar location to Abereiddy Bay, where graptolites can be found in shales, wedged between the volcanic rocks in the cliffs. However, unlike Abereiddy Bay, there are far fewer sections where these can be found, and they are also much harder to find. Ordovician, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Nov 15, 200712:43 pm

West Angle Bay

West Angle Bay is eroded out of Carboniferous Limestone, which is packed with crinoids. It is an excellent location to take children to – there is a nice sandy beach, a cafe and public conveniences. Carboniferous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Oct 26, 200712:35 pm

Marloes Sands

Marloes Sands is a stunningly beautiful location managed by the National Trust. The scenery is fantastic, the geology is breath-taking and there are many fossils to find, including corals, brachiopods, trilobites and much more. Silurian, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Aug 9, 200711:11 am

Druidston Haven

Abundant graptolites can be found at Druidston Haven. Like much of the Pembrokeshire Coast, the site is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), which means that, although loose pebbles and smaller rocks may be investigated and collected, large boulders and the cliffs must not be damaged. Ordovician and Carboniferous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Jul 12, 200711:03 am

Lydstep Point

Good quality coral fossils are abundant within the rocks at this beautiful little cove. However, most cannot be collected, as they are found within the limestone cliffs and on the surfaces of large boulders. Carboniferous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Jun 6, 200710:50 am

Presipe

The strata exposed at Presipe are a delight to behold and the various coves are very beautiful, if nearly impossible to reach except at low tide. Trace fossils are also present in certain layers. Devonian, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)May 9, 200710:44 am

Freshwater East

The bay at Freshwater East is a great location for the whole family. The sandy beach is ideal for children and, as it is so large, it is unlikely to become crowded even in the height of summer. Fossils are fairly abundant and are easy to find. Carboniferous, Devonian, Silurian, Ordovician, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Apr 11, 200710:37 am

Nolton Haven

A peaceful, secluded bay, a wonderful cliff-top walk and some impressive coal measures plants make Nolton Haven a very pleasant location to find fossils. Carboniferous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Mar 31, 200710:31 am

Little Haven

Although fossils can be found at this location, it is the wildlife and geological features of the area that are the real treats. Fossil plant remains can be found in the cliffs and loose rocks. Carboniferous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Mar 22, 200710:54 am

Manorbier Bay

Some excellent geological features can be seen within Manorbier Bay and also from the clifftop path that leads southeast from the location. Crinoids and other fossils are abundant, and can be found in pebbles in the stream that crosses the sandy beach. Devonian, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Mar 1, 200710:26 am

Whitesands Bay

This popular location among holiday makers has an expansive sandy beach with Cambrian shales outcropping on its north side. There are few fossils to be found, but the beach is an excellent place to take the family. Cambrian, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦

Wales - Southwest by UK Fossils (UKGE Group)Feb 8, 200710:19 am

Porthgain

The bay at Porthgain is eroded out of Ordovician shales, with the headlands on either side of it composed of more resistant igneous rocks. Although huge piles of shale can be found on the clifftop, fossils are sparse. Ordovician, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦