Just west of Seatown lies the quieter collecting area of Eype, where the fossil-rich Beacon Limestone Formation (formerly known as the Dorset Junction Bed) is exposed. Fallen blocks from these beds are scattered across the foreshore and can contain a wide range of Jurassic fossils, particularly ammonites. Collecting here often requires patience and effort, as many fossils are locked within hard limestone blocks that have weathered out of the cliffs above. Although preservation can sometimes be poor, careful searching and splitting of loose rocks can reward determined collectors with well-preserved specimens, especially after storms or fresh cliff falls expose new material on the beach.
DIRECTIONS
♦ The easiest way to reach Eype is via a narrow turning off the A35 just west of Bridport. Follow New Street Lane, which becomes Mount Lane, and continue down through the village of Lower Eype until you reach the beach car park at Eype’s Mouth. The road is very narrow in places and is not suitable for large vehicles, motorhomes or caravans.
♦ There is a small car park at Eype’s Mouth (postcode DT6 6AL) close to the beach. Parking charges now apply all year round, so be prepared to pay on arrival. Parking spaces can be limited during busy periods, particularly in summer.
♦ Alternatively, you can reach Eype by walking west along the coast from Seatown. This is a pleasant coastal walk, but it can be quite long and sections of the beach may become cut off by the tide. If taking this route, always check tide times carefully to ensure you can return safely.
♦ Once on the beach at Eype’s Mouth, walk west along the foreshore towards Thorncombe Beacon. Fossils can often be found almost immediately amongst the loose rocks and fallen blocks scattered across the beach.
♦ Car parking: DT6 6A, Google Maps
♦ What3Words: Collecting area: ///expensive.drones.stylists
PROFILE INFO
FIND FREQUENCY: ♦♦♦♦ – You need to be prepared to take heavy lump hammers and then split the fallen blocks from the ‘Junction Bed’. There is usually plenty to be found. the blocks contain a great range of species of superb ammonites, along with starfish and many other types of fossil.
CHILDREN: ♦ – The foreshore at Eype is very rocky. This site is only suitable for families with older children, as some of the boulders are extremely hard and large. Although you can find fossils on the foreshore, most have to be split from the rock using a geological hammer.
ACCESS: ♦♦♦ – Access to the beach is easy with the car park nearby. However, walking along the beach from Seatown is much harder due to the large number of rocks and slippages.
TYPE: – This is a foreshore and cliff location, so fossils can be found in both. The vast majority of fossils are found by smashing fallen blocks of the Beacon Limestone Formation on the foreshore.
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FOSSIL HUNTING
Eype is a productive but often overlooked fossil collecting location along the Dorset coast, situated just west of West Bay beneath the high cliffs of Thorncombe Beacon. Although it lies close to more well-known collecting sites, it tends to attract fewer visitors, making it a quieter place to search for fossils along the Jurassic Coast. Fossils are typically found on the foreshore amongst fallen blocks and boulders that have weathered out of the cliffs above.
Most fossils at Eype come from loose blocks belonging to the Beacon Limestone, (formally known as the Junction Bed). These yellow, iron-rich limestone blocks frequently fall from the cliffs and can be found scattered across the beach. Many of these rocks contain large numbers of fossils and careful splitting of loose blocks can reveal well-preserved specimens. However, it is equally important to carefully search the surfaces of weathered rocks, as many fossils are exposed naturally by erosion.
Ammonites are among the most common fossils found at Eype. Species typical of these beds include Amaltheus margaritatus and Lytoceras fimbriatum, both of which are regularly discovered within the limestone blocks. Other ammonites that may be encountered include Pleuroceras spinatum, Amaltheus stokesi, Amaltheus subnodosus, Harpoceras falciferum, Harpoceras serpentinum, Dactylioceras commune, Dactylioceras tenuicostatum, Hildoceras bifrons, Eleganticeras elegantulum, Tiltoniceras antiquum, Tiltoniceras scissum and Coeloceras crassum. Many of these occur as flattened impressions within the limestone, although complete specimens can occasionally be found within nodules or freshly fallen blocks.
The beds at Eype also contain a variety of other marine fossils. Belemnites are fairly common and may include forms such as Passaloteuthis and Acrocoelites. Brachiopods such as Terebratula and Rhynchonella can be found within the limestone layers, along with numerous bivalves including Gryphaea, Pecten and Trigonia. Crinoid fragments are also present and can sometimes be seen scattered across bedding surfaces, while gastropods and trace fossils occasionally occur within the sediment.
One of the most famous fossils associated with this stretch of coastline is the brittlestar Palaeocoma egertoni. These delicate fossils originate from the Eype Starfish Bed, a thin bedding plane that occasionally appears within fallen blocks on the foreshore. The brittlestars are preserved flattened on the surface of fine-grained siltstone and are often discovered by carefully examining weathered slabs lying on the beach. Because these fossils are extremely fragile, complete specimens are rarely recovered intact.
Fossil collecting at Eype is often best after storms or periods of heavy rain, when fresh material has fallen from the cliffs and been spread across the beach. Large cliff falls frequently release new fossil-bearing blocks onto the foreshore, and patient searching amongst these rocks can produce excellent finds. As with many locations along the Jurassic Coast, persistence is often rewarded, and careful examination of the beach and fallen blocks can reveal a surprising variety of Jurassic fossils.
GEOLOGY
The cliffs at Eype expose an important section of Lower Jurassic rocks belonging to the Bridport Sand Formation, part of the Lias Group. These sediments were deposited during the Early Jurassic when this part of Dorset lay beneath a warm, shallow sea. The sequence here records changing marine conditions, with alternating sands, silts and limestones reflecting shifts in water depth, sediment supply and energy within the ancient sea.
The majority of the cliff and foreshore at Eype consists of the Bridport Sand Formation, a thick sequence of yellow-brown sands, sandstones and sandy limestones. These sediments were deposited in shallow marine conditions and today weather easily, which is why the cliffs here are prone to frequent landslips and rockfalls. The erosion of these cliffs continually releases blocks of fossil-bearing rock onto the beach, making the foreshore an important source of material for fossil collectors.
Within the Bridport Sand Formation are several distinct members that can be recognised along this stretch of coast. One of the most prominent horizons is the Beacon Limestone, historically known as the Junction Bed. This is a thin but distinctive limestone unit that forms a boundary between different phases of sedimentation within the Early Jurassic seas. The bed is particularly rich in fossils and frequently weathers out as yellow, iron-stained limestone blocks scattered across the beach.
Below the Beacon Limestone lie the Thorncombe Sands Member and the Downcliff Sands Member, which consist mainly of fine sands, silts and micaceous sandstones deposited in relatively shallow marine environments. These beds form a significant part of the cliff section at Eype and are responsible for many of the fallen blocks found on the foreshore. At the boundary between these units occurs the well-known Eype Starfish Bed, a thin bedding plane famous for its preserved brittlestars. This bed represents a quiet marine environment where fine sediment settled on the sea floor, allowing delicate organisms to be preserved.
At the base of the exposed sequence lies the Eype Clay Member, a darker clay-rich unit that represents calmer offshore deposition in deeper marine conditions. These mudstones contrast with the sandier deposits above and form the lowest visible beds along this part of the coastline.
This is a detailed stratigraphic breakdown of the Jurassic succession at Eype, Dorset, centred on Eype Mouth and the cliffs beneath Thorncombe Beacon. The locality is a composite section in which the older Dyrham Formation is best seen east of Eype Mouth, while the Beacon Limestone Formation and the overlying Bridport Sand Formation dominate the beach and cliffs around Eype itself.
LIAS GROUP
Dyrham Formation (Lower Jurassic — Pliensbachian)
The Dyrham Formation at Eype is best seen in the cliffs beneath Thorncombe Beacon and east of Eype Mouth, where a gentle anticlinal structure brings the lower beds close to beach level. It is made up of three Dorset coastal members — the Eype Clay, Down Cliff Sand and Thorncombe Sand — and records a progressive change from silty mudstone-dominated shelf deposition into sandier, more storm-influenced shallow-marine conditions.
Eype Clay Member
Bed EY1 — Three Tiers Sandstone (c. 7 m)
The Three Tiers Sandstone marks the sharp base of the Eype Clay Member on the smoother, more argillaceous beds of the underlying Charmouth Mudstone Formation. It consists of three very fine-grained sandstone units, each about 0.5 to 1 m thick, separated by sandy shale. These beds form a conspicuous stepped basal sandstone package and record the first clear influx of silt and fine sand into the Pliensbachian shelf mudstone succession at Eype.
Bed EY2 — Lower Eype Clay
Pale grey to blue-grey, micaceous, variably silty mudstone with many small siderite nodules. This lower part of the member forms a soft, recessive cliff and is prone to slumping where it lies beneath more resistant sandy beds. Fossils are common and include ammonites, belemnites, brachiopods, crinoids and a benthic marine fauna typical of a relatively quiet, shallow shelf setting. The member was formerly known as the Margaritatus Marls, reflecting its late Pliensbachian ammonite content.
Bed EY3 — Eype Nodule Bed
A conspicuous band of spherical calcareous or sideritic nodules about midway up the Eype Clay cliff. This is one of the best visual marker horizons beneath Thorncombe Beacon and is widely used by collectors and field geologists to fix position within the Eype Clay. The nodules commonly weather proud of the softer mudstones and may preserve fossils better than the surrounding matrix.
Bed EY4 — Day’s Shell Bed
A fossil-rich shelly horizon close to the top of the Eype Clay Member, lying about 0.9 m below the Starfish Bed. It contains concentrated juvenile bivalves and gastropods and is one of the most useful internal marker beds in the upper part of the member. The bed records a brief shelly concentration on the marine shelf immediately before the major sand influx that begins the Down Cliff Sand Member.
Bed EY5 — Upper Eype Clay
The uppermost Eype Clay consists of continued pale grey silty mudstone and sandy mudstone with abundant small siderite nodules. It becomes slightly more sandy upward and passes sharply into the basal Starfish Bed of the Down Cliff Sand Member. This upper part of the member still yields ammonites, belemnites, crinoids and brachiopods, but the overall lithology shows an increasing supply of fine clastic sediment toward the top.
Total Thickness Of Eype Clay Member At Eype: Approximately 60 Metres
Down Cliff Sand Member
Bed EY6 — Eype Starfish Bed
A famous fine-grained sandstone at the very base of the Down Cliff Sand Member. It is one of the most celebrated fossil beds on the Dorset coast because brittle stars and starfish are preserved on the soft underside of fallen blocks, especially where carefully prepared. The bed represents a sudden switch from mudstone to sand-rich deposition and probably records a storm-influenced burial event or a series of energetic sand-emplacement episodes on the shelf.
Typical Fossils
Palaeocoma brittle stars, crinoid remains including Balanocrinus, other echinoderm debris and associated shelly marine fossils.
Bed EY7 — Lower Down Cliff Sands
Grey-brown muddy, very fine-grained sands and sandy mudstones, closely interbedded. These beds are more resistant than the Eype Clay below and form ledges and steeper cliff sections. They represent a low- to moderate-energy shallow-marine setting with persistent silt and fine sand influx, but still retain enough mud to weather into a softer, more friable cliff profile than the Thorncombe Sand above.
Bed EY8 — Upper Down Cliff Sands And Margaritatus Stone
The upper part of the Down Cliff Sand Member becomes sandier upward and culminates in the Margaritatus Stone, a bluish fossiliferous sandy limestone that marks the top of the member. This is the main upper boundary marker of the Down Cliff Sand at Eype and Thorncombe Beacon. The member as a whole thins westward, being about 30 m beneath Thorncombe Beacon but nearer 22 m around Eype Mouth, reflecting local thickness variation within the Dorset basin.
Total Thickness Of Down Cliff Sand Member At Eype: Approximately 22–30 Metres
Thorncombe Sand Member
Bed EY9 — Blue Band (Basal Thorncombe Sand, c. 1.8 m)
A blue-grey mudstone lying directly above the Margaritatus Stone and forming the formal base of the Thorncombe Sand Member. This bed provides a useful transition from the sandy mudstones of the Down Cliff Sand Member into the more yellow-weathering sands higher in the Thorncombe Sand succession.
Bed EY10 — Lower Thorncombe Sands
Yellow-weathering silty, very fine-grained sands and sandy silts, locally bioturbated and with hummocky cross-bedding. These beds form the more resistant upper cliffs beneath Thorncombe Beacon and are much yellower and sandier than the units below. They record a shallower, more energetic marine shelf environment with storm reworking and widespread burrowing.
Bed EY11 — Impersistent Mid-Member Limestone
A local limestone horizon about 0.3 m thick where present, developed within the Thorncombe Sand Member. Though not laterally persistent, it is a useful internal marker and indicates a short pause in sand influx with local carbonate cementation or accumulation.
Bed EY12 — Upper Thorncombe Sands And Top Grey Mudstone
Upper yellow-weathering silty sands and very fine-grained sandstones, passing up into a top interval of grey mudstone beneath the Beacon Limestone Formation. The uppermost 2.3 m of grey mudstone between the Thorncombiensis Bed and the Beacon Limestone is part of the formal top of the member. These beds complete the sand-dominated late Pliensbachian succession at Eype before condensed limestone deposition begins above.
Total Thickness Of Thorncombe Sand Member At Eype: Approximately 23–26 Metres
Beacon Limestone Formation (Upper Pliensbachian To Toarcian)
The Beacon Limestone Formation is the classic ‘Junction Bed’ facies at Eype and one of the most fossiliferous horizons on this part of the Dorset coast. It is thin but extremely condensed, highly fossiliferous and structurally interesting, especially around Eype Mouth where faulting and fissuring are conspicuous.
Marlstone Rock Member
Bed EY13 — Lower Ferruginous Beacon Limestone
The lower part of the Beacon Limestone Formation is ferruginous and ooidal, commonly weathering pinkish, reddish-brown or brown. It records a highly condensed shallow-marine carbonate interval at the close of Dyrham deposition, with local conglomeratic textures and abundant iron staining. These ferruginous beds are the lower part of the classic Junction Bed complex at Eype.
Eype Mouth Limestone Member
Bed EY14 — Eype Mouth Limestone / Cephalopod Limestone
A condensed ammonite-rich cephalopod limestone forming the upper part of the Beacon Limestone Formation at Eype. This is the main fossil-bearing limestone horizon scattered across the foreshore as large hard fallen blocks and is the reason Eype is so well known to collectors. Between West Bay and Eype Mouth the Beacon Limestone locally thickens in a stepped fashion and is cut by fissures, some sub-parallel to bedding and others oblique, filled with pale calcilutite and younger marine faunas. These features are among the clearest indications of synsedimentary faulting on the west Dorset coast.
Typical Fossils
Abundant ammonites, belemnites, bivalves and other marine fossils in hard condensed limestone blocks, often requiring preparation to expose them fully.
Total Thickness Of Beacon Limestone Formation At Eype: Thin But Highly Variable, Typically Less Than 1.5 Metres Overall Though Locally Thickened And Stepped By Synsedimentary Faulting
Bridport Sand Formation (Lower Jurassic — Toarcian)
The majority of the cliff and foreshore around Eype itself is formed by the Bridport Sand Formation. These sands overlie the Beacon Limestone non-sequentially and create the high yellow-brown unstable cliffs west of Eype Mouth. Much of the fossil material found on the beach at Eype is derived either from fallen Beacon Limestone blocks or from hard calcareous beds and lenses within the Bridport Sand.
Bed EY15 — Basal Bridport Sand On The Beacon Limestone
Grey micaceous silt, very fine-grained sand and sandy mudstone at the base of the Bridport Sand Formation resting non-sequentially on the Beacon Limestone. This lower part may be relatively clay-rich and includes calcite-cemented sandstone beds and lenses. It records the onset of widespread Toarcian sand-dominated shelf sedimentation after the condensed cephalopod-limestone phase.
Bed EY16 — Main Bridport Sand Cliff-Forming Sequence
Grey sand and silt weathering yellow or brown, commonly micaceous and locally with calcite-cemented sandstone beds and harder lenses. These sands form the steep, landslip-prone cliffs at Eype and weather into fallen blocks and boulders on the beach. Fossils are less concentrated than in the Beacon Limestone below, but ammonites and other marine fossils occur in harder calcareous beds, nodules and fallen blocks. In the Eype–West Bay sector the Bridport Sand Formation is around 51–64 m thick, though thickness varies locally.
Local Cliff Character
At Eype the Bridport Sand Formation forms most of the visible cliff and foreshore and is responsible for the frequent slips and rockfalls that continually release fossil-bearing blocks onto the beach. Unlike some neighbouring localities, the main Eype cliff section is not usually capped by an easily accessible Inferior Oolite bench in the immediate coastal exposure.
Total Thickness Of Bridport Sand Formation In The Eype–West Bay Sector: Approximately 51–64 Metres
Depositional Environment
The Eype succession records a late Pliensbachian to early Toarcian marine shelf that became progressively sandier upward. The Eype Clay was deposited as a quiet muddy shelf with abundant benthic fauna; the Down Cliff Sand records a more sand-influenced marine regime, including the famous storm-burial Starfish Bed; the Thorncombe Sand reflects still shallower, storm-worked and strongly bioturbated shelf sands; the Beacon Limestone marks a highly condensed cephalopod-rich interval with local synsedimentary faulting; and the Bridport Sand Formation records widespread Toarcian sand deposition in a shallow marine basin, now forming the unstable yellow cliffs of Eype Mouth and the foreshore westward toward West Bay.
Total Thickness Covered Here: Approximately 140–180 Metres Of Jurassic Stratigraphy Across The Composite Eype Mouth–Thorncombe Beacon–Eype Cliff Locality
References
Howarth, M.K. (1957). The Middle Lias of the Dorset coast.
Wilson, V., Welch, F.B.A., Robbie, J.A. & Green, G.W. (1958). Geology of the country around Bridport and Yeovil.
Hesselbo, S.P. & Jenkyns, H.C. (1995). A comparison of the Hettangian to Bajocian successions of Dorset and Yorkshire.
British Geological Survey Lexicon: Dyrham Formation, Eype Clay Member, Down Cliff Sand Member, Thorncombe Sand Member, Beacon Limestone Formation, Eype Mouth Limestone Member and Bridport Sand Formation.
British Geological Survey Special Memoir: Geology of South Dorset and South-East Devon and its World Heritage Coast.
Discovering Fossils and Wessex Coast Geology field guides for Seatown, Thorncombe Beacon and Eype Mouth.
SAFETY
Common sense should always be used when fossil collecting at Eype, and checking tide times before visiting is essential. This stretch of coastline is affected by rapidly rising tides and large parts of the foreshore can become covered, particularly around the headlands. Always plan your visit around low tide and allow plenty of time to return safely before the tide begins to rise.
The cliffs at Eype are very high and prone to frequent rockfalls and landslips. Material regularly falls from the Bridport Sand cliffs, especially after heavy rain or stormy weather. Large blocks can fall without warning, so collectors should never work directly beneath the cliffs and should keep a safe distance whenever possible. If you are searching near the base of the cliffs, wearing a hard hat is strongly recommended.
The foreshore itself can also be hazardous. The beach is made up of large boulders, uneven rocks and loose stones, many of which can be slippery when wet or covered with algae. Walking across these rocks requires care and there is a risk of slipping or twisting an ankle, particularly when concentrating on searching for fossils. Sturdy walking boots with good grip will help reduce this risk.
After storms or periods of heavy rainfall the beach may contain large quantities of freshly fallen material, which can make walking more difficult. Always remain aware of your surroundings, avoid unstable ground and keep well clear of areas where recent cliff collapses have occurred. With careful planning and attention to safety, fossil collecting at Eype can be both rewarding and enjoyable.
EQUIPMENT
Equipment requirements at Eype are fairly simple, as most fossils are found within loose blocks and boulders on the foreshore that have fallen from the cliffs above. Because this section of coast lies within the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and parts are protected, collectors should never hammer directly into the cliff or in situ bedrock. Fossil collecting should be limited to material that has naturally fallen onto the beach.
A strong geological hammer can be useful for splitting loose limestone blocks, particularly those belonging to the Beacon Limestone (formerly known as the Junction Bed) which often contain ammonites and shells. A splitting chiselmay also help to open layered rocks more cleanly. Safety goggles are strongly recommended when breaking rocks to protect your eyes from flying fragments.
Many fossils at Eype can also be found simply by carefully examining weathered rock surfaces, so patience and a good eye are often just as important as tools. Delicate fossils such as brittlestars should be handled carefully, so bringing wrapping materials such as tissue, newspaper or bubble wrap is advisable. Small specimen boxes or containers are also useful for transporting fragile finds safely.
Because the foreshore is made up of large, uneven and sometimes slippery rocks, sturdy walking boots with good grip are strongly recommended. After storms or high tides the beach may also be covered with freshly fallen material, so taking care when walking across the boulders will help reduce the risk of slipping or ankle injury.
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.
ARTICLES
ACCESS RIGHTS
This site is an SSSI and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast. 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 please download the PDF from Natural England – SSSI Information – West Dorset
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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