Hayburn Wyke is one of Yorkshire’s most important and rewarding plant fossil localities. This site exposes Middle Jurassic rocks that have yielded an exceptional diversity of fossil flora. The fine-grained sediments here preserve delicate leaf impressions in remarkable detail, offering a rare glimpse into the lush, humid landscapes that bordered the Jurassic sea around 170 million years ago.
DIRECTIONS
♦ You will need to head towards the Hayburn Wyke Hotel. From the A171, turn off at Cloughton towards Crowdon.
♦ Park here and follow the footpath to Hayburn Wyke. Steps provide easy access to the shore. From here you can walk either north or south.
♦ Postcode to car park: YO13 OAU, Google Maps Link.
♦ What3Words: ///overcomes.corrosive.adapt
PROFILE INFO
FIND FREQUENCY: ♦♦♦ – Hayburn Wyke yields excellent plant remains, but you will have to work for them. Be sure to take a hammer and chisels to split the beds.
CHILDREN: ♦♦ – It is difficult to get to the shore at this location, as there is quite a drop and therefore it is not suitable for children.
ACCESS: ♦♦ – Access to the shore at Hayburn Wick can be difficult due to a large drop by the waterfall. There is also quite a long walk to the shore.
TYPE: – Most of the fossils can be found within the boulders on the foreshore, but they can also be seen in the layers within the cliff face.
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FOSSIL HUNTING
Hayburn Wyke is one of the finest plant fossil localities on the Yorkshire coast. Both north and south of the waterfall are productive collecting areas, and careful searching of the boulders, foreshore exposures and fallen cliff material can yield exceptionally well-preserved specimens. Plant remains occur throughout the debris, often preserved as dark carbonised impressions against lighter sandstone or siltstone.
The best strategy is to examine freshly fallen blocks and flat bedding surfaces, particularly after storms or periods of heavy rain, when new material has been washed down from the cliffs. Many specimens are found within loose blocks rather than embedded in solid cliff, making responsible surface collecting both practical and rewarding. Take time to split fine-grained sandstone and siltstone carefully along natural bedding planes, as delicate fronds and leaves are often preserved between layers.
Hayburn Wyke is especially renowned for its diversity of Jurassic fossil plants. Ferns are particularly well represented, including the abundant Coniopteris simplex and the common Coniopteris hymenophylloides. Rarer fern species include Coniopteris murrayana, Clathropteris, Phlebopteris woodwardii, Todites princeps and Klukia exilis. These ferns once formed part of lush, humid coastal vegetation bordering the Jurassic sea.
Seed ferns and cycad-like plants are also present. Species such as Nilsonia compta, Nilsonia syllis, Otozamites graphicus, Otozamites gramineus, Otozamites tenuatus, Pachypteris lanceolata and Pterophyllum thomasii represent foliage from low-growing, palm-like plants that thrived in warm climates. The large and more frequently encountered Zamites gigas is a striking specimen when found complete.
Conifers are recorded from the site as well, including Brachyphyllum mamillare (common), Elatocladus laxus, Geinitzia regida and Lindleycladus lanceolatus. These represent woody, evergreen trees that would have formed the backbone of the Jurassic forest canopy.
Ginkgoalean and related foliage is rarer but highly desirable, including Ginkgo huttoni, Baiera furcata, Czekanowskia furcula and Sphenobaiera pecten. These plants are related to the modern ginkgo and represent an important component of Jurassic floras.
Horsetails are occasionally found, such as Equisetum columnare, indicating damp ground conditions and river-margin environments. Together, this remarkable floral assemblage paints a picture of a warm, humid Jurassic landscape dominated by ferns, cycads, conifers and early ginkgo relatives.
Hayburn Wyke’s plant fossils are often exceptionally crisp in detail, preserving fine vein structures and leaf segmentation. Patience, careful splitting and close inspection of bedding planes are key to success. As always, avoid working directly beneath unstable cliffs and remain aware of tide times when exploring both sides of the waterfall.
GEOLOGY
Hayburn Wyke exposes Middle Jurassic rocks of Aalenian age (approximately 174–170 million years old) and is particularly well known for the Hayburn Wyke Plant Bed, which forms part of the upper Saltwick Bay Formation. This unit represents a significant change from the marine-dominated Lower Jurassic strata seen further north, marking a shift toward more terrestrial and deltaic environments.
The Saltwick Bay Formation was deposited in coastal plain, river and delta systems, where sediment washed from nearby land built out into shallow lagoons and estuaries. The Hayburn Wyke Plant Bed formed within these low-lying, waterlogged environments, allowing abundant vegetation to accumulate and become buried in fine sediment. Periodic flooding rapidly covered plant debris, leading to the exceptional preservation of fossil leaves and fronds now found at the site.
The strata at Hayburn Wyke dip gently to the south. This gradual dip brings the overlying marine Eller Beck Formation close to beach level at Iron Scar. The Eller Beck Formation represents a return to more marine conditions, deposited as rising sea levels flooded the earlier delta plain environments. This transition records an important environmental shift during the Middle Jurassic.
Exposures of the Saltwick Bay Formation at Hayburn Wyke are often scattered, as the cliffs are prone to landslip and are frequently vegetated. Fresh material is commonly revealed after heavy rainfall or coastal erosion, with fallen blocks on the foreshore providing the best opportunities to examine the plant-bearing beds. Because much of the cliff consists of weaker sediments, erosion is ongoing, continually renewing exposures but also obscuring sections beneath slumped material.
SAFETY
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be used and knowledge of tide times is essential. Keep away from the cliff face, as falls can be quite common along this coastline. It is also very easy to get cut off from the tide, so ensure you return before the tide turns.
EQUIPMENT
At Hayburn Wyke, most fossils are found by carefully splitting fine-grained sandstone and siltstone blocks that contain delicate plant impressions. A geological hammer (16–20 oz) is essential, but a set of flat chisels is strongly recommended to gently work along natural bedding planes and avoid shattering fragile specimens. Because many of the plant fossils are thin carbonised impressions, controlled, precise blows are far more effective than heavy strikes. Eye protection should always be worn when splitting rock. Bringing shallow trays or rigid containers lined with padding is highly advisable, as plant fossils can be extremely fragile and may flake or crumble if loosely carried in a bag. Strong footwear with good grip is also important due to uneven boulders, slippery surfaces and occasional landslip debris. Always avoid working directly beneath unstable cliffs and be mindful of tide conditions when collecting on either side of the waterfall.
CLEANING AND TREATING
Begin by removing any loose sediment very carefully using a soft toothbrush. Take your time, as many are fragile and easily damaged. Do not get wet as the plants will fade and wash away. Keep out of sunlight.
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.
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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