This is one of the first places many people come to along the Yorkshire Coast, but most come back with nothing, unless they know where and what to look for. The middle of the bay consists of boulder clay, but either side can be quite productive. This is a good location for a wide variety of specialist species of ammonites.
DIRECTIONS
♦ At Robin Hood’s Bay village, you can park in either the small car park at the top of the hill or the second larger one just a short walk away.
♦ From here, the best end to visit is the north side. You will find a footpath at the top of the hill, to the left of the main street leading to the beach. This winds round and passes a picnic area.
♦ You can also visit the south and middle part of the bay. To do this, go down into the main street at the bottom of the hill and follow round to the right. You will see some steps, which follow the sea defence and lead to the shore.
♦ Ref: Postcode to car park: YO22 4QN, Google Maps
♦ What3Words: ///trainer.dupe.imagined
PROFILE INFO
FIND FREQUENCY: ♦♦♦ – Robin Hood’s Bay yields excellent ammonites, but you need to work for these. The best area to collect from is the north side.
CHILDREN: ♦♦ – Due to the dangerous access to this location, young children should not visit this site.
ACCESS: ♦♦♦ – You should park at the top of the cliff and there is a footpath down to the beach.
TYPE: – Most fossils can be found on the foreshore, within nodules or loose. Fossils are also commonly seen in the cliff, on the scree slopes, and in the rocks and boulders.
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FOSSIL HUNTING
Robin Hood’s Bay is one of the most diverse and geologically significant fossil localities on the Yorkshire coast. The wide sweep of the bay exposes a long and varied succession of Jurassic rocks, making it a rewarding — though sometimes challenging — site for collectors. The sheer range of fossil species found here, combined with extensive wave-cut platforms and frequent cliff falls, means that patience and persistence are often well rewarded.
Most fossils are found either in foreshore exposures during scouring conditions, within fallen rocks and nodules, or freshly revealed after cliff collapses. Unlike some other Yorkshire localities, it is relatively uncommon to find well-preserved fossils simply lying loose on the beach. Collecting here usually requires careful searching, splitting nodules, and examining exposed reef surfaces at low tide.
The best conditions for fossil hunting at Robin Hood’s Bay are typically after winter storms. Heavy seas scour away sand and clay, exposing fresh rock surfaces and releasing nodules from the cliffs. During the summer months, sand build-up often covers productive layers, making finds less frequent.
North Side of the Bay
The north side of Robin Hood’s Bay is particularly rich in ammonites, especially after cliff falls. Fallen blocks of shale and mudstone often contain nodules that can yield well-preserved specimens. Among the ammonites recorded here are:
- Platypleuroceras — a broad, ribbed ammonite with strong ornamentation.
- Tropidoceras — recognised by its pronounced keel and bold ribbing.
- Acanthopleuroceras — often displaying spined or strongly ribbed whorls.
- Androgynoceras — a distinctive form showing variation in rib strength through growth stages.
These ammonites lived in the Jurassic seas that once covered this region, and many specimens retain excellent rib detail when properly prepared.
Also found on the north side is the large bivalve Pinna, sometimes referred to as a “pen shell.” This long, wedge-shaped shell could reach impressive sizes and lived partially buried in soft sediment. Fragments are more common than complete examples, but even partial finds can be striking.
Central Bay – Low Tide Reefs
At very low tide, extensive reef platforms are exposed in the centre of the bay. These calcareous shales are highly fossiliferous but require careful and safe access, as the surfaces can be slippery and the tide advances quickly.
Within these reef exposures, you may find ammonites such as:
- Arnioceras — typically with strong, evenly spaced ribbing and a rounded whorl section.
- Caenisites — generally more finely ribbed and sometimes found preserved flattened within the shale.
These species are often preserved directly within the bedrock rather than loose in nodules, meaning extraction can be more difficult and may require careful chiselling.
The reef exposures may also yield:
- Belemnites (smooth, bullet-shaped guards from squid-like cephalopods).
- Brachiopods such as Terebratula species.
- Bivalves including Gryphaea and other oyster forms.
- Occasional trace fossils, including burrows and feeding trails preserved in bedding planes.
South Side and General Finds
The southern stretches of the bay also produce ammonites and marine fossils, though finds may be more scattered depending on recent erosion. Nodules weathered from the cliffs are often the best targets. Look for rounded or oval concretions within shale debris and areas of shingle where wave action concentrates heavier material.
Fish remains can occasionally be found, including isolated scales and bone fragments. Rarely, marine reptile material has been recorded from the broader area, though such finds are exceptional and should be reported if discovered.
Collecting Tips for Robin Hood’s Bay
- Check tide times carefully. The reefs are only accessible at low tide and can quickly become cut off.
- Search after storms or during winter months for best results.
- Examine fallen shale blocks for nodules before splitting them.
- Look for slight ridges or ribbing patterns on nodule surfaces — this can indicate an ammonite inside.
- Wear eye protection when splitting rock.
Robin Hood’s Bay rewards the persistent collector. While it may not always produce instant results, its remarkable diversity — from large ammonites such as Platypleuroceras and Tropidoceras to reef-dwelling forms like Arniocerasand Caenisites, alongside bivalves like Pinna — makes it one of the most scientifically important and exciting fossil localities on the Yorkshire coast.
GEOLOGY
Robin Hood’s Bay is one of the most geologically significant locations on the Yorkshire coast. The broad sweep of the bay exposes an extensive Lower Jurassic succession, while well-developed wave-cut platforms provide exceptional three-dimensional views across multiple formations of the Lias Group. The area is internationally recognised for its stratigraphic importance, containing stratotypes (reference sections) for several ammonite zones and horizons.
Coastal Morphology and Cliff Structure
Around the bay, extensive rock platforms have been cut across the Liassic shales by wave erosion. These flat reef surfaces are exposed at low tide and allow visitors to trace bedding planes laterally for considerable distances.
The cliffs themselves are largely composed of glacial till resting unconformably on Jurassic bedrock. This till — deposited during the last Ice Age — is relatively weak and unstable, making the cliffs highly susceptible to mass movement and rapid retreat. Frequent landslips expose fresh Jurassic material beneath.
In the northern part of the bay, the cliffs reach heights of approximately 50 metres and are dissected by two steep-sided valleys: Mill Beck and Stoupe Beck. These valleys cut deeply into the Lias bedrock and enhance exposure of the lower formations.
Here, the Lower Lias forms most of the slope profile, with near-vertical lower cliff sections composed entirely of Jurassic marine rocks.
Stratigraphy of the Lias Group at Robin Hood’s Bay
The Lias Group at Robin Hood’s Bay is represented, in ascending order, by:
- Redcar Mudstone Formation
- Staithes Sandstone Formation
- Cleveland Ironstone Formation
- Whitby Mudstone Formation
Together, these formations record environmental changes spanning the Pliensbachian and Toarcian stages of the Early Jurassic (approximately 195–180 million years ago).
Redcar Mudstone Formation (Lower Lias)
The lowest exposed rocks in the northern cliffs are dark grey marine shales of the Redcar Mudstone Formation. These fine-grained sediments were deposited in relatively quiet offshore marine conditions.
The mudstones represent low-energy seabed environments where fine clay and silt accumulated slowly. Their dark colour reflects organic content deposited in moderately oxygen-restricted conditions. These rocks are fossiliferous and provide key evidence for Early Jurassic marine ecosystems.
The Redcar Mudstone Formation forms the steep lower cliffs beneath the glacial till in much of the northern bay.
Staithes Sandstone Formation
Above the Redcar Mudstone lies the Staithes Sandstone Formation. This unit marks a shift to more energetic, shallow marine conditions. It consists predominantly of sandstones and siltstones deposited in nearshore environments influenced by storms and stronger currents.
Sedimentary structures such as ripple marks and cross-bedding may be observed on the foreshore platforms, reflecting active seabed conditions during deposition.
Cleveland Ironstone Formation
Overlying the Staithes Sandstone is the Cleveland Ironstone Formation. This unit comprises cyclic sequences of mudstones and ironstone bands. The ironstone seams formed during intervals of reduced sediment input when iron was chemically concentrated within the sediment.
These beds represent fluctuating marine conditions and are historically significant, having supported the 19th-century ironstone mining industry in the Cleveland district.
Whitby Mudstone Formation (Upper Lias)
At the top of the exposed sequence lies the Whitby Mudstone Formation, deposited during the Toarcian Stage. These darker, organic-rich shales accumulated in deeper offshore settings, often under reduced oxygen conditions.
The Whitby Mudstone Formation records significant palaeoenvironmental changes, including the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event — a period when oxygen levels in the oceans declined on a global scale.
Structural Geology – The Peak Fault
A key structural feature at Robin Hood’s Bay is the Peak Fault, which runs through South Cheek. This fault has displaced the rock sequence so that the southern part of the bay is dominated by Toarcian (Upper Lias) shales rather than the older Pliensbachian strata seen more prominently in the north.
As a result of this faulting, different ages of Jurassic rocks are juxtaposed within relatively short lateral distances, adding to the geological complexity and interest of the site.
SAFETY
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be used and knowledge of tide times is essential. This part of the coastline is very dangerous as a result of tidal conditions, so make sure you return before the tide turns. Keep away from the base of the cliffs, as rock falls are very common. Hard hats are recommended.
EQUIPMENT
At Robin Hood’s Bay, fossil collecting often requires more effort than at other Yorkshire localities, so the right equipment is particularly important. A geological hammer (16–24 oz) and a sturdy flat chisel are recommended for working nodules and carefully extracting specimens from the shale on the foreshore reefs, while a lump hammer can be useful for larger blocks where safe and appropriate. Eye protection should always be worn when splitting rock, and strong, waterproof boots with good grip are essential, as the wave-cut platforms can be extremely slippery and uneven, especially at low tide. Because access to the reefs depends on tide times, always check tide tables before setting out to avoid being cut off. Any fossils collected should be wrapped securely in protective material and placed in a rigid container or rucksack 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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