Seatown is one of Dorset’s classic fossil-hunting locations, offering rich Jurassic material set against some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on the south coast. However, it can be more dangerous than many nearby localities due to the exceptionally high and unstable cliffs, so care is always required. Fossils are commonly found loose along the foreshore, with some of the finest specimens—particularly ammonites—preserved within hard nodules that require careful preparation. During periods of strong coastal scouring, belemnites can occur in abundance across the beach.
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DIRECTIONS
♦ Seatown can be reached by following a narrow lane, just opposite the Castle Inn in Childeock. However, this road is not suitable for large vehicles, because of its width. There is a small car park, run by the Anchor Inn, at Seatown, which is highly recommended, as parking elsewhere is very limited.
♦ Parking along the roadside at the bottom is possible between the 1st October and the 24th May. The double yellow line parking restrictions only apply in peak season.
♦ Golden Cap is on your right (west) from the car park at Seatown.
♦ There is a charge for parking at Seatown.
♦ Postcode to parking: DT6 6JU. Google maps link.
♦ What3Words: ///jumbo.dominate.litters
PROFILE INFO
FIND FREQUENCY: ♦♦♦♦ – There are a lot of fossils to be found at Seatown, given the right conditions. Most of the larger ammonites that can be found are within nodules but these are actually softer than the surrounding matrix, so you cannot just split them using hammers, they need to be professional prepped with Iron abrasives.
CHILDREN: ♦♦♦ – Seatown is suitable for families, but if you are planning to take children, care should be used and they should be kept well away from the base of the cliff. These are extremely high, sheer and crumble all the time.
ACCESS: ♦♦♦♦ – Accessibility to Seatown and the foreshore is excellent. There is a car park practically on the beach, with toilets and a pub next to it. It is also not a very long walk to the fossiliferous beds. Please be aware that the road is very narrow and not suitable for large vehicles.
TYPE: – The vast majority of the fossils are found on the foreshore at Seatown. Many are contained within small nodules that can be found among the pebbles. Fossils can also be found during scouring conditions on the foreshore clays. In addition, there is a hard layer at about eye-level at the lower part of the cliff at Golden Cap, where ammonites can be found and, of course, fossils can also be found in the slippages. This is also an excellent location for microfossils. These can be found by taking samples from the clay surrounding pockets of crinoids and belemnites in the Belemnite Stone Beds during scouring conditions
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FOSSIL HUNTING
The dramatic cliff of Golden Cap dominates the coastal scenery east of Charmouth and can be seen as the highest point on the south coast of Great Britain at Seatown. The cliffs and foreshore beneath and around Golden Cap is a favourite fossil collecting location, so it can be busy, particularly in the high season.
There are many types fossils that can be found at Seatown. The most common are ammonites. These can be found on the foreshore in the shingle, in nodules and within the Belemnite Stone Bed (when exposed). Belemnites are the second most common find, along with crinoids. Brachiopods, bivalves, fish remains and microfossils can also be found here and reptile remains less frequently.
From the car park, walk towards Golden Cap. The first part of the cliff of soft, precipitous clays is highly unstable and from hereon caution is advised. Keep clear of the base of these cliffs and be aware of falls, which can be sudden. is not fossiliferous. These beds are the Green Ammonite Member, which contains limestone bands and scattered nodules. The latter may contain ammonites. Often, lumps can be found near the base of the cliff and these can be split open, to be explored for nodules or loose fossils. Ammonites preserved in the mudstone will, invariably, be crushed or missing the centre. This is caused by a lack of sediment in the entire shell during the early stages of fossilisation.
After storms and with the clearance of shingle, the uppermost part of the Belemnite Marl Member is often exposed, with a profusion of belemnites. As you get closer to the middle of the cliff at Golden Cap, very fine shingle mixed with pyrites and clay can be found on the foreshore. Among the pebbles, fossils can be found, but this may involve a ‘hands and knees’ job. However, if you look carefully and you should make some finds. Typically, these will be keels of the ammonite, Androgynoceras, as shown below.
When you finally reach Golden Cap, at the first slippage, you will notice that there is a lot of soft mudstone. The rock is susceptible to rapid erosion and the sea washes this out daily, so fresh fossils are often be found here. Look in the clay, the slippages and the foreshore. Most of the fossils (particularly ammonites) are washed out and can simply be picked up, often requiring no preparation.
Continuing around the first slippage past the peak of Golden Cap (and staying away from the sheer cliff face, as it often crumbles), you should search the foreshore for nodules that have ammonites or for loose ammonites that have been washed out. You need to look at the nodules that contain parts of ammonites showing, as sometimes all you need is a tiny part of an ammonite to be revealed for it to turn out to be a beautiful specimen after preparation. Further along, a wide range of belemnites can also be found.
During the winter months, the Belemnite Stone is exposed, which is full of crinoids, belemnites, ammonites and microfossils. The Belemnite Stone is the upper part of the Belemnite Marl Member and is exposed as a prominent layer of limestone, packed with belemnites. The main outcrop of the Belemnite Stone is only seen at extreme low, spring tides. Loose belemnites can be lifted but do not hammer out any that are still in situ in the rock.
To find a nodule containing an ammonite, look for just a small part of the ammonite protruding. The nodules often look like a ‘Smartie’ sweet in shape. Such a nodule will require further work at home. You can find them all over the beach, but some contain fossils. However, do not try to split them using a geological hammer or chisel. You will break the fossil, as the fossil is softer than the nodule! These nodules need preparation with abrasives and an air pens and it might be best to find a fossil preparator who will undertake this work for you. Often, the cost of getting a nodule professionally prepared is worth the result!
MICROFOSSILS
Seatown is an excellent but often overlooked locality for microfossil collecting, with its Lower Jurassic clays and marls yielding a diverse and well-preserved assemblage of small fossils. Most microfossils here derive from Pliensbachian-aged deposits, particularly the Belemnite Marl Member, the Green Ammonite Mudstone Member, and the lower parts of the Eype Clay Member. These fine-grained sediments were laid down in relatively calm marine conditions, which favoured the preservation of delicate skeletal remains. The Belemnite Marl Member is especially productive, although it is usually buried beneath beach sand during the summer and is best accessed in winter or after periods of strong coastal scouring.
Collecting should be limited to loose material on the foreshore, never from the cliff itself. Soft grey to blue-grey marls found on the lower beach are ideal, particularly where small shell fragments are already visible. Even modest samples can yield large numbers of specimens, so only small amounts of sediment are needed. Fresh, unoxidised material tends to produce the best results, whereas heavily weathered or iron-stained marls are often less productive.
Once collected, the sediment can be processed by gently breaking it down in water, often with a small amount of detergent to help disaggregate the clay. After soaking, the material is washed through a fine sieve and allowed to dry naturally. The dried residue can then be examined under a low-power microscope or hand lens, where a wide range of microfossils can be picked out using a fine brush or pin.
The microfossil assemblage at Seatown is varied and typically includes foraminifera such as Lenticulina, Marginulina, Planularia, and Dentalina, along with abundant ostracods, small bivalves, gastropods, echinoderm ossicles, crinoid fragments, and fish remains including scales and teeth. When conditions are favourable, micro-ammonite fragments and juvenile belemnite guards may also be recovered. Together, these microfossils provide valuable insight into the Jurassic marine environments of the Dorset coast and reward careful, patient collecting.
GEOLOGY
Golden Cap is the highest point on the south coast of England and presents one of the most impressive cliff sections in Dorset, exposing a long sequence of Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous rocks. The cliffs record a major transition from Jurassic marine environments into the later Cretaceous seas and coastal systems.
Capping the cliff is the Upper Greensand Formation, which is visible for miles along the coast. Its distinctive warm yellow-gold colour, especially striking in low evening sunlight, gives Golden Cap its name. Together with the underlying Gault Clay, these formations form the uppermost 60 metres of the cliff and are Cretaceous in age. The Upper Greensand represents deposition in shallow marine conditions, while the Gault Clay below reflects a deeper, quieter marine environment with fine sediment settling out of suspension.
Beneath the Gault Clay, the succession steps back into the Upper Jurassic, beginning with approximately 22 metres of Down Cliff Sand. This unit marks a significant change in sedimentation, representing more energetic marine conditions with sandy deposits laid down on the sea floor. At the base of the Down Cliff Sand lies the well-known Starfish Bed, a thin but important horizon from which fossil starfish can very occasionally be recovered. These delicate fossils are rare at Golden Cap itself, but are more commonly found at Thorncombe Beacon, where the equivalent beds lie lower in the cliff and are slightly thicker, increasing the chances of preservation and exposure.
Below the Down Cliff Sand lies the Eype Clay, a substantial unit forming around 45 metres of the cliff. This clay-rich formation represents quieter marine conditions and is notable for containing the Eype Nodule Bed, a horizon of cemented nodules which can preserve fossils in exceptional detail. The Eype Clay is an important marker within the local stratigraphy and often contributes to landslips due to its unstable nature when waterlogged.
Underlying the Eype Clay are the Three Tiers, a sequence of interbedded limestones and marls that form a stepped profile in the cliff face. Beneath these, the Green Ammonite Member makes up the remaining 34 metres of the exposed section. This member is particularly fossiliferous, yielding a range of ammonites, bivalves, and other marine fossils, and reflects a return to more oxygenated bottom waters.
On the lower foreshore, particularly during winter storms or strong scouring conditions, the Belemnite Marl Member can occasionally be exposed. This bed is highly fossiliferous and produces abundant, well-preserved belemnites, along with ammonites and a rich assemblage of microfossils. However, during the summer months this unit is typically buried beneath beach sand, making access to it sporadic and dependent on recent coastal erosion.
SAFETY
Common sense should always be used when collecting at any location, and a good understanding of local tide times is essential. During the winter months in particular, this stretch of coastline can be extremely dangerous, as the sea often reaches the base of the cliffs. In storm conditions, the tide may not retreat at all, significantly increasing the risk of becoming cut off.
Once you have passed the headland at Seatown, it is no longer possible to judge sea conditions back at the main beach. For this reason, collectors should always plan to return as soon as the tide turns.
The cliffs at Seatown are exceptionally high and unstable, and rock falls are frequent. For your own safety, keep well away from the base of the cliffs at all times and never collect directly beneath them.
EQUIPMENT
Plenty of loose fossils can be found along the foreshore and shingle at Seatown, including belemnites, pyritic ammonites, and occasional reptile bones. The finest specimens are typically preserved within hard nodules known locally as “Greens”.
These nodules should not be broken open in the field. In most cases, the fossils inside are softer than the surrounding matrix, and attempts to split them with a hammer will almost certainly damage or destroy the specimen. Instead, promising nodules are best collected intact and taken away for professional preparation, ideally using iron oxide abrasive techniques.
For collecting on the beach, a geological pick and a small trowel are strongly recommended for careful extraction from shingle and clay. A geological hammer may occasionally be useful, but should be used sparingly and with care.
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.
Pyritic Fossils
Pyritic fossils require special care. While there are methods to slow down pyrite decay (pyrite rot), there is currently no permanent way to completely prevent it. Commercial treatments such as Pyrite Stop can be effective, but they are time-consuming and require careful application. An alternative approach is to store pyritic specimens in sealed containers with silica gel sachets, which help remove moisture from the air and slow deterioration.
For cleaning pyritic ammonites, our preferred method is to carefully blast them using iron oxide abrasive, followed by thorough washing and complete drying. The specimen is then lightly buffed with a brass brush to enhance surface detail. For pyritic material, varnish generally performs better than Paraloid, which can sometimes flake or react during active pyrite decay.
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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