Chilcompton’s old New Rock colliery spoil contains shale and sandstone brought up from deep Carboniferous workings. Plant stems and fern-like impressions can be seen in suitable loose shale, but the steep, overgrown public-path route is primarily a place for careful observation unless the landowner has agreed to collecting. Carboniferous, Spoil, Rating: ♦♦♦
Betteshanger Park, formerly Fowlmead, preserves a fossil-hunting area in material from the Kent coalfield. Its Carboniferous plant fossils can be explored through the park’s authorised fossil activities. Carboniferous, Spoil, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
Soudley Valley’s geological trail crosses a varied part of the Forest of Dean. This guide centres on the plant-bearing coal spoil associated with Eastern United Colliery, near Ruspidge and Staple Edge, while keeping the trail’s older limestone and sandstone exposures distinct. Confirm access and collecting permission before entering the spoil. Carboniferous, Spoil, Rating: ♦♦
A wooded coal-mining spoil heap at Whitecroft preserves a link with the Forest of Dean’s industrial landscape. Its shale has yielded Carboniferous plant impressions, while historical studies of nearby Park Gutter workings reveal a much richer fossil flora. Visiting the heap and removing material require the land manager’s permission. Carboniferous, Spoil, Rating: ♦♦♦
At Blast Beach, south of Seaham, waves rework old colliery spoil beneath pale Permian cliffs. The shale and sandstone brought up during mining contain Carboniferous plant fossils, including leafy fragments, stems and pieces of larger trunks, making this a distinctive place to explore the area’s coal-mining past. Carboniferous, Spoil, Cliffs, Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
Saltcom Bay in this guide is South Beach beside West Pier, immediately south of Whitehaven harbour. Historical finds include Carboniferous plant remains in mixed colliery spoil. Beach access was reported prohibited for safety in the 2020 Coastal Strategy, and reopening has not been verified. Do not plan a shore-collecting visit without current confirmation from the landowner or Cumberland Council; remain on open signed routes and respect all barriers. Carboniferous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
A small wooded quarry near Holymoorside preserves plant fragments in Carboniferous sandstone. The rock belongs to the Wingfield Flags, a named sandstone unit within the Pennine Lower Coal Measures Formation. Stem debris is more characteristic than complete leaves. Follow the public path, keep clear of the unstable face and obtain the landowner’s permission before entering the quarry or collecting. Carboniferous, Disused Quarry, Rating: ♦♦
Stone Edge Plantation preserves traces of former coal and clay workings, with plant-bearing Coal Measures shale reported from loose mine spoil. Fossils were uncommon and often poorly preserved in the original visit. Because old mine workings can be dangerous, remain on the public path, avoid shafts and disturbed ground, and obtain permission before any off-path visit or collecting. Carboniferous, Spoil, Rating: ♦♦
At West Wemyss, Carboniferous coal seams and plant-bearing shale can be seen along the shore east of the harbour. The Scottish Middle Coal Measures Formation records rivers, lakes and wetland forests, while redistributed mining spoil adds a different source of loose rock. Visit for geological observation and photography; collecting is not recommended while a reported refusal of permission remains unresolved.
Carboniferous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
The eroding mixed spoil shore west of East Wemyss reveals Carboniferous plant remains in loose shale and other tipped rock. Fern-like foliage, ribbed stems and occasional bivalves survive from ancient wetland landscapes, but mining, dumping and coastal reworking have mixed their original beds. Visit to observe and photograph; fossil removal requires permission and any applicable consent. Carboniferous, Spoil, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
Giant arthropod trackways and fossil trees preserved where they grew make the Carboniferous shore southwest of Crail harbour a remarkable place to explore. The sandstone ledges record ancient land surfaces, while intervening marine beds reveal repeated incursions of the sea. Carboniferous, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
The conspicuous spoil heap at Dalmellington contains Carboniferous Coal Measures rocks, including dark shale with fish teeth, scales and bones. Plant remains and coprolites are also recorded. Mining has mixed the material, so individual finds cannot be assigned to a source bed simply from their position on the tip. Collecting requires permission and particular care around the unstable slopes. Carboniferous, Spoil Heap, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦
