The Fleet-side exposures near Langton Herring preserve Bathonian shell beds and brachiopod-rich limestone in a varied Jurassic succession. Oyster banks, encrusting organisms and separate marker horizons are of specialist interest, but reserve access and collecting restrictions mean that an ordinary visit should stay on public paths. Jurassic, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
Watton Cliff is one of Britain’s most important Middle Jurassic microfossil localities, exposing the fossil-rich Forest Marble Formation above the Frome Clay. While larger fossils such as brachiopods, crinoids, sharks’ teeth and reptile remains can be found, the site is best known for its remarkable microvertebrate fauna, including some of the oldest mammal remains discovered in the UK. Careful collection and processing of samples can reveal an extraordinary range of tiny fossils hidden within the sediments. Jurassic, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦♦
📺 VIDEO
Cogden’s shingle beach, east of Hive Beach, borders low exposures of Frome Clay and basal Forest Marble. Bivalves, brachiopods and occasional small gastropods occur in mudstone, cementstone and loose shelly slabs, while patchy exposure and a steeply shelving shore shape what can safely be observed. Jurassic, Cliffs and Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
