Whitby is one of the most iconic fossil localities on the Yorkshire coast, renowned for its rich Jurassic heritage and dramatic cliff scenery. While access to parts of the foreshore is tide-dependent and requires careful planning, the rewards can be considerable. The area is celebrated for its abundant ammonites, marine reptile remains and diverse shell beds, as well as for jet — fossilised wood from ancient conifer-like trees that became highly prized in Victorian jewellery. Its reputation means it is rarely quiet, but with patience and good timing.
DIRECTIONS
♦ Access this location from the East Pier at Whitby. However, this can only be done about three to four hours after high tide and you must ensure you return in good time.
♦ Postcode to Car Park: YO22 4EH, Google Map Link You can sometime park closer when the town is not so busy, but if planning to walk to Saltwick Bay and return via the Coastal footpath, this is the best car park.
♦ Dinosaur Footprints: What3Words: ///absent.trackers.vibrating
♦ Main fossil site: What3Words: ///icebergs.slab.positives
DOWNLOAD THE UKF BOOKLET TO FOSSIL HUNTING AT WHITBY
PROFILE INFO
FIND FREQUENCY: ♦♦♦♦♦ – Whitby yields excellent ammonite specimens and dinosaur/reptile remains, but attracts a lot of collectors. The best time to collect is during winter storms or scouring conditions.
CHILDREN: ♦ – Due to the dangerous access to this location, young children should not visit the beach at Whitby.
ACCESS: ♦♦♦ – Access is made from Whitby’s East Pier. You will need to wait until you can get round, as the tide comes very high and you must ensure you can return in good time.
TYPE: – Most fossils can be found on the foreshore at Whitby, especially after storms or scouring conditions, within nodules or loose within the areas of shingle and shale. However, fossils are also commonly found in the cliff and on the scree slopes, either in nodules or loose.
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FOSSIL HUNTING
Whitby is one of the most famous fossil localities in the UK, with a long history of ammonite collecting and marine reptile discoveries. Most fossils are found within foreshore nodules or loose amongst shale and shingle, particularly after winter storms have stripped away sand and exposed fresh material. The foreshore is by far the most productive area to search.
Look carefully for rounded siderite nodules, as these frequently contain well-preserved ammonites. Often the outer whorl of the shell can be seen faintly around the edge of the nodule, showing ribbing or a curved profile. Nodules are commonly trapped beneath larger rocks or concentrated in natural shingle accumulations where wave action has sorted heavier material. Splitting these nodules may reveal classic Whitby ammonites such as Dactylioceras commune, Dactylioceras tenuicostatum, and Hildoceras bifrons. Other species occasionally encountered include Eleganticeras elegantulum and Pseudolioceras species. Many ammonites from the Alum Shale Member have the inner whorls dissolved away, leaving the characteristic hollow centre.
In addition to ammonites, bivalves such as Dacryomya ovum and Pleuromya species are common, often preserved flattened within shale. Belemnites are abundant, usually found as smooth calcite guards weathered free from softer rock. Pyritised fossils are occasionally encountered, although these require careful storage to prevent deterioration.
Examine the cliff face approximately one metre above beach level, particularly in freshly exposed sections, as this horizon has produced marine reptile remains in the past. Ichthyosaur and plesiosaur bones have both been recorded from the Whitby Mudstone Formation, typically preserved within large nodules or weathered from shale after heavy rain or high tides. Vertebrate remains are rare but possible, and any significant finds should be treated with care.
Past the coastguard station, the Alum Shale Member is well exposed and fossil-rich. This unit contains abundant Dactylioceras and Hildoceras, alongside Dacryomya ovum, Pleuromya species and other marine invertebrates. Reptile remains have occasionally been found in the cliff face or washed onto the foreshore below these beds.
Higher on the shore and at the foot of the cliffs, the Whitby Mudstone and Alum Shales also contain fossil wood and pyritic mudstone. Poor-grade (crushed) jet is frequently seen within these beds, reflecting the organic-rich nature of the sediments. Above the Alum Shale lie the Cement Shales, followed by the Dogger and Saltwick Formations.
Beyond the coastguard station, large blocks of fine-grained sandstone with sideritic concretions appear on the foreshore. This is the famous Whitby Plant Bed, which yields exceptionally preserved Middle Jurassic plant fossils. Genera recorded here include Williamsonia, Baiera, Coniopteris and Czekanowskia, along with occasional conifer remains and cycad-like foliage. These plants represent vegetation that once grew on nearby delta plains and was buried rapidly in fine sediment.
At the small bay, the Dogger Formation reaches beach level. The Whitby Plant Beds in this area are particularly productive, preserving leaves as delicate carbon impressions on sandstone bedding planes. Tree trunks and branches may occasionally be found as flattened carbon bands or mineralised casts.
GEOLOGY
Whitby exposes one of the most important Lower Jurassic successions in the UK, with extensive outcrops of the Whitby Mudstone Formation visible along the foreshore and within the East Cliff. These rocks were deposited during the Toarcian Stage of the Early Jurassic, approximately 183–174 million years ago, when the region lay beneath a warm, shallow sea within the Cleveland Basin.
Whitby Mudstone Formation
The dominant unit at Whitby is the Whitby Mudstone Formation, composed largely of dark grey marine shales and mudstones deposited in relatively deep, low-energy offshore conditions.
The most prominent subdivision visible on the foreshore and at the foot of the cliffs is the Alum Shale Member. This unit consists of grey, generally non-bituminous mudstone with frequent layers of grey calcareous concretions, particularly concentrated within the lower Hard Shale Beds and upper Cement Shale Beds. These concretions commonly contain ammonites and other marine fossils.
The central portion of the Alum Shale, known as the Main Alum Shale, is softer, less silty and typically less calcareous. It weathers to pale grey and yellow tones and is often more prone to erosion. Fossils are abundant throughout the Alum Shale Member, including ammonites, bivalves and belemnites, reflecting thriving marine ecosystems during deposition.
The organic content of parts of the Whitby Mudstone Formation contributed to the formation of jet, which was historically mined in the area and became famous during the Victorian era.
Cement Shales and Overlying Units
The uppermost beds of the Whitby Mudstone Formation are the Cement Shales, which form a more resistant unit near the top of the Lower Jurassic sequence. These shales contain harder calcareous bands and concretions and mark the upper boundary of the Toarcian marine mudstone deposition at Whitby.
Overlying the Cement Shales is the Dogger Formation, representing a significant environmental shift. The Dogger consists largely of sandstones and ironstones deposited in shallower marine to nearshore conditions during the early Middle Jurassic (Aalenian Stage). This transition reflects a regression of the sea and increased sediment input from nearby landmasses.
Above the Dogger lies the Saltwick Formation, part of the Ravenscar Group, which represents deltaic and fluvial environments. These rocks contain the famous Whitby Plant Beds, recording a landscape of river channels, lagoons and coastal plains.
At the top of the section, the Eller Beck Formation typically comprises marine ironstone, sandstone and mudstone, marking a return to more marine-dominated conditions later in the Middle Jurassic.
East Cliff
Whitby’s East Cliff is composed predominantly of dark grey, highly fossiliferous shales of the Whitby Mudstone Formation. These Toarcian-aged rocks are rich in ammonites and other marine fossils and provide one of the clearest exposures of Lower Jurassic strata on the Yorkshire coast.
Frequent landslips and coastal erosion continually expose fresh material, making Whitby both geologically instructive and palaeontologically productive. The visible succession — from offshore marine shales through shallower sandstones and into deltaic deposits — records a major environmental transition within the Jurassic period.
SAFETY
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be used and knowledge of tide times is essential. It is very easy to get cut off at Whitby, as the sea always reaches the base of the cliff. You should ensure you return before the tide turns. Also be aware of sticky areas on the slippages, as it is easy to get stuck, especially after rain.
EQUIPMENT
At Whitby, most fossils are found within foreshore nodules or loose amongst shale and shingle, particularly after storms have exposed fresh material. A geological hammer (16–24 oz) is essential for splitting siderite nodules that commonly contain ammonites, while a sturdy flat chisel can help guide controlled blows and reduce the risk of damaging specimens. A small hand pick can be useful for carefully working softer shale or investigating larger nodules that may contain vertebrate remains. Eye protection should always be worn when striking rock, and strong, waterproof boots with good grip are vital due to uneven boulders, loose shale and slippery surfaces. As reptile material can occasionally be found in the cliff face or freshly fallen debris, never work directly beneath unstable sections and always check tide times before collecting along the foreshore. Wrap any finds securely and store them in a rigid container 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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