Where else might you go to collect fossils from almost the full Chalk succession, along with the Upper Greensand within just a few metres? This location, at the far headland east of Ringstead Bay, is superb for its geology but also for its Cretaceous ammonites, echinoids and other fossils.
DIRECTIONS
♦ Access is best from Ringstead Bay, (clearly signposted), with easy parking and a beach cafe and then by walking east along the beach.
♦ The car park can be accessed from the toll road off the A353 to Ringstead. Follow the road and take a sharp right at the top of the hill. It will then take you to the low cliff where you will need to walk east. Ringstead is to the south of Poxwell.
♦ There is a daily rate charge at the car park (April to November) and the beach café/shop is open during the summer season, with toilets close by.
♦ What3Words: ///skinny.snippets.whirlpool
♦ Postcode: DT2 8NG, Google Maps Link.
PROFILE INFO
FIND FREQUENCY: ♦♦♦♦ – White Nothe is a location that is not often visited by fossil hunters, so there is often plenty to be found, especially after a high tide and /or storms. However, you really need the right conditions for any decent finds.
CHILDREN: ♦♦ – This location is probably not suitable for younger children because of the long walk from Ringstead Bay and the rocky foreshore.
ACCESS: ♦♦ – It is a long walk down to the beach and the rocky foreshore can be quite difficult. The car park is easy to find, being next to the Beach Cafe (clearly signposted from the A353).
TYPE: – Most of the fossils can be found on the foreshore, especially after storms, but fossils are also commonly found in fallen blocks of Chalk or Lower Greensand on the beach.
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FOSSIL HUNTING
The foreshore at White Nothe is highly productive for fossil hunting, with a wide range of well-preserved marine fossils derived from the Chalk and the Upper Greensand. Much of the material is found loose on the beach, weathered out of fallen blocks or washed free during periods of strong tidal action, meaning careful searching rather than excavation is usually all that is required.
Fossils originating from the Chalk are particularly abundant, with echinoids being the most commonly encountered finds. Complete and partial sea urchin tests are frequently found lying loose on the foreshore, often requiring nothing more than a careful eye to spot them. The most common echinoid is Holaster, especially Holaster subglobosus and Holaster trecensis, which are typically preserved as solid internal moulds. Other echinoids are also present, including Micraster, such as Micraster coranguinum, along with Echinocorys, Cardiaster and Conulus. Detached echinoid spines are extremely common and can often be found in large numbers scattered across the beach, sometimes forming dense concentrations.
White Nothe is also well known for its large and occasionally giant ammonites, which are often remarkably well preserved given their size. These are usually found within fallen blocks of Chalk rather than loose, and can range from large fragments to near-complete specimens exposed by erosion. Commonly encountered genera include Pachydiscus and Lewesiceras, with occasional finds of Hypoturrilites, usually in fragmentary form. Fresh exposures after cliff falls or winter storms offer the best chance of encountering high-quality material.
Brachiopods are another frequent Chalk fossil and are often found as both single valves and paired shells. Typical examples include Terebratulina, Gibbithyris and Cretirhynchia, which can show excellent surface detail when well preserved. Bivalves are also widespread and are commonly encountered as isolated valves or shell fragments, with Inoceramus being particularly distinctive due to its thick, often ribbed shell fragments. Other bivalves such as Ostrea, Spondylus and Pecten are also regularly found. Additional Chalk fossils include small crinoid columnals, usually appearing as short, disc-shaped segments, along with occasional fish remains such as isolated teeth or bone fragments for those prepared to search carefully.
The Upper Greensand at White Nothe is especially rich in fossil material and produces some of the most diverse and finely preserved specimens from the area. Fossils are often found in fallen blocks or on freshly exposed bedding planes, and the preservation quality can be exceptional when material has not been exposed for long periods. Brachiopods are particularly abundant, with a wide range of species present, including Rhynchonella, Terebratula, Crania and Kingena, many of which retain sharp ribbing and fine shell detail.
Bivalves are also very common in the Greensand and can often be collected in large numbers when conditions are favourable. Typical finds include Exogyra, Pecten, Lima, Trigonia and Gryphaea, with some specimens showing minimal abrasion and excellent preservation. Gastropods are also present and can be particularly rewarding to collect when the Greensand is freshly exposed, as the matrix is initially soft and easy to work. Genera such as Turritella, Natica, Pleurotomaria and Cerithium may be encountered, often preserved with delicate surface ornamentation. However, once exposed to air, the Greensand rapidly hardens, making timely collecting important.
During periods of strong scouring tides, large numbers of loose molluscs from the Greensand can be washed free and left on the foreshore, sometimes in near-perfect condition. Other fossils found within the Greensand include serpulid worm tubes attached to shells or rock surfaces, crinoid fragments and occasional small echinoids, which tend to be more delicate than their Chalk counterparts.
GEOLOGY
White Nothe forms a prominent headland rising to approximately 160 metres and marks the eastern end of Ringstead Bay. The cliffs here provide an impressive and near-vertical exposure of Cretaceous strata, dominated by the Chalk Group, with excellent sections through both the Grey Chalk Subgroup, formerly known as the Lower Chalk, and the White Chalk Subgroup, previously referred to as the Middle and Upper Chalk. This makes White Nothe one of the most visually striking and geologically important cliff sections along this part of the Dorset coast.
To the southeast of Holworth House, which can be easily identified from the beach high on the cliff face, a broader succession of Lower and Upper Cretaceous rocks is exposed. These include the Upper Greensand, Gault Clay and Chalk. The geology of White Nothe is strongly influenced by the Holworth Fault, which dominates the structure of the headland and is responsible for the steep, almost vertical chalk cliffs that characterise the site. This faulting brings different formations into close proximity and creates excellent coastal exposures.
At the base of the Chalk succession lies the Grey Chalk Subgroup, which is well developed and clearly visible in the lower part of the cliff. This unit is characterised by fine rhythmic bedding, with alternating chalks and marls, and the presence of distinctive grey, spiky flints that represent infilled Thalassinoides burrow systems. The lowest part of the Grey Chalk includes the Basal Beds, beginning with the Glauconitic Marl, followed by cycles of hard, slightly grey chalk interbedded with darker marls, notably lacking flints. These Basal Beds span the Lower and Middle Cenomanian and are both represented within the approximately one-metre thickness of the Basement Bed. These beds are frequently encountered in fallen blocks at the base of the cliff and along the shoreline, where they can be readily examined.
The Basal Beds are particularly fossiliferous and are well known for yielding ammonites and abundant echinoids, especially Holaster subglobosus, which is frequently found concentrated near the base of the unit. Above the Basal Beds, the Plenus Marls Member of Cenomanian age, belonging to the Holywell Nodular Chalk Formation, completes the succession of the Grey Chalk Subgroup at White Nothe. This marks the uppermost part of the Grey Chalk here, which is exceptionally well exposed within the cliff section.
Above this, the upper portion of the cliff is formed by the White Chalk Subgroup, including the Lewes Nodular Chalk and the Seaford Chalk formations. Initially, the chalk beds are near-horizontal, but moving eastward they begin to dip progressively, first gently and then more steeply, towards a syncline at Middle Bottom. This eastern section of the cliff is inaccessible on foot, and access to the next bay is not possible without a boat due to the steepness and instability of the cliffs.
At beach level, both the Chalk and the Upper Greensand are exposed in places. The Upper Greensand is notably soft when freshly exposed, though it rapidly hardens upon contact with air. When conditions are favourable and the rock is still soft, fossils can often be extracted with relative ease using simple hand tools such as a small wood chisel or pointed implement from loose blocks on the beach. The Upper Greensand is also exposed at the very tip of White Nothe during low tide, though access is dependent on sea conditions.
Fossils from the Upper Greensand are most commonly found among boulders on the beach and at the base of the landslide beneath the cliffs. A ladder marking the route of the Smuggler’s Path up the headland serves as a useful indicator of the most productive area for Upper Greensand material. However, much of the exposure is obscured by slumped material and landslide debris. The extensive undercliff at White Nothe generally conceals the unconformable junction between the Gault, Upper Greensand and Chalk beneath a chaotic mixture of rubble and fallen blocks, making direct observation of the full sequence difficult in places.
SAFETY
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. Ensure you visit during falling tide and return in good time as it is easy to be cut off from the tide. At White Nothe, many large boulders can make access very difficult and it is easy to trip or fall over. You should also keep away from the cliff faces.
EQUIPMENT
Fossils here are generally quite stable, so either containers or bags are suitable to get them home. You will need a hammer, chisel and safety goggles to split some of the rocks. It is also a good idea to take a trowel to extract some excellent fossil shells from the slipped soft Greensand.
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.
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 – South 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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