Fossil Hunting at Watton Cliff | UK Fossils Road Tour

Join the UK Fossils Road Tour as we explore Watton Cliff, West Bay, Dorset, one of the UK’s most important locations for collecting Jurassic microfossils. Situated along the world-famous Jurassic Coast, this fascinating site is renowned for its abundance of well-preserved microvertebrate remains, as well as a diverse range of larger fossils including brachiopods, crinoids, fish, shark teeth, crocodiles, amphibians, reptiles and plant material. Watton Cliff offers a unique fossil hunting experience for collectors interested in the smaller fossils often overlooked at many coastal locations. The exposures at Watton Cliff include the Forest Marble Formation and associated Middle Jurassic deposits, preserving evidence of both marine and non-marine environments. These fossil-rich sediments have produced an extraordinary variety of remains, making the locality one of the most scientifically significant microfossil sites on the Dorset coast. Fossils are typically collected from fallen material on the beach below the cliffs, where natural erosion continually exposes fresh specimens. In this video, we cover: • How to access Watton Cliff from West Bay and Eype • The geology of the Forest Marble Formation and surrounding strata • Why Watton Cliff is famous for microfossil collecting • Common fossils found at the location • Searching spoil and beach material for vertebrate remains • Fossil hunting equipment and collecting techniques • Safety considerations around unstable cliffs and rockfalls • Tips for identifying productive fossil-bearing material Watton Cliff is particularly popular with collectors searching for microfossils such as fish remains, shark teeth, reptile material and ostracods. Careful searching and processing of fossil-bearing sediments can reveal a remarkable diversity of specimens from the Middle Jurassic period. The site is also well known for its brachiopods and crinoid fragments, which are commonly found amongst the beach material. ⚠️ SAFETY WARNING: Always check tides, weather and local conditions before visiting. Never hammer directly into cliffs and keep well clear of unstable cliff faces and recent rockfalls. Fossil collecting is undertaken entirely at your own risk. 👍 If you enjoy fossil hunting, geology and exploring Britain’s incredible prehistoric coastline, please like, subscribe and join us on future UK Fossils Road Tour adventures. INSTAGRAM:   / ukfossils   FACEBOOK:   / ukfossils   TIKTOK:   / ukfossils   UK FOSSILS WEBSITE: https://ukfossils.co.uk FULL WRITTEN GUIDE: https://ukfossils.co.uk/watton-cliff/ MUSIC FROM UK FOSSILS: https://ukfossils.co.uk/music You can also listen to UK Fossils on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, YouTube Music and most other major podcast and streaming platforms. Search for “UK Fossils” on your favourite platform to discover more fossil hunting adventures, geology guides and UK palaeontology content.