Can I take fossils I find on the beach?

It depends on which beach you're on. Most places allow you to collect loose fossils already lying on the beach, but some protected sites like Monmouth Beach don't permit any collecting at all. Check the specific rules for your location before taking anything home.

Is it okay to hammer fossils out of cliff faces?

No, not without explicit permission. The general rule is you can collect loose material that's already fallen onto the beach, but anything still embedded in cliffs or rock faces should be left alone as it's part of the geological record.

Who actually owns the fossils on the beach?

It depends on who owns that particular stretch of land. Parts of the Jurassic Coast belong to the National Trust, local councils, or private landowners, and each can set their own rules about fossil collecting.

Walking the Edge

Why Fossil Collecting Rules Change From One Beach to the Next

Fossil collecting rules shift dramatically from beach to beach along the Jurassic Coast because geology, land ownership, and protected site designations combine differently at every location—which means what you can cheerfully pocket at Charmouth might get you told off at Monmouth Beach three miles away.

11 October 20269 min read