Cayton Bay fossils and fossil collecting
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Very Good
This can be a very productive location, during the right conditions. The problem is that the location is too unpredictable. Often the beds can be covered up, but if you visit during scouring conditions, then you could come away with many decent finds.
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Suitable for Children
This location is suitable for children, although there is a steep path down. Once on the beach, there is plenty of foreshore to explore without having to be close to the tall cliffs. |
Good Access
Access to this location is good, with a cliff-top carpark. The path down to the beach is steel and can be a challenge for older people or children, especially on the way back up!
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Cliffs, Foreshore
Most of the fossils can be found on the foreshore during scouring conditions, but fossils can also be found in the scree slopes of the cliffs. |
No Restrictions
There are no restrictions at this site, hammering and collecting is permitted. However we ask that you follow our fossil code of conduct which can be found in the link below.
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Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. This part of the coastline is very dangerous for tidal conditions, make sure you return before the tide turns. Keep away from the base of the cliffs, rock falls are very common.
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Cayton Bay
Tide Times
UK Tidal data is owned by Crown Copyright, and therefore sadly we are not allowed to display tide times without paying expensive annual contracts. However we sell them via our store, including FREE POSTAGE
Click here to buy a tide table |
| Last updated: |
2010 |
| last visited: |
2010 |
| Written by: |
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks |
Locations similar to Cayton
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Other locations where fossils can be found in the Oxford Clay are,King's Dyke Pit, and Yaxley in the Cambridgeshire region, or inDorset, try Weymouth, Bowleaze Cove. In North Scotland you can also try Brora which also has Oxford Clay. In Yorkshire, you can tryCayton Bay. Gristhorpe and in Cambridgeshire, Grafham Water.
If you like looking for trace fossils, there are lots of locations all over the UK from various time periods. Abereiddy, Barns Ness,Blackgang, Causey Pike, Crail, Elgol, Fishguard, Freshwater East, Newhey, St Monans, Stair Stream, Presipe.
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Most of the year, the best beds are often covered over with sand. However, the Cayton Clay provide the chance to find a variety of fossils by simply searching along the foreshore. Cayton Clay fossils include belemnites, ammonites and molluscs.
Near the waterworks at the south end of the bay, at low tide calcareous sandstone (Hackness Rock Member) are sometimes exposed, which yields a range of fossils including bivalves, brachiopods, gastropods and ammonites (Cardioceras and Peltoceras). But the most productive beds at Cayton Bay, are the Oxford Clay. Sadly, these are often covered up with the slipped upper Cayton Clay formations, or covered over with sand.
If you are lucky enough to visit during scouring conditions, then the Oxford Clay can be seen on the foreshore. At the north end of the bay, keep a look for nodules as some of these can contain shrimps of Meyeria and Macrocephalites kamptus. The Oxford Clay is packed with bivalves and gastropods, and can sometimes be found in the lower cliff sequences.
Cayton Clay
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Jurassic, 160mya |
At the North end of Cayton Bay, Cornbrash Limestone can be seen and the start of the Cayton Clay formation. Walking South, towards Tenant's Cliffs, Lower Calcareous Grit caused by the Cayton Fault is followed by a calcareous limestone. At the waterworks, low tide reveals a section in the middle and upper Jurassic rocks.
At scouring tides, argillaceous limestone and calcareous sandstone are layered along the beach. Beds here range from Hundale sandstone to Red Cliff Rock Member.
The extreme change and variation of beds all caused by a number of major faults. Oxford Clay during scouring can be seen along the foreshore South of the argillaceous limestone. Walking further south, Red Cliff is reached. At Red Cliff, the Osgodby formation slopes above Oxford Clay. A return of the Calcareous Grit formation and Cornbrash limestone follows with Cayton Clay. ..[more]
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Stone Tumblers |
Microscopes |
Test Sieves for Microfossils |
If you are interested in fossil collecting, then you may also be interested in a stone tumbler (Lapidary). You can polish stones and rocks from the beach which
will look fantastic polished using a stone tumbler.
You can polish rough rock and beach glass whilst collecting fossils, on those days where you come back empty handed.
These are all high quality machines to give a professional finish to your samples. They can even be used for amber and fossils. |
At most locations, you can find microfossils. You only need a small sample of the sand. You then need to wash it in water and sieve using a test sieve. Once the sand is processed, you can then view the contents using a microscope.
We have a wide range of microscopes for sale, you will need a Stereomicroscope for viewing microfossils. The best one we sell is the IMXZ, but a basic microscope will be fine. Once you have found microfossils, you will need to store these microfossils.
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Test Sieves are used when searching for microfossils. Microfossils can be found in many locations, and all you need is a small amount of sample such as clays, sands and shales, or if you have acid, limestone, oolite or chalk.
Our UKGE Store sells Endecotts Test Sieves, which are the highest in accuracy and extremely durable and long lasting. These Test Sieves are fantastic for microfossils. Endecotts Test Sieves come in a variety of sizes, frame material and types, they are certificated to EU Standards. |
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Cayton Bay can be accessed from Osgodby along the A165. If coming from the South, this is first turning on the right after the Cayton Roundabout along the A165. 
