Charmouth Fossils and Fossil Hunting, Charmouth, Dorset
Spend a couple of hours with Charmouth Fossils and Fossil Hunting and you'll come away having learnt something new, and if you're lucky, with a fossil in your pocket. Charmouth is a quiet village on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset - or at least, it's quiet most of the year; obviously it gets busier in the summer, as does anywhere that's by the sea. The beach is a mix of sand, shingle and pebbles and is a big draw for fossil hunters who come to look for ammonites and belemnites, and hopefully something more unusual washed out of the cliffs.
The Fossil Walks start at Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre on the seafront and kick off with a talk before heading out onto the beach with the wardens. They'll tell you the best places to look and they'll help you to identify anything you find - or you can check for yourself if you take a look at the exhibits back at the Heritage Centre.
Walks are dependent on the tides and of course, you'll need sensible shoes as the terrain is uneven and can be muddy in parts. Book up to join one of their regular events - like at very low tides they walk to Lyme Regis - or arrange a private walk, which is a nice thing to do for big families, hen parties and corporate groups. After your walk you can see what delights they have in the shop and if it's open, grab a cup of tea and a bite to eat in the Beach Cafe.
There's a saying in these parts: 'The worse the weather, the better the fossil hunting', because there have been some wonderful specimens found after storms. Up to you if you want to brave it.
T: 01297 560772 All information correct at the time of writing