Fairlight fossils and fossil collecting
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 Follow the coastal road past Fairlight, Fairlight cove and then to Pett Level.
You will come to the Smuggler Pub, it is usually best to park at the car park immediately past the Smuggler Pub. Parking at the large car park is only for customers only, but parking along the side of the road near the pub is for all. Toilets are just 50 yards away. There is alternative parking in a small car park at the toilet block just before the pub.
From here, you can walk right along the beach promenade and then you will have access to the beach. Continue right to access the cliffs. It is possible to walk from Hastings to Fairlight but this is several miles and is not recommended especially if you wish to return back from Hastings.
GRID REF: TQ 88725 12859
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Fish, shark, crocodiles, turtle, dinosaurs, shells,
plant remains |
Continuing from Hastings, this popular location has yielded some important finds over the years. Fish, shark, plant, reptile remains and shells can also be collected. This site is exceptional for small mammal and fish remains. Crocodile teeth also turn up. |
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Medium
Fairlight yields excellent small fish and mammal remains in blocks of the 'Cliff End Bone Bed'. Blocks of this bed which fall from near the top of the cliff and can be difficult to find due to over collecting, however there are usually at least a few blocks lying around.
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Older children
Although Fairlight is suitable for families, The foreshore is very rocky and may not be suitable for younger children. Keep away from the base of the cliff.
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Fair Access
Fairlight is fairly easy to access; there is good parking near the pub car park, or at the toilet block. Parking may be possible at the pub park with permission. The pub owners are usually very friendly towards collectors. Public toilets can be found down the road just before the pub, or at the pub itself if using the facilities. The pub which also serves good food.
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Foreshore, Cliffs
Most of the fossils at Fairlight can be found on the foreshore especially after storms, but fossils are also commonly found at the base of the cliff on the scree slopes. Extreme Care must be taken and hard hats should be worn if collecting near the base of the cliff, we do not recommend this at all as the cliffs constantly crumble and are very tall.
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No Restrictions
There are no restrictions at this location, but please follow our own code of conduct for all locations.
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Fairlight
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
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Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. Two dangers are apparent along the Fairlight coastline, the first is the tidal conditions which need to be taken note of, and good time allowed to return. The other important note is the danger of falling debris and cliff falls from the high cliffs. Stay away from the foot of the cliff and if you are knocking fossils or hitting rocks, do so well away from the cliff as hammer vibrations can cause debris to fall. Hard hats should be worn.
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| Last updated: |
2012 |
| last visited: |
2012 |
| Written by: |
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks |
Other Locations similar to Fairlight
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For other similar locations, try nearby Bexhill, and Cooden.
You can also collect from Hastings, a similar age |
 
Many fossils can be found either in blocks of the 'Cliff End Bone Bed' or on the foreshore, the Cliff End Bone bed is very hard and you will need good tools splitting tools and hammer. It is also advisable to take back samples for home or lab splitting. |
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At the start of the cliff when entering the beach from Pett Level, blocks of the Cliff End Sandstone can usually be found along the foreshore, this layer contains the 'Cliff End Bone Bed' and is packed with bones in a gravel compressed rock.
Within the blocks of 'Cliff End Bone Bed' teeth such as the fish of Lepidotes and the Shark Hybodus can be found. A range of shells are also present in this sandstone. Insects have also been found in this layer.
The Fairlight area is the best location outside the Isle of Wight for Dinosaur remains, generally these can be found anywhere along the Fairlight to Hastings coastline and are mostly fragments. Past Fairlight Cove, the Fairlight Clay can be seen exposed on the foreshore which can be dark grey, pinky and pure white colour in places.
The grey clay is the ‘Unio Bed’ that contains many Unio shells, these can be collected along the foreshore where this layer is exposed. In this layer one can also find a whole range of different bones and teeth of dinosaur, crocodile, and turtle fragments. Fossils are very fragile in the clay.
Along the foreshore past Fairlight Cove, you can find dinosaur bones in the 'Wadhurst Clay Ironstone', turtle has also been recorded. These bones are normally found in ironstone nodules and are usually only fragments. Bones can also be found at the base on the cliff on the scree slopes.
At Pett Level just before Fairlight Cove, a submerged forest can be seen at low tide. During scouring in a silt layer exposed on the foreshore during scouring, Iguanodon footprints have been seen along this coastline.
The Ashdown/Wadhurst fault at Fairlight Cove
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Cretaceous,130mya |
At Fairlight Cove there is a major fault between the harder Wadhurst Clay at the eastern end and the softer Ashdown Formation to the west, which is why the sea has rapidly eroded the cliff here and the need for coastal defence works. The Fairlight Clay can be seen on the foreshore (part of the Ashdown Formation), around and west of Fairlight Cove. The ‘Cliff End Bone Bed’ can be seen in the cliffs east of Fairlight Cove. Past the cove, the Wadhurst Clay begins again......[more]
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Estwing Geological |
Meteorites |
Microscopy |
For high quality, steel hammers, Estwing are the best make. They are solid forged. Estwing Geological Hammers come as either Chisel or Pointed picks. We sell Estwing Hammers via our webshop and Estwing Geological Pointed Picks.
We also sell the classic British Geological Hammer in Hickory, Steel or Fibre Glass Handles. As well as over 10,000 related geological tools, equipment, books and maps via our store. UKGE, specialising in Geological and MIcroscopy tools and equipment. |
Meteorites can be found all over the world. Often, large pieces are broken down either naturally or by hand, or sliced and sold as small fragments, each fall is well documented. Meteorites are very collectable, especially ones of Mars or Moon rocks.
We sell Meteorites, which are in stock and mostly come in a display boxs. Our meteorites are from all over the world and include Mars and Moon Meteorites, and rocks from outer space. For more information, please see our meteorite page.
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For viewing the tiny teeth and microfossils from Fairlight, we have a wide range of microscopes for sale, a Stereomicroscope will be needed for viewing these fossils. The most popular is our IMXZ which comes with zoom control, but a basic microscope will be fine.
At most locations, you can find microfossils. Often, only a small amount of sample is needed. You then need to wash it in water and sieve using a test sieve. Once it is processed, you can then view the contents using the microscope.
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