Ringstead fossils and fossil collecting

A car park can be accessed from the Toll road off the A353 to Ringstead. Follow the road and take a sharp right at the top of the hills.
The road will take you to the cliff low were you will need to walk East. Ringstead is South of Poxwell.
This location is near to two other completly different locations, Osmington Mills with the hard Corallian Beds, and White Nothe, which is an excellent location for chalk. Both of these can be accessed from this location.
Please check tide times before you visit as you can easily be cut off at this location. This site is part of the Jurassic World Heritage Coastline.

GRID REF: 50.63110°N, 2.35129°W

molluscs, seeds, trace fossils, belemnites

Ringstead has a small amount of Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay, but the clay is rich in fossils. This location is also near to other good sites just a short walk away and makes an ideal trip.

Medium

Fossils at Ringstead are common, but are mostly the giant oysters. Other fossils are usually found during scouring conditions.

Suitable for Children

Ringstead is suitable for children, and the low cliffs make collecting more safe.

Good Access

Ringstead is a fairly easy location to access, with only a short walk. You don't have to walk far to start finding fossils.

Foreshore, Cliffs

Most fossils are found along the foreshore, these can often be simply picked up, but fossils can also be found in the cliff, especially after rain.

Heritage Coastline

This site is part of the Jurassic World Heritage Coastline. Please follow the Fossil Code of Conduct. Access is permitted SSSI -

NO DIGGING IN THE CLIFF

Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. Care should be taken of tide times especially in winter months.

Ringstead
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

Accommodation

Higher Spence

Farm Cottage, beautiful location 3 miles Charmouth. Double and Family rooms En Suite.

Contact: Christine Nutkins
Tel: UK (01297) 560556
Tel: International +441297 560556 Address: Higher Spence, Wootton, Fitzpaine, Charmouth, Dorset.

Email: higherspence@eurolink.ltd.net Website: (Typing "Higher Spence into your search engine)

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Rentable by the week or 3 day Short Break all year round!!

Please call: 0800 9804070 for a Brochure or visit our website on www.dorsetcoastalcottages.com

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Last updated:
last visited:

Written by:

28/05/08
2001

Alister and Alison Cruickshanks

Geological Tools

TOOLS: A knife and pick should be taken as Ringstead is soft Kimmeridge Clay. When the foreshore is exposed, suitable footwear should be worn. A small trowel is also useful though most fossils can be simply lifted from the clay. CONTAINERS: Fossils are VERY Fragile, especially the ammonites, separate containers filled with fine sand are ideal.....[more]

Other Locations similar to Ringstead

Other locations with Kimmeridge Clay are, Chapmans Pool, Kimmeridge Bay, Lothbeg, Portgower, Helmsdale, Balintore and Eathie, in Scotland, or Wyke Regis, Bowleaze Cove and Ringstead in Dorset.


Most fossils are found at the low cliff washed out of the clay. If you are lucky enough to visit during scouring conditions, then you are likely to find some specimens. Fossil Oysters are common here and should easily be found washed out of the clay, there is a whole layer of these at beach level. Blocks of Coralline can also yield corals and trace fossils, these blocks can be found just past the low cliff. Bed of fossil oysters exposed at Ringstead

Jurassic, 150mya

The low slippages of the Kimmeridge clay shows 5m at the base. From Holworth House, near the car park, Porland and Purbeck beds dip north overlain by Gault with Upper Greensand dipping above at a South East angle. There are around 6.5m of Portland Freestone, 10.4m of Cherty series above, 22m of Portland Sand. A major fault in line with Holworth House has caused the White Stone Band to be 56m of below the top and Blackstone at the shore level. Blocks of Portland Freestone are scattered around the beach along with Chalk increasing towards White Nothe...[more]

Kimmeridge Clay at Ringstead


One of the most common fossils at Ringstead is the Oyster Deltoideum delta seen above at the low cliff. Ammonites of Rasenia and Pictonia are common but difficult to find whole. Brachiopod, Torquirhynchia incostans just after the Inconstans bed have all been recorded in the Kimmeridge clay. The clay is easily reached and washed out regularly by the tide during winter months. The Corallian is part of the Ringstead Coral Bed, which contains the corals, Thamnasteria, Isastraea, Protoseris and more rarer, Montlivaltia. Trace fossils, worm tubes of Cycloserpula intestinalis are common. Other trace fossils have been found in the slabs of Corallian on the beach. Brachiopod found at Ringstead Belemnite found at Ringstead Fossil Worn Tube from Ringstead

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.

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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