West Weare fossils and fossil collecting
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 Fortuneswell is the capital on the island, West Weare cliff runs just to the South West of the town. Parking can be found to the West of the town, not far from the local school.
There is a one-way system at Portland, so you will need to go through the town, up the hill and back round on the main road towards Chiswell, where you can park and gain access to West Weare cliff.
Parking is FREE on the Island of Portland (with the exception on the privately owned car park at Portland Bill). From the car park, walk South, then walk along the promenade, all the way and at the end, you will find some steps to the beach.
GRID REF: 50.55860°N, 2.44845°W
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West Weare is the best location in Portland for fossil hunting. Whilst most of the island is Portland Stone, this location is Kimmeridge Clay. Most of the Kimmeridge Clay on Portland is covered up, but here, the clay can be found slipped between the quarry debris. |
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Medium
The fossils at West Weare, are fairly common, you are likely to find many brachiopods, and bivalves, but complete ammonites are hard to find. Plenty of broken ammonites can be seen. Ammonites can also be found in nodules.
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Not for Children
West Weare is not suitable for children to fossil hunt, there are too many rocks along the foreshore which makes access difficult. Its not easy going! |
Good Access
Accessibility at West Weare is fairly good at this location, although it can be fairly hard to find due to the one-way systems. |
Slipped Clay
Fossils are found between the rocks and boulders, where Kimmeridge Clay has slipped. |
No Restrictions
There are no restrictions on the Isle of Portland, but sensible collecting is important for all locations. Please follow our Code of Conduct found under our safety notes section below. |
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. At West Weare, the rocks can be very dangerous, you will need to climb over these and the Kimmeridge Clay can be found slipped between these rocks. |
West Weare
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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Accommodation
Seaview
Family run bed & breakfast, comfortable non-smoking accommodation with tea & coffee making facilities and networked & wireless broadband in all rooms. Open all year. Private parking.
151 Weston Street, Portland, DT52DG
Tel: 01305 821573
If you would like to advertise on this page, please 'contact us'.
£10/Year or 'FREE' for return links from accommodation website pages. |
Last updated:
last visited:
Written by: |
07/03/08
2008
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks
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At West Weare cliff, fossils can be found in the slipped Kimmeridge Clay. ammonites and brachiopods are the most common find here.
Ammonite fragments can be found around the foreshore, including the example below, but it is much larger to find complete ammonites. Nodules however, do contain complete specimens but the nodules are not common!
The most common find is the tiny brachiopods which can be found in a complete layer. Other mollusc's such as bivalves can also be found. Ammonites such as Virgatopavlovia and Progalbanites can also be found from the Portland Blacknore Beds, these are the darker boulders.
Search the areas around the clay, but also try spitting the darker rocks and any nodules you see in the kimmeridge Clay.
A broken ammonite from the Kimmeridge Clay
A layer full of brachiopods
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West Weare Cliff has been a dumping site for quarry debits on the island, most of the Kimmeridge formation is covered up. Originally, the Kimmeridge Clay would have been at the base of the cliff.
Above this is the Portland Sand, with the Upper and Lower Blacknore Beds, Portland Clay, and West Weare Sandstone with the Portland Stone at the top, which can be see today. Most of the Portland Stone is of the Cherty Series, with the Freestone being right at the top...[more]
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Most of the fossils at West Weare are found by searching in the clay, fossils are usually found just waiting to be picked up. However, ammonites can also be found in nodules and for these, you will need the right tools....[more] |
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Other Locations similar to West Weare
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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.
For other locations with Portland Stone, try Dancing Ledge, Church Ope Church, Perryfield Quarry, or Freshwater Bay in Dorset
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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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