Part of the World Heritage Jurassic Coast, one of the most famous locations for collecting fossils in the world, fossils such as ammonites, reptiles, fish and belemnites can be collected along the foreshore. Charmouth is ideal for children.

Probably the most commercialised fossil town in the world. Plenty of fossil shops, museums and places offering guided walks. Ideal for children. Ammonites can be picked up from on the foreshore at Lyme Regis along with many other fossils.

During scouring tides, Seatown turns into an 'ammonite kingdom', they can be simply picked up along the foreshore, ideal for children. There is also a superb pub with spectacular views of Golden Cap. Fossils can be found all year round.

Thorncombe Beacon Yields everything from many species of ammonites, shells including brachiopods, bivalves, pectin's, some superb starfish specimens, crinoids, belemnites and much more. However you often have to work for them.

Locals wait months for 'Burton to fall', and when she does, her rich ammonite beds yield superb finds, bags to bring home. Cliff falls occur once every 2-3 years, fossils can be collected from the rocks on the foreshore or any scree slopes.

One of the most dangerous locations for fossil hunting, the tides have cut many people off in the past. Kimmeridge is rich in ammonites, reptiles and shells. Chapman's pool area is the safest place to look, but is still not suitable for children.

Chapmans Pool is rich in ammonites, reptiles and shells, it is a very long walk down to the beach, but the fossils are often rewarding. It is best to visit during summer months when the tides are not so rough, otherwise you have limited time.

Similar zones to the Lias of Church Cliffs, the formation continues at Chippel Bay. Ammonites and reptile remains can be found on the foreshore. You need to good scour to find any decent fossils. This Jurassic location is suitable for children.

If you are interested in microfossils, tiny mammal remains, turtle shell fragments, crocodile skin fragments and fish remains, Durlston Bay is ideal. It is also a good location to take samples for wet sieving. Don't forget your field lens when visiting.

Continuing from Seatown, the Dorset Junction Bed, yields plenty of ammonites but will require some hard work with a sledge hammer. Many fossils are also poorly preserved, but decent specimens do turn up. Not suitable for children.

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.

Where else do you get to collect fossils from the Upper, Middle and Lower Chalk and Greensand within just a few metres? This location is superb for its geology but also for its cretaceous ammonites and other fossils.

The Oxford Clay at Bowleaze Cove yields ammonites and is rich in reptile remains. The Giant fossil Oyster shells are also plentiful. This location is best during scouring tides, though during these times you will need wellington boots.

Lulworth Cove, is a popular tourist location, and its famous 'Fossil Forest' can be seen at low tide. Ideal for children and makes a whole day out. Fossils are however less common than other Dorset Locations nearby.

Another Jurassic Location where ammonites can be found. The ammonites from Osmington Mills can be quite worn and hard work is required to get them out of the rocks, sometimes if your lucky you may find one lying on the foreshore.

If your looking for an alternative to coastal locations, this riverside site is rich in fossils from the Kimmerige Clay. The Giant Oysters similar to Bowleaze Cove can be found plentiful. shells and reptile remains can also be found. Wear Boots.

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.

Watton Cliff is an excellent location for collecting microfossils, you will need a microscope to view the finds once you process your samples. Mammals, fish, reptiles, ostracods, plant remains and crinoid remains are all commonly found.

Poxwell Quarries is an old, very overgrown quarry, but a small outcrop still has the productive Purbeck beds that yield its well documented insect remains. You can also find fish remains, ostracods and small shells. You will need a microscope for viewing the finds.

The famous plant beds from the Poole Formation used to be found at Bounemouth, but after the sea defence was constructed, this bed gradually became obscured, today it can hardly be seen. However, the Poole Formation can also be found at Studland Bay, which also yields some plant remains.

An alternative to the many Jurassic sites of Dorset, this Cretaceous site, yields fossils from the chalk, echinoid's, bivalves, brachiopods and ammonites can be found. Fossils are however, less common than other Chalk locations.

Dancing Ledge used to be a coastal quarry, the views are stunning even if the fossils are poorly preserved. You can stand on 'Dancing Ledge' watching the waves crash into the cliff. A location worth a visit just for the views.

West Bay continues from West Bay but is much less productive since the Oolite Beds are much thinner and cliff falls are not common. Fossil shells and poorly preserved ammonites can be found in the Bridport Sands.

This location is badly overgrown and could do with a good wash out. The Oxford Clay here, has yielded Ichthyosaurus, Crocodile and Crustacean remains in the past, but little has been found for several years.

This working quarry on Portland has a giant ammonite at the gates, ammonites can be found but most quarries sell these on and so do not allow collectors to collect these finds. However, trace fossils and mollusc's can be seen in the Basal Shell Bed.

Freshwater Bay is the best place on the Isle of Portland to access the Portland Stone. Here mollusc's and ammonites can be found, although the later is not common, along with trace fossils. You can collect from the cliff-top quarry or from the foreshore.

Church Ope Cove is a peaceful location where you can find bivalves, oysters, trace fossils and ammonites, however it is difficult to access as the headlands which need to be passed are very rocky. You should however be able to find plenty of blocks containing the basal shell bed, full of bivalves.

Portland Bill is the islands main attraction, and it has rocks scattered around that contain fossils. The fossils are not very well preserved and only oysters and bivalves can be found along with trace fossils, but is a nice location for a short visit.

Horn Park Quarry was one of the best locations for Inferior Oolite. Today, you can view the once, productive beds as a small outcrop, but collecting is not permitted. Large ammonites were very common in excellent condition.