Yorkshire Coast
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Find out more about why the Yorkshire east coast is called the 'Fossil Coast'. What's been found..? What could you find now...? Where's the best places to look...?
A whole stretch of the Yorkshire east coast is known as the 'Dinosaur Coast', the 'Fossil Coast' or the 'Jurassic Coast'.
- This is a stretch of coastline around 35 miles long, which stretches right from Staithes in the north, to Flamborough in East Yorkshire.
- Some of the fossils found are 120 million years old - now that's truly impressive!
- This coast does attract quite a lot of fossil hunters to the beaches and cliffs, and there are special guides and trails to follow, to understand and get the most of the area (...more on this later).
- Here's what's been found at the Yorkshire coast (so far..!):
Whitby:- Dinosaur footprints: these are still visible on the beach. You do need to know where to look, as they can be easily missed.
- Completely fascinating to be able to see the imprint of where a real dinosaur actually ran across the mud flats, don't you think..?
Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay:
- Prehistoric:
- fish
- lizards
- crocodiles
Ravenscar:
- Prehistoric:
- leaves
- flowers
- ferns
Scarborough (Castle headland):- Prehistoric:
- ammonites
- bivalves
- starfish
Filey Brigg:
- Prehistoric corals in the cliffs
Filey to Bempton:
- Prehistoric ammonites
Bempton to Flamborough:
- Prehistoric:
- sea urchins
- corals
- sharks' teeth
- Whitby is also the home of the famous 'Whitby jet'. Jet is a black, precious stone. It is very rare, and Whitby jet is believed to be the best quality of jet available. If you stroll down the old-fashioned streets of Whitby, you will see lots of the beautiful jet pieces for sale - pretty little ornaments, and gorgeous jewellery...
The first time I ever went to Whitby, it was my birthday, and Ian bought me a lovely little jet cross as a present - I wear it all the time, and when we take a trip to Whitby, I do enjoy gazing in all the jet jewellery windows... in hope!!
- If you are interested in fossils, and the geological history of Yorkshire, do make a trip to Ravenscar. From here you can take the 'Ravenscar Trail' - a walk pointing out the sites of interest to fossil hunters, with interesting and easy explanantions. Find out more at The National Trust Centre at Ravenscar
- Also make a visit to the Rotunda Museum in Scarborough. This is a really attractive and unusual, little round building. Ian tells me he has spent many happy hours exploring this Rock and Fossil Museum as a child...
This isn't some stuffy, old museum with rows and rows of obscure exhibits with tiny labels. The exhibits in the Rotunda Museum are all very accessible. You can see the fossils displayed all around you (in the circular building), with the different layers and strata depicted and explained in different colours. There's lots of information, and you can also see locally found dinosaur bones displayed...
More about the Rotunda Museum...
Do take a visit - I'm sure you'll love it!
- You can also find much information about fossils found on this coast at the Whitby Museum.
More Useful Resources
Information about the best places to collect fossils along the Yorkshire coast.
I hope you enjoy your fossil exploration trips :o)
Find out more about Yorkshire in British History
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