Bracklesham Bay fossils and fossil collecting

Take the B2198 to Bracklesham and East Wittering. The road heads straight to the Seafront and right into a large car park.
Simply park here then walk down to the shore. Toilets and a small café is also provided on site.
Remember the Bracklesham Formation is not always exposed on the foreshore.
This location is ideal for families with children and is a classic site.
You must visit on a falling tide, the best time to collect is just before low tide.

GRID REF: SZ 80235 96309

Brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, fish remains, shark teeth.

There are nearly always people collecting at Bracklesham Bay. Fossils can simply be picked up, washed up on top of the sand, you can normally come back with bags full of decent finds. During scouring tides the formation is exposed and the beach is covered in shark and ray teeth, and bivalve shells.

Very High

Fossils at Bracklesham can often be found in most conditions, simply lying in the sand on the foreshore, the best conditions are scouring tides especially during the spring.

Suitable for children

Bracklesham Bay is the best location in the UK for children. A sandy beach, shallow water, easy access and fossils found lying on top of the sand. No wonder so many schools visit every year.

Easy Access

Easy to find, and parking right on the seafront, this has to be one of the most easily accessible locations in the UK. A flat, sandy beach, makes it ideal for everyone.

Foreshore

Fossils at Bracklesham Bay are found simply lying in the sand on the foreshore, the best conditions are scouring tides especially during the spring which exposes the clay below beach level.

No Restrictions

There are no restrictions at this location, but please follow our own code of conduct for all locations.

Bracklesham Bay
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

Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. There are no cliffs here, but the dangers are soft clay during scouring condition. During these conditions which can occur during the early spring and early autumn, it can be easy to get stuck and consequently, tide then becomes a danger.

Last updated:	2012
last visited:	2012
Written by:	Alister and Alison Cruickshanks

Other Locations similar to Bracklesham Bay

If you are interested in other similar Eocene locations, you can try
Barton-on-Sea or Taddiford Gap in Hampshire, Harwich in Essex, or Herne Bay in Kent which has both Shells and Sharks Teeth, or Nacton, Bognor Regis, Ramsholt, Bawdsey, Maylandsea, Levington, Burnham on Crouch. Isle of Sheppey or Walton-on-Naze which are London Clay Locations, a similar age to Bracklesham. In London Abbey Wood is also a great place for shark's teeth.

At Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight, the Bracklesham Beds are also exposed.


Bracklesham Regis is a popular location for shark and ray teeth, bivalves and gastropods. From the Bracklesham Group, a wide variety of species of shark, and molluscs can be found. Fish remains are also common here. Bracklesham is an ideal location for children and all the family. You can simply walk along the beach and pick up fossils in the sand. During scouring conditions, you can wet sieve the Bracklesham Formation which can be exposed along the beach. You will need to visit on a retreating tide, preferably one hour before low tide to give enough time to look. Even if you don’t find shark teeth, you should at least come away with some nice shells. Fossils washed from the Bracklesham Beds are found all over the sand

Eocene, 48mya

At Bracklesham Bay, the Eocene age Bracklesham Group beds are exposed below beach level. This gives a plentiful supply of fossils. During scouring conditions, clay and sand formations can be seen exposed on the foreshore. The Bracklesham Group is divided into four beds, which are all present here. Walking East and West from the car park will cover these beds. These are, from West to East, ‘Wittering Formation’, ‘Earnley Sand’, ‘Marsh Farm Formation’ and finally the ‘Selsey Sand’. These are around 40.5 to 49.5 million years old....[more]


Large bivalves are commonly found sitting on the sand.....[more]

The fossils from Bracklesham Bay are found on the foreshore, and all you will need is good eyes. Hammers etc are NOT required, however a trowel with a long handle are especially useful.

Geological Tools

Microscopes

Test Sieves for Microfossils

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Everything you need from books to geological maps, and sieves to chemicals to treat fossils.

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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. We also sell petri dishes, to help you store your fossils.

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.