Thorness Bay fossils and fossil collecting
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Medium-Low
The centre of the bay has been disturbed by recent Palaeogene deposits, with the only exposures to the North and South of the bay. These exposures tend to be badly slipped and somewhat overgrown. The formation is also much thinner than those at Hamstead and Yarmouth, meaning that fossils tend to be much less common.
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Older children
This location can sometimes contain some mud flats, which can be dangerous. We therefore only suggest that older children, supervised by an adult, visit this location. |
Fair but Long Walk
This location is fairly easy to access, but can be a fair walk. You have to park at Gurnard Bay, and walk south, as there is no access from Thorness Bay as these are private roads with no authorised access. |
Foreshore, Cliffs
Fossils are mostly found along the foreshore. You can also take samples from the cliff where microfossils can be found. At the base of the cliff, the famous insect bed can be seen at the North end of the bay, although this can often be obscured by sand. |
No Restrictions
There are no restrictions at this location, but please follow the our UK Fossils Code of Conduct.
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Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. Care should be taken of tides at all locations. The sea does reach the base of the cliff, so ensure you return before the tide turns. Also, there are often some very deep mud flats at the lower part of the foreshore which must be avoided. |
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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| Last updated: |
2010 |
| last visited: |
2006 |
| Written by: |
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks |
Locations similar to Thorness Bay
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If you enjoyed collecting Crocodile and Turtle remains, nearby Hamstead and Yarmouth, are much more productive. The famous insect bed at this location, is better exposed at Gurnard Point. For more Bembridge Locations, try Bembridge and Bembridge Quarry.
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| Most fossils can be easily picked up without any tools. You may need a pick and hammer for any blocks of the insect bed, and if taking samples, a trowel and sample bags would be needed. |
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The area between Gurnard Bay and Thorness Bay is a classic location, famous for the Bembridge Insect Bed. Today, this bed seems to have become less productive, but non-the less, blocks of the bed can still be found in favourable conditions.
The centre of Thorness Bay is unfossiliferious, since these are disturbed by recent Palaeogene deposits. However, fossil remains of crocodiles and turtles can be found along the foreshore throughout the bay, washed from the Hamstead Beds at either end of the bay and from Hamstead to Yarmouth. These can be easily picked up along the foreshore, although they are much less common than from the main Hamstead to Yarmouth sequence.
At the southern and northern ends of the bay, a low cliff will provide some exposures (although mostly slipped), of the Hamstead Beds. The Bembridge Marls also yields crocodile and turtle remains on the foreshore, including a complete turtle that was found a few years ago. Samples can be taken of these Marls, for sieving at home.
During scouring conditions and below beach level, the Bembridge Insect Bed can be seen. This is a bed with grey to blue-green laminated muds with a destructive buff and blue grained limestone and marl. This bed used to be highly productive but has become less productive in recent years. Over 200 insects species have been recorded together with some delicate fossils such as bird feathers. These fossils are found within a limestone bed.
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Oligocene,Eocene 33mya |
The Bouldnor Formation and Bembridge Marls at Thorness Bay
The northern and southern cliffs are part of the 'Bouldnor Formation'. Only the lower part of the formation is present here which is the Hamstead Member. The Bembridge Marls starts below beach level, in which blocks of the famous Bembridge Insect Bed can be seen, especially during scouring conditions. The Bouldnor Formation is of Oligocene age, and the Bembrige Marl is of Eocene age...[more]
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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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Gurnard Bay is West of Cowes. Follow the coastal road (Marsh Road) from Cowes to Gurnard where you will find limited parking at the end of the road. 
