Lilstock Fossils and Fossil Collecting
Your Somerset Geological Guide and Geology Info

Rich in Reptile remains, you can find bones at Lilstock on the foreshore and in the cliff. Complete Skeletons are regularly found. Lilstock also yields ammonites, shells and fish remains. The Lilstock Formation can also yield remains in the Triassic beds exposed along the foreshore.

This location is highly productive during winter storms for reptile remains, but ammonites and shells are less common.

(Suitable for Familes)

Although this location is suitable for families, it is most suited to the fossil enthusiast because most of the fossils can only be found during the winter storms and high tides.

Access to the beach is fairly easy, by parking at the Lilstock Car Park and walking down to the shore.

Foreshore, Cliff

This is a foreshore and cliff location, so fossils can be found in both. The vast majority of fossils are found in or at the base of the cliff after high tides, or exposed on the foreshore during scouring conditions.

Other Locations similar to Lilstock

There are many locations in the UK which can be seen to be similar to Lilstock. apart from those in the nearby proximity such as Quantoxhead, Kilve, Doniford Bay, St Audries Bay, Watchet, and Hinkley Point.

In Dorset, you can find fossils from the Lias around Charmouth, Chippel Bay, Seatown (Golden Cap), Thorncombe Beacon and Lyme Regis, In South Wales, you can also try Llantwit Major, and Lavernock. There are plenty of good locations along the Yorkshire Coast too, such as Saltwick Bay, Staithes, Port Mulgrave, Kettleness, Whitby, Ravenscar, Runswick Bay, Sandsend, and many more.

If you are interested in the Rhaetic Beds similar to that of the Lilstock Formation, you can also try Blue Anchor in Somerset. Other good locations include Hock Cliff which is along along the River Severn, this time in Gloucestershire and Aust. Another famous location is Lavernock or Penarth both in South Wales.