"Whilst any good ironmonger can supply cold chisels and strong knives or trowels, he is very unlikely to have safe and suitable hammers in stock. The steel of ordinary domestic and many trade hammers is far too soft for use on most rocks. It will splinter and flying fragments of steel can cause nasty wounds, particularly to the eyes, not only of the hammerer but also of his companions." Fossils in Colour - 1967 - J.F. Kirkaldy, D.Sc. Formally Head of the Department of Geology, Queen Mary College London.

Hinkley is a bit of an unpredictable location, sometimes you can come away with nothing and other times buckets full. Much depends on beach conditions, but always take the right tools or one day your get caught out!

Picks: A pick is very handy at Lilstock for on the foreshore, to easily removing fossils from the clays exposed on the foreshore.

Chisel Picks: Ideal for splitting rocks on the foreshore, chisel picks are more accurate than standard Geological hammers.

Chisels: Standard cold chisels are ideal for Lilstock, It is best to take a wide splitting chisel, a standard 1" and a smaller chisel for finer work. These will be fine for splitting the rocks.

Specimen Bags: These are ideal for collecting from Lilstock. Sealable Clear Specimen Bags can hold your finds. These can be purchased from UKGE for low prices and can easily be re-used.

Geological Bags: Strong, Waterproof and durable geological bags that last years are ideal for any keen fossil hunter. These quality bags from Estwing are ideal for bringing back those larger finds or sample bags.

Knee Pads: For all locations which are mostly based on foreshore beach combing, knee pads are ideal, they will protect your knees and also prevent you from getting so wet. Sharp rocks or beach litter will always cause a risk of injury when searching for fossils on your hands and knees. Many smaller ammonites can be collected from combing the tide line.

Footwear: Hiking Boots are recommended fine for Lilstock.