Yaverland beach. Copyright Gretta Schifano
Family fossil walks
The thing is with fossil hunting that you never know what you’ll find. The end of winter is the best time of year to go – I learnt this on a guided family fossil walk on Yaverland beach in the Isle of Wight. I was were there with my husband and the youngest one October while the eldest was on her Spanish exchange trip. Our guide, Martin, explained that the winter weather causes cliff erosion which can reveal dinosaur fossils. I imagine that when it’s safe to venture out once the current weather in Southern England settles down there will be some interesting new fossil discoveries.
Fossil finds
Martin led our small group along the sandy beach explaining what to look for and entertaining us with tales of the dinosaur fossils which have been found here over the years. The thrilling thing is that anyone can find these fossils: it’s just about being in the right place at the right time. A few years ago nine year-old Isle of Wight resident Daisy Morris had a pterosaur named after her – Vectidraco daisymorrisae – because she’d found the fossilised remains of a previously unknown species four years earlier.
125 million years ago there were lots of dinosaurs in this area and their fossils can now be found around the island. Martin told us to look for anything black and show it to him, because it could be the fossilised remains of dinosaurs or of wood from log jams.
Fossil hunting, Isle of Wight. Copyright Gretta Schifano
As I listened I became more and more determined to find a dinosaur fossil. We all kept spotting black things on the sand and showing them to Martin. I found a little black stoney thing which he said was a fossilised cast from inside a bivalve. Then I spotted an interesting grey, ridged stone which was pronounced a 100 million year old ‘gutter cast’ – apparently these can form in the dips left in the sand by water. The walk felt like an intensely absorbing treasure hunt.
Dinosaur Isle
Our fossil walk began at Dinosaur Isle, a purpose-built museum which houses the island’s fossil and geological collection. Dinosaur Isle is well worth a visit and its expert paleontologists can help you identify any fossils you show them. Although it was sunny when we set off on our walk it slowly became so windy that we had to turn back. We plodded along against the force of the wind, still hoping to find a dinosaur fossil. The youngest was cold and fed up by this point and I was starting to think we’d never find one when Martin took pity on us and gave me a dinosaur fossil he’d just found which is millions of years old. It’s the one with the black centre at the front of the picture:
Collected from Yaverland beach. Copyright Gretta Schifano
It’s fossilised dinosaur poo and it made my day.
Cost
Our Dinosaur Isle guided family fossil walk cost £5 for adults, £3.70 for children and is bookable in advance. To find out more about fossil hunting in the UK check out the UK Fossils Network website which also has a helpful fossil hunting code of conduct.
More on the Isle of Wight
You can read more about our trip in these posts:
Things to do in the Isle of Wight with kids
Secret rocket testing in the Isle of Wight
A family friendly hotel in the Isle of Wight
Family car review – a Skoda Yeti on the Isle of Wight
Holiday snaps: Yaverland, Isle of Wight
Disclosure: We were guests of Dinosaur Isle for the purposes of this review.
Stunning scenes. My son is mad about all things prehistoric so he would love a spot of fossil hunting.
Emily @amummytoo recently posted…Win a set of food canisters and a bread bin from Brabantia’s Platinum range
What a great thing to do –
‘travel inspiration’ indeed!
can’t wait to get back to the Isle of Wight and follow in your tracks!
Emma.
🙂
Want to take the kids fossil hunting but our local beaches are all out of bounds at the moment
Kara recently posted…Bigjigs Fantasyland Jigsaw Puzzle
this looks like so much fun! We used to go fossil hunting as children, can’t wait to do it with Wilf when he’s a bit older
Fritha recently posted…Brighton, weekend in pictures
This kind of activity makes me so excited to get out exploring. I was dinosaur obsessed as a kid and I would love to do this. On a similar vein I’ve recently become interested in history and I follow a mudlarking group on Facebook and love seeing what they uncover at low tide on the banks of the Thames – quite often they find fossils in addition to medieval shoes and Roman coins….makes me quite giddy. Thanks for a interesting post that I’m pinning for future reference. Sam x
Sam @happyhomebird recently posted…Sunny winter walk
Would LOVE to do this with my little boy! And can imagine him giggling his head off at dinosaur poo 😉
MummyNeverSleeps recently posted…She’s Hearing Voices
When my son was young we used to go fossil hunting. The Isle of Wight is a lovely place to visit 🙂
How amazing is that – I’d love to do that x
Cass@frugalfamily recently posted…#PerfectSunday – Cinnamon Toast Recipe….
This makes me think of Geology lessons. Must have been very exciting – glad you got the old poo in the end!
Trish – Mum’s Gone To recently posted…First column goes live
Looks like you had lots of fun .x
Well now this dinosaur poo has also made my day. How freaking cool.
Mrs. Chasing the Donkey recently posted…Croatian cures you need to know!
What a great excursion, ideal for all the family with the added excitement of discovery. How wonderful to have a dinosaur named after you – what a claim to fame for little Daisy. Thanks for linking up and sharing your outdoor adventure with Country Kids.
Coombemill – Fiona recently posted…Silent Sunday / Project 52
Oooh, looks FANTASTIC! My kids would love that. x
Emma recently posted…A Day in Year R
Wow! I used to love finding fossils. Your post has brought back lots of lovely memories of my childhood :-). Looks like you had a great time!
Bek recently posted…Weekend Box
I grew up on the Isle of Wight so used to go fossil hunting every weekend with my parents 🙂
Jenny recently posted…My Bathtime Fun Squad
Looks like you had a successful fossil hunting day! popping over from #CountryKids
Mumof2.com recently posted…50 things to do before you are 11 and 3/4 – update
Those look really impressive. My youngest son has developed a passion for fossils recently – I will show him your photos! I’m not well travelled at all – I would love to visit the Isle of Wight.
TwinsplusTwo recently posted…Feminism? I prefer Realism!
I didn’t realise there was such an excursion, my Lewis would love this..I have also wanted to visit Isle of Wight for a while now.. looks beautiful.
Tanya recently posted…YOU Beauty Discovery Box – February
I so need to do this – it’s so close to me that I have no excuse!
Love All Blogs recently posted…365 #6 {Signs of Spring…}
I’d forgotten that the Isle Of Wight is well known for its fossils. We are planning a weekend on the island in a couple of months, might have to include this in the trip!
Clare Mansell recently posted…Little Adventures… On The Beach
Wow that is so awesome! I’d love to do that some day 😀
Charlotte recently posted…Bath time bubbles with Thomas & Friends