Jurassic Coast

The Undercliff at Charmouth

Toot and I recently revisited the Jurassic Coast at Lyme Regis and Charmouth.  The cliffs are of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous eras and the Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks are highly fossiliferous.

We met our best friends from New Zealand, Hugh and Julie, who have been touring Europe on an extended holiday.  To see more of their 'Grand Tour':
http://herethere2everywhere.wordpress.com/

Hugh and Julie 'go a paddling'

Toot and I had a great time visiting Corfe Castle and Lulworth Cove, fossiling, wining and dining and generally dipping our toes in the bright blue briny sea.

All in all, it was just real nice to spend some time with our friends from the far off islands of the small flightless bird.  Lets hope we all get together again soon!

On the fossil front we managed to find some ammonites from the 'Lower Lias' at Lyme Regis and a few Jurassic belemnites from the 'Belemnite Marl' at Charmouth.

We were a little shocked at the damage which had been visited upon the large ammonites on the beach at Lyme Regis.  When we last visited Lyme, some forty years ago, there were many large and pristine ammonites exposed on a pavement of huge 'Lias' stones, alas nowadays many have been damage or lost to inept fossil collectors.  It is a shame that some visitors to this 'UNESCO World Heritage Site' choose to wield a hammer and a chisel rather than a camera!

Cliff at Lyme Regis
showing the Lower Lias formation.

A Jurassic Belemnite sticking out from a piece
of the Belemnite Marl at Charmouth

Lower Lias Ammonites Galore at Lyme Regis

For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic_Coast