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You are currently here: Home > Fossil Locations > Scotland > Isle of Skye |
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Introduction Bearreraig Bay is located on the Eastern edge of the Isle of Skye, several miles north of the capital town of Portree. Public access to the beach is available from a small car park, located at the top of the cliff. From here a public footpath (about 250m in length) leads to the beach.
The Isle of Skye is probably the best place in Scotland to find fossils in abundance. The breathtaking scenery and towering cliffs, make the Isle of Skye a worthwhile visit.
Although the surrounding area is comprised of volcanic rock, a complete Jurassic sequence extends along the eastern edge of the isle. There are three main points of access where fossils can be easily found. The most productive is Bearreraig Bay, which the following feature is largely based on. You can also find fossils at Staffin (in the North) and Broadford (in the South), however we did not have time to visit Broadford during our trip.
Where to look for fossils?
The first place to search for fossils is Bearreraig Bay. From the car park at the top of the cliff, a small path leads down to the beach. Along the way, you can also view the local information boards, which include an introduction to the local geology (see below).
Local information board depict the geological landscape (click below)
Once you arrive at the beach, you can head either right or left, in either direction fossils can be found. During our visit we found the largest volume of fossils were to the left (North).
The first 300 meters of beach offer very few fresh exposures, however you can find evidence of belemnites and ammonites within the foreshore boulders. Once you reach the area of the beach beneath the eroding cliffs, the frequency of finds rapidly increases. Please note, these cliffs are highly unstable and should not be approached without experienced supervision.
Fresh exposures can be found to the North of the beach access
The photo above shows the area where fresh beach deposits are most common. You will also have to navigate your way across several streams... don't worry, they're only small!
Luci navigates one of several streams that cross the foreshore
For more information about the features and processes controlling coastal fossil collecting locations click here.
What fossils might you find?
The following pictures show what can be found in just half an hour. We were surprised by the high density of the rock, which made extracting specimens extremely difficult. If you find something special, it's best not to work onsite if possible. If you can work on the specimen at home you can spend your valuable time looking for fossils.
In summary, we found our visit to Bearreraig Bay very interesting. We were rather short of time due to the fading light. However, because Skye is so far North, the light lasts until well after 10pm during the summer (as can be seen in the photos above). We managed to squeeze in 2 hours of walking and searching, during which time we discovered some excellent specimens. We recommend you consider spending a day to fully appreciate the locality.
PART II Staffin Bay
Fossils can also be found at Staffin Bay, located several miles North of Bearreraig Bay, although the volume is much lower.
We managed to find a number of foreshore boulders that contained hundreds of shells (see above). It's also worth visiting this location for its magnificent scenery...
Protecting your finds
It's important to spend some time considering the best way to protect your finds onsite, in transit, on display and in storage. Prior to your visit, consider the equipment and accessories you're likely to need, as these will differ depending on the type of rock, terrain and prevailing weather conditions.
(Left) Fossil wrapped in newspaper, ready for transport. (Right) A small compartment box containing cotton wool is ideal for separating delicate specimens.
When you discover a fossil, examine the surrounding matrix (rock) and consider how best to remove the specimen without breaking it; patience and consideration are key. The aim of extraction is to remove the specimen with some of the matrix attached, as this will provide added protection during transit and future handling; sometimes breaks are unavoidable, but with care you should be able to extract most specimens intact. In the event of breakage, carefully gather all the pieces together, as in most cases repairs can be made at a later time...continued.
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