Sully fossils and fossil collecting
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 As you drive through the main high street of Sully, there are a number of roads leading to the beach (Southwards), most of these will gain easy access to the beach. You need to be on the western end of Sully, to the west of the island of Barry.
Free and easy parking is also permitted down these cul de sac roads with only a few yards to the beach.
Fossils are rarely found at this location, so this would be last on the list of places to visit. However, ammonites have been found so all you need is a little luck.
GRID REF: 51.39007°N, 3.29659°W
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Rare
It is not worth splitting triassic rocks, you won't find any fossils in these, but you can use a heavy hammer to split any Jurassic rocks. You may also need a chisel if you wish to split a rock that contains any fossils. |
Older Children
Sully is suitable for older children, the foreshore is rocky. Please note, fossils from this location are rare. |
Foreshore
Fossils are found in boulders which are all over the foreshore. These boulders are from the Blue Lias further up the coast. |
No Restrictions
There are no restrictions at this site, hammering and collecting is permitted. However we ask that you follow our fossil code of conduct which can be found in the link below. |
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. Tidal conditions need to be taken note of if visiting the island, and good time must be allowed to return. It is very easy to become cut off. |
Last updated:
last visited:
Written by: |
22/07/08
2003
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks
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Fossils are uncommon at Sully, most of the rocks are extremely hard Triassic rocks which make up most of the foreshore. Along the beach, Jurassic boulders can be seen and these can contain fossils. Sully has interesting geology and the beds here are fascinating to see, but it is not a good location for collecting, although you may find the occasional shell or ammonite.
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Jurassic, 200mya |
Triassic rocks are also at Sully
The blue boulders at Sully are of the Lower Lias, similar to those of Watchet which of course it just across the Bristol Channel. These are early blue lias, and have come from further up the coast.
The small cliffs and foreshore exposures are Triassic of the Mercia Mudstone Group of the Sully Beds and are unfossilferous....[more]
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Stone Tumblers |
Microscopes |
Test Sieves for Microfossils |
If you are interested in fossil collecting, then you may also be interested in a stone tumbler (Lapidary). You can polish stones and rocks from the beach which
will look fantastic polished using a stone tumbler.
You can polish rough rock and beach glass whilst collecting fossils, on those days where you come back empty handed.
These are all high quality machines to give a professional finish to your samples. They can even be used for amber and fossils. |
At most locations, you can find microfossils. You only need a small sample of the sand. You then need to wash it in water and sieve using a test sieve. Once the sand is processed, you can then view the contents using a microscope.
We have a wide range of microscopes for sale, you will need a Stereomicroscope for viewing microfossils. The best one we sell is the IMXZ, but a basic microscope will be fine. Once you have found microfossils, you will need to store these microfossils.
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Test Sieves are used when searching for microfossils. Microfossils can be found in many locations, and all you need is a small amount of sample such as clays, sands and shales, or if you have acid, limestone, oolite or chalk.
Our UKGE Store sells Endecotts Test Sieves, which are the highest in accuracy and extremely durable and long lasting. These Test Sieves are fantastic for microfossils. Endecotts Test Sieves come in a variety of sizes, frame material and types, they are certificated to EU Standards. |
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