Whitehaven Fossil Collecting and Geological Guide to Cumbria and thousands of photos

Fossils and fossil collecting in
Whitehaven, Cumbria
Location summary information for collecting fossils in Whitehaven, Cumbria

Whitehaven

Whitehaven is one of the only places in the UK where fossil plants from the Carboniferous can be collected on the coast both on the foreshore and cliffs. This unique location yields some well preserved specimens.

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Location Information
	Whitehaven is a superb location for plants and is probably the most publically accessible location in the UK. There are plenty of good specimens to be found at Whitehaven either in the cliff section on simply on the foreshore.
	(Not Recommended) Whitehaven is not recommended for families. The busy railway which you will need to cross to gain access to the foreshore or tall cliffs make this location potentially dangerous. Please follow safety guidelines.
	Although Whitehaven is easy to find, plenty of parking nearby and although the cliff section is a very short walk away, some of the most accessible plant beds can be found on the foreshore. A nearby tunnel provides safe access to the shore.
	Foreshore, Cliff Whitehaven is a foreshore and cliff location, so fossils can be found in both. The cliff section is separated by railway and sea defence and is badly overgrown. However there are accessible sections where you can collect plant remains in situ.
ACCESS RIGHTS	Access is permitted DO NOT HAMMER THE CLIFF FACE

Grid Reference

British National Grid	NX 97692 20579
Degrees	54.57003°N, 3.58400°W

! IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTES !

There are two locations at Whitehaven, the first is via the old cliffs. These cliffs are now protected by the sea defence and railway track which separate them from the foreshore. These cliffs are tall and constantly crumble, please take extreme care when collecting here.

Access to the foreshore is via a tunnel nearby. This provides a safe way of getting to the fossil beds.

View full Whitehaven Fossil Guide