Isle of Wight Fossil Walks
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The Isle of Wight is one of the most important areas in the world for fossils and rocks from the last 126 million Booking is essential for all of years. There are more dinosaurs from the Isle of Wight our trips: call 01983 404344 than from anywhere else in Europe. The layers of fossil walks rocks record the rich diversity of past life and climate Locations, dates, times and costs are advertised on our website: change. www.dinosaurisle.com/events.aspx 2010 Details are also available by telephoning us on (01983) 404344. Isle of Wight Dinosaur Isle provides an annual field trip programme Please call us on (01983) 404344 to reserve a place, or drop into at places of geological and palaeontological interest the museum shop. led by on the Isle of Wight. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear – trainers, old shoes or wellingtons. In the summer consider bringing sunblock, Trips: hats and plenty of water for youngsters. Dress warmly and bring • are led by professional staff from the museum. waterproofs in the winter. Children should bring a small bag or • last up to two hours and are for all ages and groups. bucket for finds. • take place at a number of sites to ensure sustainable use. On rare occasions, trips may be cancelled due to bad weather – please leave a contact phone number when you book. The programme includes: Dogs are welcome on our trips, but must be under close control. • Fossil walks for those interested primarily in fossils, 2010 prices especially dinosaurs (these are suitable for families Adults £4.50 from the age of three up); Children (ages three to 15) £2.50 • Geowalks for those with an interest in geology and Family (two adults plus two children) £13 landscape. Family (two adults plus three children) £15 Concession (pensioners and students) £3.80 The number of sites is gradually expanding – our three most popular sites are listed previously. Why not visit If you have booked a trip it is: all three? at: Yaverland Brook Shanklin A programme of open trips is available throughout the school holidays, when tides and weather on: conditions are suitable. Closed trips for societies are Guided fossil, also possible, please contact us for further details. starting at: am / pm geology and landscape walks meeting at: In order to conserve our sites for future generations with expert please do not collect more fossils than is necessary. for: Adults Children guides from Collect only loose objects from the beach. Do not climb, or collect fossils from the cliffs (many of which Dinosaur Isle are protected by law). Dinosaur Isle, Culver Parade, Dinosaur Isle, Culver Parade, Sandown, Isle of Wight PO36 8QA (01983) 404344 Sandown, Isle of Wight PO36 8QA www.dinosaurisle.com/events.aspx Tel: (01983) 404344 www.dinosaurisle.com background illustration by the renowned natural history artist John Sibbick 1195ENV Yaverland Shanklin Brook Bay The rocks at Yaverland were deposited as far back as The rocks at Shanklin were deposited in shallow warm Brook Bay is the site of the oldest rocks and fossils exposed 124 million years ago; on former river floodplains, in lakes seas about 113 million years ago. on the Isle of Wight. along coasts, and in deep warm seas. Large fossilized oysters, shell nests and wood from nearby The purple, blue and pink sediments of the cliffs There have been some great finds on this beach – bits of land show that it was formerly coastline. and foreshore were deposited on an ancient pterosaurs, crocodiles and dinosaurs. We are likely to find river floodplain around 126 million years ago. Orchids were once collected from near this site and sent to sponges from the Chalk, varieties of shells, fossil wood, Charles Darwin to aid his research into evolution. Dinosaurs like the giant Iguanodon, armoured dinosaur poo and maybe small bits of rolled dinosaur Polacanthus and the rare meat-eaters walked bone. These fossils can tell us much about the changing At the end of the walk there are fantastic views of this ancient landscape and left behind evidence environments of the past. Sandown Bay and Luccombe Bay. in the form of footcasts and tracks. The site is within walking distance of the museum. Meet at Lazy Waves Cafe, Esplanade, Shanklin. Meet at Brook Chine car park (the National Trust gravel Meet at Dinosaur Isle, Culver Parade, Sandown, PO37 6BN postcode for sat nav users. car park), Military Road (A3055), Brook. Parking also along the Esplanade, and in PO36 8QA postcode for sat nav users. PO30 4EX meeting point is 500 metres west of this Esplanade Gardens and Hope Road car parks. postcode for sat nav users. Sandown From Ryde Isle of From Bembridge From Sandown Car parks From Freshwater Bay Car parks railway Wight Zoo station Shanklin Toilets railway station Parade Culver de Yaverland eld a Mi n a litar l trip site (meet at p y s R Dinosaur Isle Dinosaur Isle) E oad Hanover point Sandown Pier From Newport From Shanklin/ Newport Shanklin Chine Shanklin eld trip site Brook Chine eld trip site Bus stops (meet at southern slipway, (meet at gravel car park 500 From Ventnor From Niton Car parks by roundabout) metres east of Hanover point) and IW Pearl.