THE DEVELOPMENT OF jurassiccoast. org SCIENTIFIC IDEAS WORLD HERITAGE COAST During the early 19th century this area was southampton.ac.uk/~imw LOCATIONS: the cauldron for the development of geological and other scientific ideas INTRODUCTION because of the numerous finds of fossils such as the marine reptiles found by Mary WALKING THE COAST FROM Anning in the rocks around Lyme Regis. WEST TO EAST IS LIKE TAKING EDUCATION FOR ALL AGES AN ESCALATOR THROUGH PART OF GEOLOGICAL TIME. The World Heritage Coast is very important for the education of students of all ages and all levels to help them understand earth science ideas and how these have evolved through time. USEFUL RESOURCES: Maps: Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer Maps 115 and 116, Outdoor Leisure 15, Purbeck and South Dorset.

British Geological Survey Maps Sheet 339 Newton Abbot, 326 Sidmouth, 327 Bridport., Weymouth sheet 342, Swanage sheet 343

Books: Geology of the Dorset Coast. Michael House. Geologists’ Association.

Mesozoic Fossils. British Museum (Natural History). This book is very useful for Houns-tout, looking towards Worbarrow identifying many of the fossils found along Bay and beyond to Weymouth, Dorset. the Dorset Coast. Email [email protected] Coast and Country Geological Walks in and around Dorset CD. DGAG ©Alan Holiday 2011

Websites: dorsetgeologistsassociation.org Ladram Bay to Sidmouth, Devon Kimmeridge. Check details in other rocks of Mesozoic age from the beginning WHAT’S SPECIAL leaflets in this series and also the sources of the Triassic to the end of the of information cited in this leaflet. Cretaceous formed from about 250 million ABOUT THE ‘JURASSIC’ years ago to about 70 million year ago. COAST? WHY WAS IT 3. Facilities. The Gateway Towns The rocks are all sedimentary in origin but have facilities open throughout the year they were formed in a variety of DESIGNATED AS A but the lesser centres may have limited environments including continental fluvial facilities especially in the middle of the (river) and aeolian (desert) as well as WORLD HERITAGE winter. Good quality services are normally marine environments of varying types. available from Easter until the end of Fluctuations in conditions can be related SITE? October although it is hoped that the to the latitude of the British Isles through growth of out of season tourism will mean geological time and the relative that such services will be available distribution of land and sea. The World Heritage Site, often called the throughout the year. ‘Jurassic’ Coast (although this is technically THE FOSSILS a misnomer) extends from Orcombe Rocks, HEALTH & SAFETY As you travel from west to east along the just to the east of the Exe Estuary at Without wishing to cause alarm to the visitor coast these rocks are exposed in Exmouth (Devon), 85 miles (135 km.) to the there are a number of hazards of which you association with world class fossil sites. Old Harry Rocks between Swanage and should be aware: There are ten such sites along the World Studland (Dorset). This UNESCO site is Heritage Coast. These sites include those comparable in status with the Grand 1. Falling cliffs – from above and associated with the finding of marine Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef and Giant’s below you when walking the coast. reptiles such as ichthyosaurs and Causeway. plesiosaurs. These and other fossils have 2. Being cut off by tides. given an unprecedented understanding of HOW TO GET THERE: the evolution of life during the Mesozoic 1. Location: Orcombe Rocks, Devon 3. Uneven rocks. Era. GR SX 020794 to Old Harry Rocks, Dorset 4. Storm waves. THE LANDFORMS GR SZ 054826. The coastline is famous for many major Some of the cliffs are steep and are affected 2. Access is gained via a number of landforms including Chesil Beach and the by mass movement especially in winter. Fleet as well as Lulworth Cove, Stair Hole, Gateway Towns and other lesser centres. When walking below these cliffs high tides The main access points, from west to east Durdle Door and the stacks of Old Harry . may cut you off – so check the tide times There are also outstanding landslips such are Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, before you walk the coast. Check the Sidmouth, Seaton, Lyme Regis, as those at Black Ven and between weather forecast before you walk the coast Axmouth and Lyme Regis. Charmouth, West Bay, Weymouth, too. Portland and Swanage. Other access points include Ladram Bay, Branscombe, THE GEOLOGY Beer, Seatown, Burton Bradstock, West The Dorset and East Devon Coast has Bexington, Abbotsbury, Osmington Mills, world renowned continuous exposure of Ringstead, Lulworth, Tyneham and