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Harry Rocks, East Dorset, the Jurassic Coast provides 95 miles and 185 million years of Earth history. The stunning coastline spans the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and its entire length can be walked on the South West Coast Path.
The Jurassic Coast D
eclared a Natural World Heritage Site in 2001, and stretching from Orcombe Point, East Devon to Old
To the east of Weymouth there are interesting walks and beaches where you can see the fascinating changes in the rocks, from erosion and fossilised burrows to ancient marine animals, which you don’t have to be a geologist to enjoy! Children can imagine the tropical seas and dinosaur infested swamps that once covered the land; trace fossils around Osmington Mills and, if you’re lucky, see dinosaur footprints and trackways in Purbeck. The famous arch of Durdle Door is one of the Jurassic
Coast’s well known landmarks, and at Lulworth Cove an extraordinary Fossil Forest can be seen on the cliff edge to the east. The ‘doughnut-shaped’ structures were made from trees that once grew and were then submerged in swamps. Above the Fossil Forest lie the Purbeck Beds, a series of rocks
that formed when conditions were harsh and hot and where dinosaurs once roamed. Chesil Beach, with the Fleet behind it, is one of the finest
barrier beaches in the world and there are still debates over its formation today. The shingle banks link the mainland to Portland, where old quarries provide a glimpse of the historical Portland stone workings. At the start of the Jurassic period a massive rise in sea
levels around the world flooded the Triassic landscape. Marine life flourished and spiral shaped ammonites and squid-like belemnites were chased by ichthyosaurs, dolphin-like reptiles that could reach up to 8 metres in length. The beaches around Lyme Regis and nearby Charmouth are world famous for fossils. One of the most dramatic sights along the Jurassic Coast is the
stacks at Ladram Bay, East Devon. The stacks were formed from caves that over time were hollowed out by the sea, they then became arches which eventually collapsed, forming the stacks we see today. The red colour of both the stacks and the cliffs is due to iron minerals that have weathered over time, telling us that the land was once a hot desert area. For more information on this important coastline go to
www.jurassiccoast.com
© Karen Hood
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