Trimingham fossils and fossil collecting

Trimingham can be easily missed as it is accessed down a track road. Drive towards Trimingham, heading towards Cromer, you will discover a large hill with a military base, a giant 'Golf Ball' shaped dome will appear.
Before you reach the golf ball and half way up this hill a small turning right, (Vale Lane), follow down and then a sharp left at the interception to Tarmaced Road, and this will eventually take you down to the beach with a large amount of parking space at the bottom.
The car park area actually sits on top of the chalk erratic. d you will see the chalk formations.

GRID REF: TG 29976 37794

mammal remains, belemnites.

Trimingham has the youngest chalk in UK mainland; a few shells can be collected from the small cliff face. The chalk has actually been tilted and folded by glaciation, and is a geologically important site. Easy access onto the beach, although the road turning is easily missed.

Medium

Whilst fossils are fairly common from this location, they tend to be mostly of small oysters. Sometimes the chalk can become rather dirty, as the sea defence prevents the beds being kept fresh, but a good period of heavy rain keeps the faces clean.

Suitable for Children

This location is suitable for children, the wooden sea baffles provide an idea sea-fence for young children and ensures you cannot be cut off. A sandy beach is ideal for families; just remember to keep away from the cliff edge.

Very Good Access

This site is an important site as it is the youngest chalk in the UK. This needs to be protected for future generations. No hammering the bedrock.

Foreshore, Cliffs

Most fossils are found in the foreshore gravel exposures, foreshore clays and in the areas of rock and shingle. Trimingham has cliffs, but you are more likely to find fossils on the foreshore.

SSSI, No Hammering

This site is an important site as it is the youngest chalk in the UK. This needs to be protected for future generations. No hammering the bedrock.

Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. The main issue one should be aware of is any falling rocks. The small cliff section is badly weathered and it very brittle, hard hats are recommended.

Last updated:	2011
last visited:	2011
Written by:	Alister and Alison Cruickshanks

Other locations similar to Trimingham

For other nearby locations that are similar, try Overstrand, or Sidestrand.

The most common find at Trimingham is small oysters, the occasional belemnite and brachiopods. What makes this site so interesting is this chalk would normally be deep below the surface and inaccessible. However glacial processes have tilted and folded the chalk. It is the youngest chalk in the UK and more commonly associated with the chalk of Denmark. This is a small section of cliff and foreshore exposures if you are lucky.

The chalk cliffs are now protected from a sea defence as part of the general sea defence along this part of the coastline. Because of this, they can sometimes appear rather dirty, although heavy rain soon cleans the faces again.

Using a small knife, you can easily pick the fossils out of the chalk. The chalk, being the youngest is extremely soft, and is also ideal for searching for microfossils since it breaks down exceptionally well in water.


Oysters are commonly found at Trimingham ....[more]

	Cretaceous, 67mya
The chalk which has been tilted and folded by glaciation, is the youngest chalk in the UK, being Maastrichtian age (more famously found in Denmark). It would normally be several metres below the surface and inaccessible, but having been disturbed by glacial processes, the chalk here forms a small cliff and foreshore exposures (although these are rarely seen)...[more]

The Chalk is very soft and usually the best tool to take is a knife. A pick comes in very handy when clearing the facing which has been weathered badly and very brittle. The fossils are fairly fragile but are usually quite small so a small container.....

Metal Polishing

Meteorites

Microscopy

Metal Barrelling Machines are used for de burring, polishing, cleaning or removing surface scratches from metal and jewellery.

These are ideal for cleaning or polishing a variety of metals including brass, silver, steel and gold. They can be used for silver clay and other hobbies.

The machines have a barrel with special fins inside, which helps turn the metal round, to polish or debur. We sell a variety of different sized machines from hobby to commercial.

Meteorites can be found all over the world. Often, large pieces are broken down either naturally or by hand, or sliced and sold as small fragments, each fall is well documented. Meteorites are very collectable, especially ones of Mars or Moon rocks.

We sell Meteorites, which are in stock and mostly come in a display boxs. Our meteorites are from all over the world and include Mars and Moon Meteorites, and rocks from outer space. For more information, please see our meteorite page.

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.