Highcliffe is a world-famous UK fossil site dating to the mid-Eocene c.40 million years ago! The cliffs are formed of the Barton Clay Formation, a marine deposit laid down at a time when a shallow sub-tropical sea covered large areas of what is now Hampshire and the northern Isle of Wight.

This sea was home to a rich marine ecosystem, and today a diverse array of fossils can be found along Highcliffe’s shores, including a shark teeth, ray plates, fish bones, sea turtles, more than 500 species of beautifully preserved mollusc shells and even the extremely rare bones of early whales!

Joe Thompson is a life-long fossil hunter and palaeontologist, holding an MSci. in palaeontology and evolution from the University of Bristol. Born and raised in the New Forest, Joe works as a fossil guide across the Isle of Wight and the south, and has a wealth of knowledge on fossil hunting at Highcliffe.

Your adventure will begin at the Highcliffe Cliff Top Car park in Christchurch, before heading back into the Eocene seas with Joe. Together you’ll search for fossils of the ancient marine life that once called these seas home, and discover the fascinating geology of the Hampshire Basin!