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Imagine yourself strolling along the beaches of Lyme Regis in 1824. Beside you strolled a woman by the name of Mary Anning. The stroll has all the hallmarks of an uneventfully pleasant morning walk, but Anning spots something protruding from the soft mudstone cliffs. It appears to be nothing more than a piece of rock but to her well trained eyes, it represented the find of a lifetime. It would come to define the beach, and the region for centuries to come. Anning had discovered the fossilized remains of a large, carnivorous dinosaur now known as the Scelidosaurus. Let’s explore the Jurassic coast! The Jurassic Coast of England is usually considered to start at Orcombe point in the west, stretch for 95 miles along the beautiful coastlines of Devon and Dorset before terminating at Old Harry Rocks in the far east. In 2001 it was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its exceptional examples of geological formations. Geology through time Despite being called the Jurassic coast, its rock formations span the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. These rock layers provide an almost continuous record of the Mesozoic Era, spanning approximately 185 million years of geological time. The geology of the coast is complex and varied, featuring a range of rock types and formations that have been shaped by millions of years of natural processes. The Triassic period, which dates from 252 to 201 million years ago, is represented by the red sandstones and mudstones found around the East Devon coast. These rocks formed in arid desert conditions and are often rich in fossilized remains of early reptiles and amphibians. During this time, the globe would look very different to today. The supercontinent of Pangea was still a single land mass. During the Jurassic period, this small corner of Devon was on the edge of a small inland sea. The climate at the time was much hotter and drier than the present. The single solitary landmass did, however, give rise to far greater seasonal variations in temperature and weather than the present day.  As you move east along the coast, you progress into the Jurassic period, from which the region gets its name. These rocks date from about 201 to 145 million years ago. By the Jurassic, the supercontinent of Pangea had broken up into several smaller, but still super, continents. This area was on a continent called Gondwana. The area was now entirely submerged in shallow sea and as a result there is an abundance of marine fossils, including ammonites, belemnites, and marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs. This period is best represented by the limestone and shale cliffs of Dorset.  Artists impression of an Ichthyosaurs The Cretaceous period, dating from about 145 to 66 million years ago, is represented by the chalk cliffs found around the Isle of Purbeck and parts of East Devon. These rocks were also formed in warm, shallow seas so show the same abundance of fossilized sealife. This area also shows the beginnings in the fossil records of early birds and small mammals. Key sites to the Jurassic Coast The Jurassic Coast is dotted with numerous geological landmarks, each offering unique insights into Earth’s history. Lyme Regis Known as the “Pearl of Dorset,” the seaside town of Lyme Regis is famous for its fossil-rich beaches and cliffs. Lyme Regis has been a significant port and fishing village since medieval times. The town’s history is intertwined with maritime activities, and it has a charming mix of historic buildings and narrow streets. The Lyme Regis Museum offers insights into the town’s geological and cultural history, with exhibits on Mary Anning and her fossil discoveries. The town has a long history of fossil hunting, with notable figures like our very own Mary Anning having made significant discoveries here. The cliffs around Lyme Regis are part of the Blue Lias formation, which is characterised by interspersed layers of shale and clay. The formation covers a wide area of southern and central England, stretching as far north as Warwickshire. The richness of the finds in Lyme Regis as compared to elsewhere in the formation is thanks in no small part to the relentless wearing of the cliffs by the sea, exposing fresh shale on a regular basis. The formation dates back to the early Jurassic period and is rich in ammonites and marine reptile fossils. Fossils such as Ichthyosaurs and Plesiosaurs have been found along with an abundance of amonites and Belemnites in the cliffs of Lyme Regis Mary Anning in Lyme Regis By Eddusgl – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=146386244 Chesil Beach No tour of the Jurassic coast would be complete without a stop at Chesil Beach. It is a remarkable 18-mile-long shingle spit that stretches from West Bay to the Isle of Portland. This natural feature is an excellent example of the process of longshore drift, where sediments are transported along the coast by wave action. The beach is also a natural barrier, creating the Fleet Lagoon to its inland side, a unique habitat for wildlife.  At the far end of the beach lies the Isle of Portland. Known for its high-quality, bright white limestone, which has been quarried for centuries and used in notable buildings such as St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The island’s history is rich with tales of shipwrecks, smugglers, and military fortifications, including the remains of Portland Castle, built by Henry VIII. Portland was the site of beautifully preserved specimens of Dapedium, a large fish with an armoured body. Durdle Door One of the most iconic landmarks on the Jurassic Coast, Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch near Lulworth in Dorset. The arch was formed by the erosive power of the sea, which has gradually worn away the softer rock around the harder limestone, creating this stunning feature. The formation is ripe with local folklaw from the legend of the sea serpent, the story of the star crossed lovers, the fisherman and the mermaid or the giants