A Visit to England's Jurassic Coast

GeoCultura’s latest tour - four days on the coast of the English Channel-- was run a few weeks ago, and enjoyed by all. This being England, and Spring, the group got to see sunshine but only in between the rain showers. Highpoints included: -

Searching for fossils, as Mary Anning did over a century ago. Everyone walked away with a memento of ages past, including this particularly intrepid hunter.

A private tour of the many amazing fossils at the Lyme Regis Museum. The museum is built on the site of Mary Anning’s home and noted for the fossils in its geological galleries and for its wing dedicated to the town’s literary connections, from Jane Austen and John Fowles to Tracy Chevalier. Here geology curator Paul Davis points out a model of an Ichthyosaur (Paul also led the fossil walk on the beach).

A traditional pub lunch at the Square & Compass in Swanage.

Comments included:

“I didn’t know pubs like this existed anymore” and

“What a treasure, it seems nothing much has changed here since smugglers frequented the Inn. A lovely tavern with low ceilings warm atmosphere, log fires and even its own museum with lots of Jurassic coast exhibits”.

Walking in the 145-million-year-old footsteps (and footprints!) of dinosaurs at Keates Quarry.

Good meals to round out the days.  Dinners at the Pig on the Beach overlooking Studland Bay, shown here, as well as at Morton’s Manor, where the group stayed, were relaxed and convivial.

A welcoming and comfortable place to stay. Family-run Morton’s Manor, home for the duration of the tour, sits at the base of Corfe Castle and offered a traditional and history-steeped spot to relax at the end of each day.

This was the first offering for GeoCultura from tour leader Jonathan Evans (left, in front of Kingston Lacey country house near Corfe Castle). Note the blue in the sky! Jonathan developed and guided the tour, but commented “the invited speakers (local guides, National Trust staff and fossil experts) were well-informed and personable and greatly contributed to the tour experience”.