No.6 Bracklesham Bay

A simple walk along the shore best undertaken at low water to avoid constantly scrambling over the numerous groynes. (Check tide times HERE)  Parking is available at West Wittering Bracklesham and Selsey (see map below)

The main interest in this walk are the numerous fossils washed out of the Bracklesham beds of Eocene age some 35 - 40 million years old which are mostly covered by beach sand and shingle. Examples of the fossils to be found are shown below and can be seen on display at Chichester Museum. The best times to search for fossils are at low water after severe winter storms when fossils have been eroded from offshore exposures and at least some of the sand may have been removed from exposures on along the foreshore. At other times fossils may most frequently be found around the foot of the groynes where they have accumulated through wave action. A map showing aspects of the geology between Bracklesham and Selsey Bill is shown below.

Refreshments may be taken at the several cafes and pubs to be found at Selsey and Bracklesham.

(Photo courtesy of: www.discoveringfossils.co.uk/)

Sketch map of the coast between Bracklesham and Selsey Bill, Sussex. Curry D, 1958.
 

Click to enlarge
 

Click to enlarge 

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service.
Image reproduced with kind permission of
Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

Some more Photographs:

Towards Selsey

Towards West Wittering

Old groyne at low water
(Photo courtesy of: www.discoveringfossils.co.uk/)

 

East Head to Selsey Bill
Click to enlarge
Photo courtesy of: Chichester Harbour Conservancy

For additional information and photographs of the commoner fossils visit: http://www.discoveringfossils.co.uk/bracklesham.htm