Wenlock Edge Fossils and Fossil Collecting
Your Shropshire Geological Guide and Geology Info

Many Silurian fossils such as crinoid pieces, corals and brachiopods can be collected at the National Trust managed limestone escarpment, Wenlock edge. The tourist information centre and museum in Much Wenlock is also worth a visit to learn a little more about the location and to view fossils from the area.

Many fossils can be found below an outcrop of Wenlock limestone about a third of the way into the walk. There are plenty of loose blocks to collect from and nearly every rock is fossiliferous.

(Suitable for Children)

The exposures are found alongside a well managed path amongst pleasant surroundings. To complete the circular walk, half an hour to an hour is required.

There is plenty of free parking in the national trust car park. The walk is well signposted and the paths are well maintained.

Cuttings

Fossils are found in blocks below a cutting in the limestone. Nearly every block contains fossils.

SSSI

Fallen rocks may be collected but the in situ sections must not be damaged.

Other Locations similar to Wenlock Edge

Wenlock Edge is an excellent location for corals, other similar locations for Silurian Corals in the Shropshire District are; Mortimer Forest, Shadwell Quarry, Upper Millichope , Llanymynech Quarry, and Wenlock Quarry. In South West Wales, you can also find Silurian Corals from Marloes Sands. In Scotland, you can also find corals at St Monans

You can also collect carboniferous Corals from;Parkhouse Hill, Portishead and Weston-Super-Mare in Avon, or along the South West Coast, you can also collect Devonian Corals from Torquay along Hopes Nose and Daddy Hole and Castleton in the Derbyshire district..

For Corals from Younger period, the Coralline Crag at Ramsholt makes ideal collecting.