Ardnish Point, Skye, fossils and fossil collecting

There are two ways to approach Ardnish point, However one of them has little or no parking, but can be a good (if not lengthy) escape route should the incoming tide sneak up on you, making your original path too deep to cross. Tides are slow moving, so you can keep an eye on it easily.Approach Broadford from the Skye Bridge on the A850.
Turn right at the signpost for Ashaig immediately after the small narrow stone road bridge.
Cross the cattlegrid and head on down the single track road for approx 200 m. (More...)

GRID REF: 57.25419°N, 5.84622°W

Ammonites, large bivalves including lots of Gryphea, brachiopods, gastropods, corals and recently, plesiosaur bones.

The Ardnish Peninsula is a place of immense beauty and has amazing wildlife. Several little slim Liassic/Jurassic peninsular stretch out like fingers, dividing the sandy shoreline into little inlets at low-tide. Very rich horizons are separated by relatively baron ones.

High

If you find the right horizon, fossils are very abundant, once you find the hotspots. Mid to Low-tide is the only practical time to look.

Ideal for Children

This is an excellent place for kids young and old, with sandy bays and otters and seal frequently seen. Wellies are best here, and you may have to carry them over the river as the wee wellies may not be high enough, and the current may be stronger than usual.

Very Good Access

Avoid this site if there has been heavy rain, as the river can swell up making it too dangerous to cross. However, on any other day there is easy access. The walking is easy and only about 1/2 mile to the furthest exposure. Free parking is on the verge at the side of a dirt track, and is widely used by locals and dog walkers.

Foreshore

Fossils are found on the bedrock, but avoid damaging this. There are plenty of loose rocks and loose slabs of bedrock to keep you busy.

SSSI

This is a SSSI site, so keep disturbance and collecting to a minimum. No permission is required to visit Ardnish.

If you collect fossils in Scotland, the advice on best practice in the collection and storage of fossil specimens, set out in the Scottish Fossil Code, applies to you. The Code may be viewed and downloaded from www.snh.org.uk/fossilcode.

This is a tidal zone, though tidal movement is relatively slow. Only visit on a mid to low tide. Only slippery on the furthest point and only the side facing the main sea of the Inner Sound. A personal guide by a local geologist who is very familiar with the site may be arranged. Contact Anthony Rybak. on 01471822640, mobile no. 07931512972, or e-mail anthonyrybak321@btinternet.com.

Last updated:	2011
last visited:	2011
Written by:	Anthony Rybak

Other Locations similar to Ardnish Point

Other locations on the isle of Skye include the popular Glasnakille Bearreraig Bay, Faoilean, Ardnish Point, Camustianavaig, Ardnish Point, Kilmarie and Elgol

Wellies are a must here if you want to stay dry. Phones are usually ok to use. Take a good heavy mallet, a cold chisel and protective glasses for anyone using the mallet. Gloves are advised as some rock shatters with sharp edges. There are plenty of loose fossils for kids to collect without using tools, and there are soft clays and marls too. Midge spray for the summer months.


Ardnish is a fantastic area for collecting fossils. The actual point, has only weatherd cup-corals but the nature of the collapsed sheets of bedrock make it an interesting place to visit. It is in the inlets that there has been some large ammonites like 'Arnioceras semicostatum' and 'Echioceras raricostatum' discovered. There are countless loose 'Gryphea arcuata' or devils toenails to collect, and there is a wide range of bivalves including pectens or scallop-like bivalves. Otters, Sea Eagles, Seals and even dolphins are commonly seen, and the shoreline has an array of seashore birdlife. There is lots of many intersting archaeological features and ruined crofts about. Ardnish really is a must see location. This is a SSSI site, so keep disturbance and collecting to a minimum. No permission is required to visit Ardnish.

Jurassic, 210mya

Jurassic/Triassic boundary. Approximately 205-210 MYA. There is a succession of the Pabbay Shale Formation at the furthest western end of the main peninsula. This is almost continuous along the entire peninsula at the high tide mark. The first inlet has a succession of harder rock from the Breakish Formation that has been part baked by the many Tertiary dykes that cut through this bay. This has a good semicostatum zone, with the weathered negative impressions of huge ammonites visible. These are around to be found but they must be handled with care, as they tend to shatter with hard impacts of hammers. They are also heavy so take care if you intend preparing it at home. The Breakish formation is the Hettangian Stage, and the Pabby Shale boundary falls into the Early Sinemurian Stage......[more]

Gryphea beds


Ammonite arnioceras semicostatum (Dia10 cm) ...[more]

Stone Tumblers

Microscopes

Fossil Tools

If you are interested in fossil collecting, then you may also be interested in a stone tumbler (Lapidary). You can polish stones and rocks from the beach which will look fantastic polished using a stone tumbler.

You can polish rough rock and beach glass whilst collecting fossils, on those days where you come back empty handed. These are all high quality machines to give a professional finish to your samples. They can even be used for amber and fossils.

At most locations, you can find microfossils. You only need a small sample of the sand. You then need to wash it in water and sieve using a test sieve. Once the sand is processed, you can then view the contents using a microscope.

We have a wide range of microscopes for sale, you will need a Stereomicroscope for viewing microfossils. The best one we sell is the IMXZ, but a basic microscope will be fine. Once you have found microfossils, you will need to store these microfossils.

We are your market leader for Fossil Supplies and Fossil Equipment. Suppling Retail, Education and Trade in the UK, Europe and beyond. UKGE Online Store sells equipment worldwide.

We sell a wide range of geological hammers and geological picks as well as fossil tools, starter packs and geological chisels. UKGE is your geological superstore, selling a wide range of field equipment, rocks, minerals, fossils, geological and even microscopy!