Q & A with Jurassic Coast Guides

Walking Through Time with Jurassic Coast Guides

Spanning the coastline from Exmouth’s Orcombe Point to Old Harry Rocks, the Jurassic Coast is one of the most remarkable landscapes on the planet.

Recognised as England’s only natural World Heritage Site, this 95-mile stretch carries with it geological importance on a global scale, a window into three prehistoric eras that continues to reveal secrets from our ancient past.

Martin Curtis of multi award-winning Jurassic Coast Guides has made it his mission to help others understand and explore this fascinating area. Martin regularly leads groups of walkers around the coast’s iconic natural landmarks and is often seen on Charmouth Beach teaching budding fossil hunters.

Describe a day in the life of Jurassic Coast Guides

My day normally starts with a mad dash to school for drop-off, then I’m straight down to Charmouth to meet my clients for the day. Once at the beach, it’s time to switch into guiding mode, starting with an hour-long training session where I teach my clients the essential skills needed for finding fossils.

The actual walk is always fun. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t like being on a beach and I love seeing my clients putting their new fossil hunting skills into action and their excitement at finding their very first fossil.

After a shoreline walk and talk, we arrive at one of my prime fossil hunting locations where I help my clients to really hone their skills and make sure they know exactly where to look.

It’s been said of you that the Jurassic Coast is “in your bones”. How fitting is that description?

The Jurassic Coast is definitely in my bones. I spent my childhood exploring the beaches here; any free weekends were spent on the shores rock pooling, kite flying, having picnics, or fossil hunting. My parents grew up exploring the Dorset coast and I now find myself carrying on this family tradition with my own daughters. It was these early experiences that gave me the passion that led to my career today.

Why can a walk along the Jurassic Coast also be a walk through time?

The cliffs from Exmouth in Devon to Old Harry Rocks in Dorset showcase the geology from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. These three geological time frames record 185 million years of life on earth during the dinosaur era and collectively form the three periods of the Mesozoic Era.

If you walk east from Exmouth to Old Harry Rocks, you physically traverse this prehistoric coastal geology, thus creating a ‘walk through time’.

Have you any pearls of wisdom for budding fossil hunters keen to explore the Jurassic Coast?

Anyone can become a fossil hunter, you don’t need to be a palaeontologist or a geologist to find fossils on the beaches here. If you have a keen eye and want to spend time on the beach, you can find the treasures hidden within. If you’ve never been fossil hunting before it’s always a good idea to book a guide to help you discover them safely. During my walks, I teach you a simple system that will get you started on your journey to becoming a successful hunter. From then on, it’s up to you to have the patience and determination to further your skills.

What has been your most memorable fossil discovery?

It’s hard to pick out one particular fossil discovery as being my most memorable because every find is special, but if I had to pick one, it’s the complete fossilised shark poo (known as coprolite) I found a couple of years ago! I’ve also been lucky enough to find a couple of fossilised insects at Charmouth, extremely rare for that location. And recently, I also found my first piece of fossilised fish, a dream find for fossil hunters.

What makes fossil hunting such a fun and exciting holiday activity?

When you find a fossil on the beach at Charmouth, you’ll know that no one else has laid eyes on it since the day it died 195 million years ago – an instant connection between you and the creature. Every fossil has a story to tell and that story will be special to you.

What kinds of terrain can we expect to navigate during one of your guided walks?

The Jurassic Coast can be rugged and undulating in places, it can also have some tough ascents. The coastal path is well-defined and maintained offering routes for all abilities. The beach environment changes daily with the tides and weather, so sensible footwear and proper planning are essential if you want to get the most from your trip.

Can we also look forward to plenty of encounters with the local wildlife?

The Jurassic Coast’s different rock types and habitats present a haven for wildlife. Golden Cap is the highest viewpoint on the south coast of England and walkers heading for its summit will often catch glimpses of common lizards and adders. The many clifftop meadows and hedgerows are home to various species of butterfly including red admirals and peacock butterflies, whilst buzzards, kestrels, guillemots, and razorbills can all be seen here, and, at certain times of the year, rare orchids flourish along the footpaths. Jellyfish are also common along the foreshores so keep an eye out for the blue, compass, and barrel species.

What would you say to anyone considering the Jurassic Coast for their seaside holiday?

The Jurassic Coast is an amazing place to come and visit. It stretches for almost 100 miles and has some of the best coastal landscapes the UK has to offer. There’s a wealth of things to see and do, whatever your age or budget, a chance to learn about the earth’s ancient past and actually see its prehistoric chapters folded into the landscape.

My aim is to help visitors get the most out of their time here, offering guided walks, tours, fossil hunting experiences and creating memories that I hope will last a lifetime.

Jurassic Coast Guides was a finalist in the much coveted Visit England Tourism Superstar awards 2019, and winner of 3 Gold Awards at the 2018 & 2019 Dorset Tourism Awards including ‘Guided Tour of the Year’.