Kimmeridge Bay & Clavell Tower Coast & Sea

Kimmeridge Bay delivers impressive black rock formations, marine wildlife and surf. Bring a picnic or and BBQ and sit on the cliffs enjoying the spectacular views.

Kimmeridge Bay is an impressive part of the Jurassic coast with the rocks of the Bay once forming the floor of a deep, tropical sea rich in pre-historic life. They formed in the Jurassic period, 155 million years ago. The cliffs and foreshore contain a very thick sequence of Kimmeridge Clay. The rock layers are like the pages in a book and the fossils they contain tell a story on each page. Each rock layer provides a window allowing us to look back through geological time. Important fossils have been found in the Kimmeridge Clay, but they need an expert eye and time-consuming preparation.

Harder bands of limestone within the Kimmeridge Clay create a series of rocky ledges that run out to sea. As a result, the Bay boasts some of the most accessible marine wildlife in the UK. The stone ledges make it easy to view life on the shore an in the shallow waters, and there is safe snorkelling for the more adventurous.

BP's ‘nodding donkey' carefully landscaped on the cliff top has been producing oil for Wytch Farm Oilfield since 1959. The oil formed in rocks that were laid down on a stagnant sea floor. The rocks were buried and organic matter within them was ‘cooked' to form oil and gas. More oil lies in the northern part of Purbeck, and under Poole Harbour.
Hammering is strictly forbidden here and you may only collect loose fossils from the beach.

Visible for miles Clavell’s Tower stands on the cliffs above the Bay, built in the 1820’s as a summer house for Reverend John Richards. In a very poor state of repair and only 4 meters from the cliffs edge the tower is under going a move. Piece by piece the tower has been taken down and will be moved inland 25-30 ft and re-instated on the cliffs.

Directions

Kimmeridege is signposted from Wareham

Additional Information

Kimmeridge Bay is also good for surfing it has a reasonably exposed reef break that has very reliable surf, although summer tends to be flat. The best swell direction is from the South West around high tide. When the surfs up crowds are likely so take care of them and rocks.

Images with thanks to (c) Richard Keates, and Roger Holman (details on request). A walk in the area can be found at http://walks4softies.co.uk

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