Flodigarry, fossils and fossil collecting

Take the A855 from Portree to Staffin and Uig.
Turn off at first Sign for Flodigarry on right-hand side.
Free parking with good access closeby. Short easy 10 minute walk down to the shore. 4 stars.
This is a good place for a family with older children. Care still needs to be taken on the slippery clay and round loose rocks though. Nearest shop is a few miles back at Staffin. Public Toilets a little closer back at the uig turn-off. 4 Stars.

GRID REF: NG 46795 71540

Ammonites, plants, belemnites, bivalves, gastropods and microfossils

Flodigarry is a very picturesue beach with amazing views and Oxfordonian sediments containing good pyrite and calcite fossils. The wild seas can add to the drama of this location, and the wildlife is second to none. Great place to spend a day with a picnic and a look for fossils on the low tide.

Medium

Due to the soft nature of the clay beds, constant erosion can often reveal fresh fossils. Low tide is the preferred time to reach the best of these clay beds.

Older Children

This is a good place for a family with older children. Care still needs to be taken on the slippery clay and round loose rocks though. Nearest shop is a few miles back at Staffin. Public Toilets a little closer back at the uig turn-off. 4 Stars.

Good Access

Free parking with good access closeby. Short easy 10 minute walk down to the shore.

Foreshore

Fossils are found on the wave-cut clay beds and in loose rocks along the shore. Only take fossils protruding from clay and easily removed. Do not dig in to the claybed. Nodules can sometimes be found.

SSSI

This is an SSSI. There are no restrictions to visit this area, but you must not hammer the bedrock

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.

Slippery loose rocks and clay are the main dangers. Tides are gradual and should not cut anyone off.

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

Other Locations similar to Flodigarry

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


Look around until you find the exposed clay bed-rock amidst the round boulder-strewn shoreline. Fossils are very obvious on the surface, and please remember to only remove the fossils on the surface or lying loose. The boulders contain many nodules that are stuffed with bivalves, gastropods, fossilised wood fragments and other smaller stuff. Most of the zones are well represented with fossils. Flat compressed mother-of-pearl coated ammonites and pyrite ammonites are to be found throughout all stages of the succession. They can be very difficult to preserve so only remove one if you feel it can be saved. Various Cardioceras seems to be the main species of ammonite. Belemnites are very easy to find here. Bivalves are also present. Rich microfossil assemblages also.

	Jurassic, 155mya
Flodigarry has a complete stratigraphic succession of the Oxfordian/Kimmeridgian boundary. Zones include the Evoluta Subzone, Rosenkrantzi Subzone, Densicostata Subzone, Bauhini Subzone...[more] Oxfordian and Kimmeridge boulders along the foreshore


Large belemnite ..[more]

A penknife or similar will do for removing belemnites and other specimens exposed. A mallet will open any of bivalve packed nodules. Phone reception is available.

Metal Barrelling

Meteorites

Fossil Tools

Metal Barrelling Machines are used for de burring, polishing, cleaning or removing surface scratches from metal and jewellery.

These are ideal for cleaning or polishing a variety of metals including brass, silver, steel and gold. They can be used for silver clay and other hobbies.

The machines have a barrel with special fins inside, which helps turn the metal round, to polish or debur. We sell a variety of different sized machines from hobby to commercial.

Meteorites can be found all over the world. Often, large pieces are broken down either naturally or by hand, or sliced and sold as small fragments, each fall is well documented. Meteorites are very collectable, especially ones of Mars or Moon rocks.

We sell Meteorites, which are in stock and mostly come in a display boxs. Our meteorites are from all over the world and include Mars and Moon Meteorites, and rocks from outer space. For more information, please see our meteorite page.

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!