Lincolnshire is not a great area to collect fossils, because there are no good coastal or river sites to visit due to the lack of sizeable cliffs. This also means a lack of foreshore outcrops. Therefore, the only real chance of finding fossils is at a handful of quarries, but most of these are difficult to obtain permission to visit. However, Rutland (included in this section of the guide) offers a few more sites, mostly with oolitic rocks, including Grange Top Quarry and Ketton Quarry, where are extremely good.
The area around Skegness is a very popular tourist area. While Lincolnshire is not a great county for fossils, rocks washed down from the Holderness coastline are dumped along its beaches. At low tide, these rocks can be seen at Chapel Point. Erratics (Jurassic, Cretaceous, Carboniferous), Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦
Anderby Creek is a large sandy beach, ideal for children. At low tide, rocks washed down from the Holderness coastline can be found. They can be Carboniferous, Jurassic or Cretaceous in age and can contain various fossils, such as ammonites and shells. Erratics (Jurassic, Cretaceous, Carboniferous), Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦
Formerly part of Ketton Quarry, Top Grange Quarry has now been turned into a geological trail for anyone to visit and collect fossils. However, it has become quite overgrown, but you can still easily find fossils. Jurassic, Disused Quarry, Rating: ♦♦♦
The southeast side of Rutland Water, at Edith Weston, has oolitic rocks around the edges of the reservoir. These blocks are not particularly fossiliferous, but do contain the occasional bivalve. This location is worth a visit if in the local area (for example, visiting Top Grange Quarry – see our guide to this site). Jurassic, Reservoir Embankment, Rating: ♦
The South Ferriby Quarries used to be a classic site for fossil hunting. Since becoming disused and the land privately owned, the sites are now overgrown and/or have prohibited access. However, the back of these quarries are now being eroded by the River Humber. As a result, public access to the cliffs along the river banks provides plenty of opportunity to find fossils. Jurassic. Cretaceous, Disused Quarries, Cliffs, Foreshore, Rating: ♦♦♦
Ketton Quarry is over a mile wide – its size has to be seen to be believed. The rocks here contain ammonites, corals, brachiopods, bivalves, fish and reptile remains, and much, much more. This is a superb location to visit. The quarry has recently been designated SSSI status. Jurassic, Working Quarry, Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦