The Spittles facts for kids
The Spittles is an amazing coastal cliff area in the county of Dorset, located on the south coast of England. You can find it between the towns of Lyme Regis to the west and Charmouth to the east. The Spittles is a special part of the Jurassic Coast, which was named a World Heritage Site in 2001. This means it's a place of great importance to the world, like the Pyramids of Egypt!
The cliffs here are made up of different layers of rock, including a type called Blue Lias and also clay. When it rains a lot, the clay gets very wet and slippery. This causes the layers of rock above it to slide down, creating what are called landslips. These landslips are actually quite helpful for fossil hunters because they expose many incredible fossils! A very famous fossil hunter named Mary Anning even found a huge Ichthyosaurus fossil right here at The Spittles.
The Spittles is also very close to another popular fossil hunting spot called Black Ven. The bottom of the Black Ven mudslide is one of the best places to discover fossils along the Jurassic Coast. The sea helps by washing the fossils out of the mud. It then leaves them scattered among the small stones and bigger rocks on the beach, waiting to be found.
Exploring The Spittles
It's possible to walk to The Spittles from Lyme Regis, but you need to be very careful. Always check the tide times before you go, so you don't get stuck by the incoming water.
Staying Safe on the Cliffs
The area around The Spittles can be quite dangerous. There are often rock falls and mudslides, especially during stormy weather in winter. It's important to be aware of your surroundings and stay safe when visiting these beautiful cliffs.
