Book A private fossil walk
Experience the world-famous fossil-rich coastline of Folkestone with a private guided fossil walk led by Chris, owner of Folkestone Fossils. Whether you're completely new to fossil hunting or have experience in the field, this exclusive tour offers the opportunity to search for genuine Cretaceous fossils while learning about the area's fascinating geological history.
Every walk is tailored to the ability of your group, ensuring a safe and enjoyable day for everyone.
What's Included
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Private fossil walk with Chris, owner of Folkestone Fossils.
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Duration of 3–6 hours, depending on your group's fitness and ability.
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Collection pots for safely storing your fossil finds.
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Knee pads for added comfort whilst searching.
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No tools required – any tools that may be needed will be carried and provided by your guide.
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Free parking directions supplied after booking.
Walk Times
As the coastline can only be safely explored at suitable tide levels, walk times vary depending on the tides. Your start time will be confirmed when your booking is arranged.
The Experience
Your day begins with a 10-minute safety briefing, covering the terrain, tides and how to collect fossils safely.
From there, we'll make our way to the best fossil collecting locations beneath the cliffs. The walk to these areas takes approximately 40 minutes over large rocks and boulders, with regular stops along the way to point out interesting geological features and explain the history of the coastline.
Once we arrive, we'll spend around 2 hours searching for freshly washed-out fossils that have recently fallen from the cliffs.
Afterwards, we'll stop for a packed lunch (please note that lunch is not provided).
If the group is still feeling energetic, we'll continue for a further 45–60 minute walk to The Warren, where we'll explore the famous Gault Clay beds. These beds are renowned for producing beautiful iridescent ammonites and many other rare fossils.
The walk will finish with a walk from the Warren to the top of the cliffs for photos of the Chalk Cliffs before heading back to the starting area. Please note, if weather conditions on the day have made the area wet or heavy rain the night before has happened this route is not always easy or safe. In these instances we will return over the rocks and boulders.
Please note: The Gault Clay is not always visible. Depending on recent tides and beach conditions, the clay beds can sometimes be completely covered by sand.
Pricing
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£180 for a private group of up to 4 people.
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Additional participants are £30 per person.
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Maximum group size: 10 people. (please contact me if your group is larger than 10 people as a second guide will be required).
Your Fossil Finds
Everything found during the walk—including fossils discovered by your guide during the tour—belongs to your group to keep and share amongst yourselves.
The only exception is any dinosaur/marine reptile fossils or extreme rarities. These scientifically significant discoveries must be left with your guide so they can be donated to an appropriate museum for identification, research and preservation.
Important Information
This walk is designed for people who are reasonably fit and physically able. The terrain is uneven, rocky and can be demanding, with extended periods of walking over slippery uneven ground and boulders.
Participants should be comfortable walking for several hours and negotiating natural coastal terrain.
If you have any questions about the suitability of the walk, please get in touch before booking and we'll be happy to advise.
Available Days
Private fossil walks are currently available on the following days:
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Saturday's
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Sunday's
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Monday's
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Tuesday's
Booking Your Private Fossil Walk
If you'd like to book a private fossil walk or have any questions before booking, I'd be happy to help.
Email: folkestonefossilfinds@gmail.com
Whatsapp: Simply send a message with your preferred date, group size and any questions you may have.
Once your booking has been confirmed, you'll receive:
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Your meeting location.
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Directions to the free parking area.
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Your start time (based on the tides).
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Any final information you'll need before the day.
I look forward to showing you one of the UK's finest fossil hunting locations and helping you discover some incredible prehistoric treasures.
What our fossil hunters say!
This was an absolutely amazing fossil-hunting experience. We travelled all the way to the UK specifically to join Chris’s fossil walk, and the experience was fantastic from beginning to end.
Before the trip, Chris recommended suitable local transport and accommodation, drew us a clear map showing where to meet, and shared helpful suggestions about the local scenery and places to eat. This made everything easy and comfortable.
Most importantly, Chris was incredibly professional once the fossil hunt began. He explained the local geology and fossils clearly, patiently introduced the relevant terminology, and helped us understand what we were finding as the day progressed. Even though some of the technical terms were new to me at first, I was following along much more easily by the second half of the day.
We discovered so many wonderful fossils, including complete shell fossils, shark teeth, a pyritised ammonite, and a large, complete ammonite hidden inside an ordinary-looking green stone. I never would have expected to find something so remarkable inside it. I have searched for fossils in China before, but this was one of the most exciting fossil-hunting experiences of my life.
I also loved meeting Chris’s three bird friends. They followed us around like clever little children, and seeing how naturally and affectionately Chris connected with them showed us a beautiful side of his relationship with nature.
Thank you, Chris, for giving my partner and me such a memorable and rewarding day. Your expertise, kindness, and passion made the trip truly special. It was absolutely worth travelling all the way to the UK for, and I would wholeheartedly recommend Chris’s fossil tours to anyone interested in fossils, geology, or simply having an unforgettable day outdoors.
Chen
26 September 2026
Fantastic walk- so interesting to walk with someone who had such amazing knowledge- found some amazing fossils and both my children were so excited they’ve been begging to go on another walk next time we’re in Folkestone.
David Phillips
We had an amazing fossil hunting experience in Folkestone with Chris! He’s incredibly knowledgeable and knows exactly where to find fossils. It was our first time, and we found so many, including several complete ammonites and shark teeth! Chris also explained how the fossils formed and their history, which made the whole experience even more interesting. We learned a lot and had such a fun day. Couldn’t recommend Chris more!