Hunstanton Cliffs

The striped cliffs of Hunstanton lie on the western edge of the town. They consist of three layers: red-brown Carstone sandstone at the bottom, the red “Hunstanton Red Rock” (red chalk) above it, and white chalk on top. The layers date from the Cretaceous, some 100 million years ago, and the red chalk is rich in fossils such as ammonites and belemnites. Although Hunstanton is on England’s east coast, the shore faces west, so the sun sets over the sea. The cliffs are a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and fulmars nest on them.

From the beach you can see the layers at close quarters; from the cliff top you look across the Wash to the Lincolnshire coast. Look for fossils only in loose pieces of rock and keep away from the foot of the cliff. Check the tides before going onto the beach.