In 1759 along the Whitby Coast, the "Skeleton of an Allegator found in the Allom Rock near Whitby" was found, thus establishing very early on that the north of England coastline as a potentially fossil-rich destination. During the 1800s and up until this day, major discoveries have been made along the Whitby coastline, including some of the world’s most extraordinary marine reptiles, such as the early pliosaur, Rhomaleosaurus cramptoni, but also many ichthyosaurs, crocs and even dinosaur footprints, among numerous mollusks.

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The UK Jurassic Journey begins at this very location and we'll meet you here in Whitby!

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Plan your arrival for late afternoon on Sunday, July 6th. You can make your own way to Whitby or find your way to the York Train Station, where a luxury coach will pick you up for the scenic 1 hour drive through the Yorkshire Dales to your hotel in Whitby. 

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Don't be late as the group will meet together for the first time for a welcome drink tonight!

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Meals: None

Accommodations: Royal Whitby Hotel

At 7am, rise and shine for breakfast and then don your wellies or walking boots to head to the beach at Saltwick Bay in Whitby, England. Dr. Lomax grew up in Yorkshire and honed his fossil hunting skills along the Whitby coastline. In fact, he wrote his first book called Fossils of the Whitby Coast (2011) about the amazing fossils from this area.

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The Whitby Coast has been a popular fossil hunting spot since the mid-1800s when Scientists came to study the great cliffs of Jurassic strata, and the plentiful fossils they contain. The fossils discovered here by scientists and beachcombers alike range from the small—crustaceans, and invertebrates like ammonites and belemnites—to large ferocious marine creatures such as ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, sharks and primitive crocodilians.

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You’ll spend a full day fossil hunting on the Whitby Coast with Dr. Lomax and his friend at Yorkshire Fossils—Shae Smith! Dr. Lomax and Shae will serve as your personal guides in your search for 180-million-year-old fossils. You’ll learn how to identify your finds and even take some home to keep. 

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After an exciting day of fossil hunting, you'll gather for a Welcome Dinner to share and talk about what you've found, and have a chance to explore the town of Whitby, including visiting local fossil shops.

 

Meals: Breakfast and Welcome Dinner

Lunch is on your own. 

Accommodations: Royal Whitby Hotel

This morning continues in Whitby with a visit to the Whitby Museum which houses one of the finest collections of Jurassic fossils in Britain. This beautiful museum is from the Victorian era and gives a great insight into the amazing fossil heritage of the area.

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Take a sneak peek at the Whitby Museum Fossil Collection

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From there, you’ll board a coach to head to a secret location for an exclusive look at the incredible ‘Rutland Sea Dragon." Unearthed in 2021 in Rutland, in the East Midlands, this 10m-long ichthyosaur specimen is being cleaned and readied for research and eventual display. Only a few dozen people worldwide have seen this fossil being prepared, so this is a truly exclusive visit to see this specimen and meet some of the team behind the discovery and the cleaning. Dr. Lomax is leading on the science of this ‘sea dragon’ and will provide an insight to the discovery, excavation and ongoing work.

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• Read more about the Rutland Sea Dragon

• Watch Dean Lomax’s TED talk about the sensational discovery of the Rutland Sea Dragon

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Meals: Breakfast

Lunch and Dinner are on your own

Accommodations: Mercure Eastgate Hotel, Oxford

The Jurassic Journey continues on with a day spent visiting the historic Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Dr. Lomax, will guide your visit discussing some of the incredible British dinosaur fossils housed here, including Megalosaurus, the world’s first official dinosaur. Taking details from his book, Dinosaurs of the British Isles, and his TV show, Dinosaur Britain, Dr. Lomax will discuss the rich dinosaur displays and the amazing 200-year history of the first dinosaur.

 

Your day continues with a special behind-the-scenes collections tour. You'll be guided by Dr. Emma Nicholls, Collections Manager, Vertebrate Paleontology of the Oxford Museum for the chance to see something most visitors can only dream of: a tour of the museum’s extensive fossil collections, including the ORIGINAL MEGALOSAURUS jaw and fossils found by Mary Anning!​

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But wait-there's more! Your time with Dr. Nicolls continues as she accompanies us to the newly discovered "Dinosaur Highway" trackway site in Oxfordshire. Scientists have found nearly 200 dinosaur footprints, that were formed over 166 million years ago by a herd of sauropods and predatory theropods. You'll hear what species formed the prints and how scientists have interpreted this large trackway, along with plans for ongoing research and excavation.

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Meals: Breakfast

Lunch and Dinner are on your own

Accommodations: Mercure Eastgate Hotel, Oxford

You'll be walking in the footsteps of Mary Anning in Lyme Regis today. In 1811, Mary's brother Joseph found a strange looking skull embedded in the cliffs along the beach. Mary later discovered the skeleton that went with this skull. After being studied, scientists eventually realized this was a near 200 million-year-old heretofore unknown species of seagoing reptile that they called an “Ichthyosaurus” or “fish lizard”.

 

Dr. Lomax will personally guide the tour to the Lyme Regis Museum, which is built on the site of Mary Anning’s home and fossil shop. You’ll learn the incredible story of how this pioneering woman was instrumental in the advancement of paleontology in the British Isles—a field that at the time, was not traditionally open to women. At the museum, you will also meet museum curators who will share the museum's history. Dr. Lomax will take you on a journey into Mary’s revolutionary role in sculpting the science of paleontology.

 

We'll honor Mary by heading over to the statue of Mary at Mary Anning Rocks. As a patron for MAR, Dr. Lomax was instrumental in helping this statue come into existence and will discuss the history behind the statue all whilst overlooking the glorious Jurassic cliffs in the distance.

 

As an added treat, you'll join an exclusive screening of the documentary WHY DINOSAURS? , a multi-award-winning Hollywood film about dinosaurs and the people who love them. Our very own Dr. Lomax was an Executive Producer and one of the lead paleontologists in the documentary. ​

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Meals: Breakfast

Lunch and Dinner are on your own

Accommodations: Royal Lion Hotel, Lyme Regis

Although it’s the last full day together, the adventure is far from over. You’ll cap off this amazing Jurassic Journey with a fossil hunt along the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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After breakfast, the group will head off to walk the beach in the literal footsteps of Mary Anning. The walk will take you from the Blue Lias cliffs at Lyme Regis as we beachcomb and search the cliffs for Early Jurassic fossils including ammonites, belemnites, ichthyosaur and plesiosaur bones. Our 2-hour leisurely beach-stroll leaves us enough time to keep an eye out for fossilized treasures. Who knows what discoveries you’ll make as we continue the legacy of Mary Anning.

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You’ll walk along the beach, passing the Charmouth Mudstone cliffs before heading to the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. Here Dr. Lomax will be joined by Alison Ferris of the Heritage Centre who will guide us through the fossil collection and learn more about the area’s rich palaeontological past and some recent exceptional discoveries.

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Together, the group will walk back to Lyme Regis for another chance at fossil hunting along the beach and to add to your growing collection. 

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Tonight you’ll say your farewells as we meet together for a drink and Farewell Dinner to share stories about your adventures and discoveries. 

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Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Lunch is on your own

Accommodations: Royal Lion Hotel, Lyme Regis

Guests will make their own way to future destinations.

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For those wishing to travel by train to other destinations, a coach will take you to the Axminster Train Station which is well-connected to the rest of England.​

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Would you like to extend your stay and see more of England? Contact us and we’d be happy to help create a bespoke itinerary for you.​

There is no special experience needed for the Jurassic Journey, but regardless of your age, you should be able and willing to walk for up to 4 miles on uneven ground. You will be walking around the cities of Whitby and Lyme Regis. The trip includes two days of fossil hunting along the beaches of Whitby and Lyme Regis. ​

 

What to bring:

• Bring a backpack or rucksack for fossil hunting!

• Gloves

• Loupe

• Water bottle

• Wellies (rain boots) or waterproof shoes with a thick sole for beach walking

• Rain gear

• Sun hat and sunscreen

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Summertime clothes

• Jacket for chilly nights