Location Information (key) |
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 Cliff |
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LOCATION
Access to Easton Bavents can be via Southwold. Although many local fishermen and the odd collector has permission to drive down Easton Farm and walk down the South cliff, we ask you NOT to do this. It is a private road, a private farm and the owners constantly remind people that it is not a footpath to Southwold or Reydon. For that reason, it is recommended that you park at Southwold prom and walk along the South cliff towards the north cliff. |
Easton Bavents South cliff is unfossiliferous until you pass the house half way, from this point on bones can be found in the stone bed but are very rare. Usually an average of 1 to 5 large hightides have to clear the beds before a bone is revealed. There is no shell bed, and it is not worth digging. It is best to search in the North cliff.
(Southwold looking towards Easton Bavents) - 1990
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EQUIPMENT
TOOLS: Apart from good eyes and a high tide, a pick is the best tool to take along with a knife and spade to dig any bones out of the cliff.. Bones are fragile and it is recommended if collected for bones, to take two brushes (one to remove dust and dirt, one to paint the bone with preserving liquid). The recommended preserving formula is 1 part unibond PVA to 3 parts distilled water.
CONTAINERS: Large bones should be wrapped well and carried back, whilst smaller bones can be placed, wrapped well in a bag or container. |
(Easton North cliff) - 1997
Although the north cliff used to be rich in fossils, it is sadly being eroded to the point of disappearing so few large bones are found these days. However many good shells, small mammal remains, fish remains and other small bones are quite common, if the beds are clear.
(High tides at Easton) - 1998
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SAFETY & DANGERS
Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. The main issue one should be aware of is these cliffs are very crumbly, especially after a high tide, please be careful, sinking sand where clay seeps under the beach can also be in patches and you can get cut off by the tide. |
(Building up the sand banks) - 1998
Every year it costs more and more to build up the sand bank from the South to North cliff and North to Covehithe (above), When Easton Bavents completely disappears, then there is nothing to stop the seas breaking through and flooding the low-lying areas of Reydon, also cutting off the Wrentham road to Southwold. |
