Category Archives: Geology & Rock Formations

Geology & Rock Formations, History, landscape photography, March, Natural History, photography, Spring

Dinosaur Footprints on Bexhill Beach – 135 Million Years Old

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Introduction

While exploring the foreshore at Bexhill Beach over the last couple of days, I came across several remarkable features preserved in the rock – dinosaur footprints dating back roughly 135 million years to the Early Cretaceous period.

Dinosaur footprint impression preserved in sandstone on the foreshore at Bexhill Beach, East Sussex
A dinosaur footprint preserved in the sandstone of the Ashdown Formation on the foreshore at Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. The track dates to the Early Cretaceous period around 135 million years ago, when this area was a muddy river floodplain rather than coastline. Coastal erosion has revealed this ancient surface where dinosaurs once walked, preserving both footprint impressions and natural casts in the rock.

The Sussex coast exposes rocks from the Ashdown Formation, part of the Wealden Group. At the time these sediments were forming, this area wasn’t coastline at all. It was a warm river floodplain with muddy riverbanks, shallow lagoons and dense vegetation. Dinosaurs walked across these mudflats, leaving footprints that were buried by sediment and eventually turned into rock.

Coastal erosion along the foreshore is now slowly revealing parts of that ancient landscape again.

YouTube Video

I filmed several of these footprints during my visit and I’m currently putting together a short video explaining the tracks and how they formed.

👉 Subscribe to my YouTube channel here to see the video

Casts and Impressions

Interestingly, two different types of footprints can be seen on the Bexhill foreshore.

Dinosaur footprint impression preserved in sandstone on the foreshore at Bexhill Beach, East Sussex
A dinosaur footprint preserved in the sandstone of the Ashdown Formation on the foreshore at Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. The track dates to the Early Cretaceous period around 135 million years ago, when this area was a muddy river floodplain rather than coastline. Coastal erosion has revealed this ancient surface where dinosaurs once walked, preserving both footprint impressions and natural casts in the rock.

📍 Google Maps location: 50.837650, 0.483188

📍 what3words: ///newest.icons.slides,

Some appear as raised shapes, known as natural casts. These form when a dinosaur footprint fills with sediment which later hardens. As the surrounding rock erodes away, the filled footprint can remain standing proud of the surface.

A dinosaur footprint preserved in the sandstone of the Ashdown Formation on the foreshore at Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. The track dates to the Early Cretaceous period around 135 million years ago, when this area was a muddy river floodplain rather than coastline. Coastal erosion has revealed this ancient surface where dinosaurs once walked, preserving both footprint impressions and natural casts in the rock.

📍 Google Maps location: 50.836672, 0.475356

📍 what3words: ///gained.gent.funded

Others appear as true impressions – the actual depressions left when a dinosaur stepped into soft mud millions of years ago.

Finding both types close together strongly suggests that the rock surface represents part of the original ancient mudflat where dinosaurs once walked.

What Dinosaur Made These Tracks?

The footprints show the classic three-toed (tridactyl) shape typical of ornithopod dinosaurs, a group that includes animals such as Iguanodon which are well known from the Wealden rocks of Sussex.

A dinosaur footprint preserved in the sandstone of the Ashdown Formation on the foreshore at Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. The track dates to the Early Cretaceous period around 135 million years ago, when this area was a muddy river floodplain rather than coastline. Coastal erosion has revealed this ancient surface where dinosaurs once walked, preserving both footprint impressions and natural casts in the rock.

Palaeontologists usually classify footprints by their track type rather than a specific species, but the general form is consistent with plant-eating dinosaurs that roamed this region during the Early Cretaceous.

Location

Several people have asked where these footprints can be found.

They are located on the foreshore near Bexhill when the tide is very low, as the rock platform needs to be exposed.

See the google and what3words above under each photo.

Because the footprints are on the intertidal rock platform, they are best viewed around low tide.

A Glimpse Into Deep Time

Standing on this rock today, it’s quite remarkable to think that the surface beneath your feet was once a muddy riverbank walked on by dinosaurs over 135 million years ago.

Dinosaur footprint impression preserved in sandstone on the foreshore at Bexhill Beach, East Sussex
A dinosaur footprint preserved in the sandstone of the Ashdown Formation on the foreshore at Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. The track dates to the Early Cretaceous period around 135 million years ago, when this area was a muddy river floodplain rather than coastline. Coastal erosion has revealed this ancient surface where dinosaurs once walked, preserving both footprint impressions and natural casts in the rock.

Thanks to the constant action of the sea slowly wearing away the cliffs and foreshore, these ancient traces occasionally reappear – giving us a rare glimpse into a landscape from the age of dinosaurs.

If you visit the site, please take care around the rocks and avoid damaging the footprints so others can enjoy seeing them too.

If you’d like to see more locations like this across Sussex, you can explore them on the Sussex Photography map collection on the site.

England, February, Geology & Rock Formations, High Weald, Kent, landscape photography, Natural History, photography, South East, Tunbridge Wells, UK, Winter

Toad Rock, Rusthall Common

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Introduction

Toad Rock is one of the most distinctive sandstone formations in the Tunbridge Wells area. Perched on Rusthall Common just west of Royal Tunbridge Wells, the rock appears almost sculpted — its rounded upper section balanced on a narrower base, giving it the familiar “toad-like” shape that gives the landmark its name.

It is part of the same sandstone ridge system that runs through Tunbridge Wells Common, High Rocks and Eridge Rocks, forming one of the most interesting geological landscapes in the High Weald.

Short film from Rusthall Common and Toad Rock:

Just a short walk from Wellington Rocks on Tunbridge Wells Common, Rusthall Common reveals even more dramatic sandstone formations — including Bull’s Hollow, where sheer rock faces rise abruptly from the woodland floor.

Location: Rusthall Common, Kent
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The Geology

Toad Rock is formed from the Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation, laid down around 100 million years ago during the Lower Cretaceous period.

At that time, this part of southern England was a vast river delta. Sand and sediment carried by ancient rivers settled in layers and gradually compacted into sandstone. Over millions of years, erosion exposed the rock and sculpted the shapes visible today.

Toad Rock, Rusthall Common, Kent
Toad Rock on Rusthall Common near Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. This distinctive weathered sandstone formation is part of the Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation within the High Weald, shaped over millions of years into one of the area’s most recognisable natural landmarks.

The unusual perched shape of Toad Rock is the result of differential erosion — where softer layers of sandstone wear away more quickly than harder layers above them. The harder cap protects the rock beneath, leaving the characteristic overhanging form.

Iron minerals within the stone give the sandstone its warm brown and reddish tones, particularly visible after rain or in soft overcast light.

Victorian Visitors

Rusthall Common became a popular walking destination during the Georgian and Victorian periods, when visitors staying in Royal Tunbridge Wells would venture out to explore the surrounding countryside.

The dramatic rock formations were seen as romantic curiosities, and Toad Rock became one of the most photographed and described features in local guidebooks of the time.

Many of the surrounding rocks are just as impressive, though often overlooked by visitors focused on the famous “toad” itself.

Bull’s Hollow

Just across the Common from Toad Rock lies Bull’s Hollow, where sandstone cliffs rise sharply above the woodland.

The rock faces here reveal the scale of the sandstone ridge beneath the landscape. Unlike the more sculptural form of Toad Rock, Bull’s Hollow exposes the layered cliff structure of the formation, showing how erosion has cut through the sandstone over geological time.

It remains one of the most striking but lesser-known features of Rusthall Common.

Living With Ancient Stone

One of the most unusual aspects of the area is how closely modern life sits beside these ancient formations. Along nearby Upper Street, houses have been built directly beside and even around exposed sandstone outcrops.

The contrast is striking: homes only decades old standing next to rock formed a hundred million years ago.

It’s a reminder that these geological features long predate the town itself — and will likely remain long after.

Practical Info

Location: Rusthall Common, Kent
Access: Open common land with public access
Parking: Rusthall village or Tunbridge Wells Common
Best Time to Visit: Early morning or overcast conditions for photography
Nearby: Wellington Rocks, High Rocks, Eridge Rocks, Harrison Rocks

Toad Rock is more than just an unusual natural landmark. It is part of a wider sandstone landscape that defines the High Weald — a landscape shaped over millions of years and still quietly embedded in everyday life.

England, February, Geology & Rock Formations, High Weald, Kent, Natural History, photography, South East, Tunbridge Wells, UK, Winter

Wellington Rocks, Tunbridge Wells Common

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Introduction

Wellington Rocks are a series of weathered sandstone outcrops rising from the open heath of Tunbridge Wells Common. Just above the historic spa town, these formations are part of the same sandstone belt that runs through Eridge, Rusthall and High Rocks — a continuous geological system straddling the Sussex–Kent border.

Shaped over millions of years, the rocks remain one of the most accessible and quietly impressive natural landmarks in the area.

Short film from Wellington Rocks:

A short walk west across the Common leads to Toad Rock on Rusthall Common, making this part of the High Weald one of the richest clusters of sandstone formations in southern England.

Location: Tunbridge Wells Common, Kent
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[See all mapped locations]

The Geology

Wellington Rocks are formed from the Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation, laid down approximately 100 million years ago during the Lower Cretaceous period.

Wellington rocks tunbridge wells common
Sandstone outcrops on Tunbridge Wells Common, known as Wellington Rocks, part of the Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation in the High Weald. These weathered iron-rich rocks rise from open heathland just above the historic spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

At that time, this landscape was a vast river delta. Sand carried by ancient rivers settled in layers, eventually compacting into sandstone. Over geological time, uplift and erosion exposed the rock. Wind, rain and frost gradually sculpted the softer layers, creating the rounded forms, fissures and ledges visible today.

The iron content within the stone gives the rock its warm, earthy tones — particularly noticeable in soft overcast light or after rain.

Why “Wellington” Rocks?

The rocks were named in the 19th century after Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, reflecting the patriotic mood of the Victorian era. Tunbridge Wells was a fashionable spa town at the time, and public features were often given commemorative names.

The Common itself became an important leisure space, with visitors walking out from The Pantiles to enjoy fresh air and views over the surrounding countryside.

Common Land & Protection

Although much of Tunbridge Wells Common is privately owned, it is registered common land. This provides strong protection and preserves public access rights.

Occasionally, parts of the Common appear on the market as freehold interests change hands. However, common land status significantly restricts development and safeguards public access.

Ownership may change over time — the rocks remain.

Photographing Wellington Rocks

Wellington Rocks are best photographed in:

  • Overcast light (to preserve texture and avoid harsh contrast)
  • Early morning or late afternoon for soft directional light
  • Autumn and winter when foliage is thinner and the rock faces are more visible

The perimeter path allows you to walk around and over the outcrops, offering a variety of angles — from close textural studies to wider compositions including heathland and woodland.

Practical Info

Location: Tunbridge Wells Common, Kent
Access: Open access common land
Parking: Town centre / Common roadside parking
Best Time to Visit: Early morning for quiet conditions and soft light
Nearby: Rusthall Common (Toad Rock), The Pantiles, High Rocks

Wellington Rocks form part of a remarkable sandstone ridge system that defines this corner of the High Weald. A landscape shaped long before county lines were drawn — and one that continues to offer geology, history and open space in equal measure.