"Whilst any good ironmonger can supply cold chisels and strong knives or trowels, he is very unlikely to have safe and suitable hammers in stock. The steel of ordinary domestic and many trade hammers is far too soft for use on most rocks. It will splinter and flying fragments of steel can cause nasty wounds, particularly to the eyes, not only of the hammerer but also of his companions." Fossils in Colour - 1967 - J.F. Kirkaldy, D.Sc. Formally Head of the Department of Geology, Queen Mary College London.

Most of the fossils can be found by searching the loose material on the foreshore, hammering is not permitted at this location..

Hammers and Picks: Ideal for splitting rocks that contain fossils. It is also advisable to take a chisel and to ensure you wear goggles.

Chisels: You will need a chisel for this location. These are very good for splitting rocks and boulders and also getting fossils out of rock.

Specimen Bags: These are ideal for collecting from Aberlady. Sealable Clear Specimen Bags can hold your finds. These can be purchased from UKGE for low prices and can easily be re-used.

Field Lenses: The fossils at Aberlady can require a magnifying lenses to see the fine detail. It is not always possible to tell the identify of the fossil from normal sight. The most common type is the 10x.

Specimen Boxes: Keep your small finds safe in these clear, cost effective specimen boxes. Perfect to build your fossil collection.

Geo Field Ruler: This Geo Ruler is ideal for field use and for photographing specimens. The Rular is colour graduated in CM with 10cm Blocks, made of hard thick plastic and is waterproof.

Waterproof Notepads and Waterproof Pens: These field notepads and field pens work in the rain, they are perfect for taking notes. The pens work in any condition, including underwater! Taking notes about where fossils were found is an essential part of any collection.

Geological Bags: Strong, Waterproof and durable geological bags that last years are ideal for any keen fossil hunter. These quality bags from Estwing are ideal for bringing back those larger finds or sample bags.

Preparation Tools:A range of hand, and automatic tools for cleaning your fossils. We have air tools, grit blasters and etchers.

Footwear: Hiking Boots are recommended fine for Aberlady.

Safety Equipment: Please ensure you take safety equipment. Hard Hats for all locations where there is a cliff or in a quarry, and goggles when using striking tools.