"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.

Some fossils can be simply picked up from the foreshore, others are set in extremly hard limestone layers, others are set in clay. For that reason there are quite a few different tools you may need.

Crack Hammers: Any bones in the hard limestone layers will need good quality crack hammer and Chrome chisels. These are strong, other chisels will simply blunt extremely quickly. It is also recommended that you use a 3lb or 4lb hammer.

Chisels: The limestone ledges can be so hard that you will need Special Chrome Vanadium Steel Chisels. These are made from the highest quality steel and are coated for extra protection. They are also much sharper than normal chisels and will last much longer. As for the type of chisel, it is highly recommended that you use Splitting chisels as these are the most effective at clean splits.

Trowels: Handy for picking any fossils out of the Kimmerdge Clay Shale. Also handy for digging any corals out from the Kimmeridge Clay.

Knives: Ideal for the clay on the foreshore, some fossils can be found simply in the shale, a knife is a very good tool to pick them out with.

Picks: When the clay is exposed on the foreshore a pick comes in handy. Sometimes knives and trowels are not suitable especially in areas that have been redeposit as mixed boulder clay.

Safety Wear: Goggles or Safety Glasses are absolutely essential when using hammers and chisels.

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

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 heavy rocks that you wish to split back home and to hold your fossil finds.

Footwear: Wellington Boots are the best type for footwear for Helmsdale, the foreshore can be very rocky with many water areas, this is also the area were the fossils come from. It can also sometimes be quite muddy.