Field trip
The post-conference field trip to the Isle of Wight is a separate ticketed event. Places are limited to Association members and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis at time of online registration.
Field trip: Isle of Wight
Date: Monday 15th December 2025
Cost: £40
Capacity: 35 participants (minimum 25 participants)
The one-day post-conference fieldtrip will visit the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight, situated off the south-central coast of England, is long famous for its geology and palaeontology of Cretaceous to Oligocene sediments in nearly continuous, sea-washed exposures. The trip will focus on the Cretaceous-Eocene succession in Whitecliff Bay, on the east of the island; and the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) Wessex Formation on the southwest coast.
The trip will depart from Southsea Hoverport in the morning of Monday the 15th December (time tbc), travelling from Portsmouth using the Hovercraft to Ryde on the Isle of Wight and then picking up a coach. In the morning, participants will visit the spectacular cliff exposures in Whitecliff Bay which extend from Campanian chalk (Portsdown Formation) through to the late Eocene Bembridge Limestone (Priabonian lacustrine facies). This is the type section of the London Clay Formation. Following this, lunch will be taken in the Wight Mouse Inn in Chale which provides good standard pub fare. During the afternoon, participants will travel to the southwest of the island to explore the habitats of Wealden dinosaurs. Participants will visit the excellent exposures of the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) Wessex Formation between Grange Chine and Chilton Chine, which has been the source of numerous spectacular finds of vertebrates for nearly 200 years. As the light begins to fade, the coach will return to Ryde for the hovercraft back to Portsmouth, with the aim to be back no later than 18:00.
Field trip registration fees will cover the hovercraft and coach. Participants will be able to purchase their own lunch from the Wight Mouse Inn. The number of participants will be limited due to coach capacity. It will not be possible to run the trip if the minimum number of participants is not reached. Registration will be closed to new participants once the maximum is reached.
This trip will visit two coastal/cliff localities; therefore, participants must wear appropriate footwear (ankle supporting walking boots) and bring their own hard hat. Participants are also advised to bring a spare pair of shoes, and we strongly advise carrying wet (and very cold!) weather clothes.