"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.

Coniston covers such a big area, that it is best to take as little as possible, apart from the essentials (more space for finds!). Take food and drink too.

Chisel Picks: Chisel picks are the best geological tool for Coniston so that you can split layers. The shale easily splits and graptolites can then be collected.

Chisels: Standard cold chisels are ideal for Coniston, It is best to take a wide splitting chisel, a standard 1" and a smaller chisel for finer work. These will be fine for splitting the rocks.

Specimen Bags: These are ideal for Coniston. 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 finds back home.

Footwear: Wellington Boots are recommended for footwear for Coniston, however it is also best to take some general walking boots as the total distance is around 4 miles to visit the main quarry.