British Shell Collectors' Club

  • Home
    • Club news
    • Committee
    • Joining
    • About
  • ACTIVITIES
    • Events calendar
    • Pallidula
    • Contribute
  • COLLECTING
    • Collecting guidance
    • UK collecting
    • Collection care
  • FOR REFERENCE
    • Picture galleries
    • Articles
    • Reference books
    • Glossary
    • Links
  • SHOP
    • Club shop
    • Members' notices
    • Members' swaps
  • Home
    • Club news
    • Committee
    • Joining
    • About
  • ACTIVITIES
    • Events calendar
    • Pallidula
    • Contribute
  • COLLECTING
    • Collecting guidance
    • UK collecting
    • Collection care
  • FOR REFERENCE
    • Picture galleries
    • Articles
    • Reference books
    • Glossary
    • Links
  • SHOP
    • Club shop
    • Members' notices
    • Members' swaps

Collecting British shells

The cold waters around the continental shelf of the UK are rich in marine fauna and there are more than 600 species of marine mollusc and many more freshwater and terrestrial species.

In these pages you'll find ideas for places to collect shells and where to see some fine public displays of shells in the different nations and regions. Click on the map below to select your area of interest.

We have also begun a gallery of photographs of living British molluscs: contributions to this are very welcome.

Note that in Great Britain, the public are generally permitted access to the foreshore (the beach between the low water and high water marks) and shells and other items may be collected for non-commercial purposes. You should be aware of any local restrictions and especially those in our National Parks, only a few of which encompass beach areas. See also the principles laid out under Collecting guidance
Image Map Shell collecting Northern England Shell collecting Northern Ireland Shell collecting Wales Shell collecting Midlands Shell collecting Southwest England Shell collecting Southeast England Shell collecting Channel Islands
Photograph by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC

Contact us

Picture
Picture
Copyright © British Shell Collectors' Club 2003–2023
Individual creators retain the copyright on their text and images, which may not be reused without their express permission.