"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.

The Flagstones are extremely hard but can be split providing you have the correct tools. You will certainly need tools to bring back any fossils since it is very unlikely that any will be loose on the foreshore. Most of the slabs are very large, or exposed in the form of a single foreshore platform.

Crack Hammers: To split the flagstone layers, you will need good quality crack hammers 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 Flagstones are 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.

Specimen Bags: These are ideal for Thurso. 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: Safety Steel Toe Cap Boots are required for Thurso. The rocks are extremely hard and could slip if working on a slab.