Take a closer look\u00a0next time you\u2019re walking along the\u00a0seashore and\u00a0you may be surprised about what you find \u00a0\u2013 a pointy\u00a0top shell, a colourful periwinkle or a\u00a0spired whelk.<\/p>\n

Each species in our ID guide has\u00a0specific patterns\u00a0and markings, and varies in shape and size, offering clues about the animals\u2019 evolution and their day-to-day lives.<\/p>\n

Our guide on how to identify the most common seashells found along the British coastline and best places to find them.<\/p>\n

1<\/span>

Auger shell<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Tower20Shell2028Turritella20communis2920OS001flat_cmyk_0-fee4643"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Tall, spindly cone up to 3cm long. Common anywhere with muddy sediments except for the south-east coast of England.<\/p>\n

Related articles<\/strong><\/p>\n
Britain\u2019s best beaches<\/a><\/li>\n
Freediving and foraging on the Cornish coast<\/a><\/li>\n
Coastal flowers guide: how to identify<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>

$\""Church\"$ <\/div>
Getty<\/figcaption><\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section><\/p>
2<\/span>
Baltic tellin<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Baltic20Sellin2028Macoma20Balthica292001_cmyk_0-895cad5"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Plump, almost circular shell, 2.5cm in length. Can be pink, yellow, purple and white. Common in estuaries except in the south.<\/p>
3<\/span>
Banded wedge shell<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Banded20Wedge20Shell2028Donax20vittatus2920001_cmyk_0-bb24a97"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Wedge-shaped shell up to 4cm long in shiny white, yellow-purple or brown. Common on all coasts.<\/p>\n

How to go rockpooling<\/a><\/h4>\n
Rockpooling is a traditional summertime seaside activity, but you can explore the hidden world of the sea\u2019s fascinating creatures at anytime of the year. Our expert rockpooling guide offers tips on the best places to go, essential equipment and how to get started.<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>

$\""Rockpool"\"$ <\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
4<\/span>
Blunt gaper<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Blunt20Gapper2028Mya20truncata2920OS001flat_cmyk-f151db5"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Large shell up to 7.5cm long. Colours range from white to dark-brown. Common on sandy, muddy or stony shores.<\/p>
5<\/span>
Common cockle<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""EPSON\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Fan-shaped shell with radiating ribs up to 5cm across. Widely distributed in estuaries and sandy bays \u2013 up to 10,000 per m\u00b2.<\/p>
6<\/span>
Common limpet<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Limpet2028Common2920Patella20vulgata2002_cmyk-451ee2b"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Familiar conical shell in grey or white\u00a0with radiating ridges up to 6cm high. Found on rocky shores.<\/p>
7<\/span>
Common oyster<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Oyster2028Common2920Ostrea20edulis2001_cmyk-e742309"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/h6>\n
Oval or pear-shaped shell up to 11cm across. The two halves of shell are very different \u2013 one smooth and flat, the other rough and concave. Widely distributed but less common on east coast.<\/p>\n

Britain\u2019s best coastal caves, arches and stacks<\/a><\/h4>\n
Along the British coastline you will find a range of dramatic rock formations which range from hidden caves, arches and stacks. Our guide to the most spectacular coastal caves, arches and stacks along the British coast.<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>

$\""Durdle\"$ <\/div>
Getty<\/figcaption><\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
8<\/span>
Common periwinkle<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Common20Edible20Periwinkle2028Littorina20littorea2920001_cmyk-5895a98"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Black or grey conical shell up to 5cm in height. Found everywhere, particularly rocky coasts.<\/p>
9<\/span>
Common piddock<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Common20Piddock2028Pholas20dactylus2920OS002flat_cmyk-f579b0e"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Large, brittle shell up to 12cm long with ridges and radiating lines. Dull-white or grey in colour. Largely found on southern shores.<\/p>
10<\/span>
Common Razor clam<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Razor20Shell2028Ensis20siliqua2920OS003_cmyk-d703759"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Unmistakable slender shell up to 25cm long \u2013 very common on sandy bays and estuaries. Often washed up in vast numbers after storms.<\/p>
11<\/span>
Common whelk<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Common20Whelk2028Buccinum20undatum292020OS002_cmyk-4379075"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Yellow-brown spiralling shell up to 10cm high and 6cm wide. Very common. Mobile, the common whelk preys on small bivalves.<\/p>\n

Britain\u2019s best seal watching spots and how to avoid disturbing the colony<\/a><\/h4>\n
Spotting a seal colony is one of Britain\u2019s great wildlife spectacles. Our guide explains how to spot seals without disturbing the colony, the best seal watching spots in the UK, plus how to identify harbour seals and grey seals.<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>

$\""seal4-0317a21"\"$ <\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
12<\/span>
Dog whelk<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Dog20Welk2028Nucella20lapillus2920OS001_cmyk-ffa2b6f"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Spired, up to 6cm long, in cream, yellow or grey. Common on all rocky coasts where it feeds on mussels and barnacles.<\/p>
13<\/span>
Flat periwinkle<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Common20Flat20Periwinkle20OS002_cmyk-19131f3"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Small, vari-coloured whorled shell up to 1.5cm \u2013 from olive-green to brown, red and yellow. Common wherever kelp occurs.<\/p>
14<\/span>
Grey top shell<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Grey20Topshell20OS001_cmyk-4f797d0"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Small whorled shell, 1.7cm across. Grey or light-yellow with brown or purple streaks. Common on all coasts.<\/p>
15<\/span>
Mussel<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Common20Mussel2028Mytilus20edulis29202_cmyk-d6a98a8"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Purple or blue shell, 5-10cm long when adult. Very common on all coasts on intertidal rocks.<\/p>
16<\/span>
Necklace shell<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Necklace20Shell2028Polinices20catenus292001_cmyk-6b43f4a"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/h6>\n
A smooth, golden-brown whorled seashell up to 3cm high. Common on sandy shores.<\/p>
17<\/span>
Painted top shell<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Painted20Topshell2028Calliostoma20zizyphinum2920OS001_cmyk-b430185"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Conical violet\/pink and brown streaked shell, up to 3cm high. Very common on seaweed-covered rocky shores.<\/p>\n

Guide to Britain\u2019s dolphins, porpoise and whales: how to identify and best places to to see<\/a><\/h4>\n
Learn all about Britain\u2019s dolphins, porpoise and whales \u2013 including identification, the best places to see them and boat excursions \u2013 with our guide to the UK\u2019s most common cetacean species.<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>

$\""dolphins-eb08717"\"$ <\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
18<\/span>
Slipper limpet<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Slipper20Limpet2028American2920Crepidula20fornicata2001_cmyk-a061d5b"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Oval shell up to 5cm long with a large opening underneath, up to half the length of the body. Mostly found on the coasts of southern Britain.<\/p>
19<\/span>
Thick top shell<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\""Common20topshell2028Osilinus20lineatus2920OS001_cmyk-a3a29ba"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Turban-like spire up to 3cm in height in green, grey or black. Extremely common on the rocky shores of south-west England and Wales<\/a>.<\/p>
20<\/span>
Thin tellin<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\u00a0<\/p>\n
$\""Thin20Tellin2001_cmyk-8a6f952"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Brittle, flattened shell up to 3cm long in shades of pink and yellow. Common on sandy shores.<\/p>\n
Illustrations \u00a9Chris Shields<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By countryfile Published: Friday, 14 January 2022 at 12:00 am Take a closer look\u00a0next time you\u2019re walking along the\u00a0seashore and\u00a0you may be surprised about what you find \u00a0\u2013 a pointy\u00a0top shell, a colourful periwinkle or a\u00a0spired whelk. Each species in our ID guide has\u00a0specific patterns\u00a0and markings, and varies in shape and size, offering clues about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":725,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/01\/british-seashell-guide-how-to-identify-and-where-to-find.jpg",1600,1066,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/01\/british-seashell-guide-how-to-identify-and-where-to-find-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/01\/british-seashell-guide-how-to-identify-and-where-to-find-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/01\/british-seashell-guide-how-to-identify-and-where-to-find-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/01\/british-seashell-guide-how-to-identify-and-where-to-find-1024x682.jpg",800,533,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/01\/british-seashell-guide-how-to-identify-and-where-to-find-1536x1023.jpg",1536,1023,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/01\/british-seashell-guide-how-to-identify-and-where-to-find.jpg",1600,1066,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By countryfile Published: Friday, 14 January 2022 at 12:00 am Take a closer look\u00a0next time you\u2019re walking along the\u00a0seashore and\u00a0you may be surprised about what you find \u00a0\u2013 a pointy\u00a0top shell, a colourful periwinkle or a\u00a0spired whelk. Each species in our ID guide has\u00a0specific patterns\u00a0and markings, and varies in shape and size, offering clues about…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/724"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}