cowries

[ChrisJB]

I have recently been reading some stuff about John Betjeman and how he used to look for cowry shells in Cornwall. I've never found any on my various beach combings here and there. So was wondering if people have any good places/beaches to look for them, and where on the beach to look. Preferably up north. I have vague recollections about a place on Anglesey, but exactly where, I know not.

Regards, Chris

[RobSutton]

I seem to remember finding them on the little beaches around Llanddwyn Island (near Newborough Warren). Otherwise I know a few good beaches for them on Coll in the Inner Hebrides.

[GuyF]

This isn't much help for where you live, but I've occasionally found them on Studland Beach, Dorset. They seem to be much easier to find when there's been recent stormy weather, but even then I can usually only find a small number of shells. There's usually a line of shells and small pebbles quite close to the sea, and if you really search through that you may get lucky!
Guy

[ChrisJB]

Update: on my recent holiday to Mull, I found stacks of them on a couple of beaches up there. Very small but satisfying to find still.

Regards, Chris