In this guide
- A beginner's guide to rock pooling
- Wembury Beach — Devon's marine capital
- Tunnels Beaches — Victorian tidal pools
- Shoalstone Pool — Brixham's sea pool
- Lee Bay — Ilfracombe's quiet gem
- Branscombe — Jurassic Coast pools
- Combe Martin — North Devon favourite
- Barricane Beach — tropical shells
- Hope Cove — sheltered South Hams
- Babbacombe & Oddicombe
- Beer Beach — East Devon gem
- What you'll find — creature guide
- Essential rock pooling kit
- The rock pooler's code
A Beginner's Guide to Rock Pooling
Rock pooling is the ultimate free family activity, and Devon's coastline is one of the best places in Britain to do it. The county has a huge variety of rocky shores — from the Jurassic Coast's limestone ledges to the slate platforms of the South Hams and the dramatic reef structures of North Devon.
The key to great rock pooling is timing. You need a low spring tide — the bigger the tidal range, the more pools are exposed. Check tide tables for your chosen beach and aim to arrive about an hour before low tide. This gives you time to explore as the water retreats, revealing pools that are normally submerged.
When to Go Rock Pooling
- Best months: April to September — warmer weather, longer days, more active marine life
- Best tides: Low spring tides (around full and new moons) — maximum pool exposure
- Best time of day: Arrive 1 hour before low tide, leave as the tide turns
- Avoid: Very high tides, rough sea conditions, and incoming tides that can cut you off
Wembury Beach
Devon's single best rock pooling beach. Wembury is a Voluntary Marine Conservation Area, which means the marine life here is particularly rich and diverse. The Devon Wildlife Trust Marine Centre runs guided rockpool rambles from Easter to October — perfect for families new to pooling. The extensive reef platforms exposed at low tide are home to starfish, anemones, sea slugs, blennies and occasionally small cuttlefish. The view out to the Great Mewstone is spectacular too.
Tunnels Beaches
Reached through hand-carved Victorian tunnels through the cliff, Tunnels Beaches is one of Devon's most unusual rock pooling spots. The tidal bathing pool — built by Welsh miners in the 1820s — creates a sheltered environment teeming with marine life. There's an entry charge, but it includes access to the tidal pool, the beach and (in rough weather) some of the most dramatic wave-watching in Devon. At low tide, the surrounding rock platforms add further exploring territory.
Read our full Tunnels Beaches guide →Shoalstone Pool
Shoalstone is one of only a handful of outdoor seawater swimming pools left in England, and the rock ledges surrounding it are excellent for pooling. The 50-metre pool fills naturally with the tide — swim first, then explore the surrounding reef as the water drops. The pool walls themselves become mini rock pools as the tide falls, with anemones, limpets and small fish trapped in crevices. Completely free to use.
Lee Bay
The small rocky bay at Lee — a hamlet hidden in the hills just west of Ilfracombe — has some of the best rock pools on the entire north coast. The wave-cut platform exposed at low tide is dotted with deep, sheltered pools rich in marine life. Look carefully and you'll find cushion stars, snakelock anemones, butterfish and sometimes spider crabs. While everyone heads to Tunnels Beaches, Lee Bay stays wonderfully quiet. The Grampus Inn in the village does excellent food.
Branscombe Beach
Branscombe sits on the Jurassic Coast, and the rock pools at the eastern end of the beach are set into the same ancient limestone platforms that yield fossils. At low tide, the pools are shallow but numerous — ideal for younger children who can spot shore crabs, hermit crabs and beadlet anemones without getting too deep. Combine with a fossil hunt along the base of the crumbling red cliffs for a full day of natural history.
Read our Branscombe guide →Combe Martin Beach
North Devon has some of the biggest tidal ranges in Britain, and at Combe Martin a huge area of reef platform emerges at low spring tides. The pools here are excellent — deep enough to hold fish (look for blennies and gobies), with anemones, prawns and crabs in abundance. The beach is sheltered in the bay, making it one of the calmer north coast options for families with younger children.
Barricane Beach
Barricane is famous for its tropical shells — cowries, wentletraps and other exotic species carried here by the Gulf Stream from the Caribbean. But the small rock pools on either side of the beach are equally rewarding. At low tide, look for cushion stars, sea slugs and snakelock anemones. The beach is small and usually much quieter than nearby Woolacombe and Croyde. In summer, an unforgettable Sri Lankan curry van sets up on the clifftop.
Read our Barricane guide →Hope Cove
Inner Hope and Outer Hope form one of Devon's most charming coastal villages, and the rock pools at the edges of both bays are ideal for younger children. The pools are shallow, sheltered and easy to access — no scrambling or tricky paths. Crabs, anemones and small fish are reliably found. After pooling, the village has an excellent pub (The Hope & Anchor) and a proper village shop for ice cream. One of the safest beaches in South Devon for small children.
Read our Hope Cove guide →Babbacombe & Oddicombe
The red Devonian sandstone platforms at Babbacombe and neighbouring Oddicombe create a different kind of rock pooling experience. The warm-coloured stone is softer than the slate and granite of other parts of Devon, and it erodes into smooth, bowl-shaped pools that trap all manner of marine life. Take the historic Babbacombe Cliff Railway down (it's an experience in itself), then head left along the base of the cliffs for the best pool areas.
Read our Babbacombe guide →Beer Beach
Beer is one of Devon's most photogenic fishing villages, and the rock ledges at the western end of the beach provide excellent rock pooling. The chalk-influenced geology here is different from other parts of Devon, and you'll find species that are less common elsewhere — including occasional cushion stars and small squat lobsters in deeper pools. At low spring tides, the pool area extends significantly. After pooling, the village has several excellent pubs and the famous Beer Quarry Caves nearby.
Read our Beer Beach guide →What You'll Find — Rock Pool Creature Guide
Devon's rock pools are home to an extraordinary variety of marine life. Here's a quick guide to the most common creatures you'll spot — and a few special finds to look out for.
Shore Crab
The most common rock pool find. Green-brown, fast-moving, and hides under stones. Handle gently if at all — they can nip!
Beadlet Anemone
Dark red blobs on rocks that bloom into flower-like tentacles underwater. Touch gently — they feel sticky. Devon's most common anemone.
Common Starfish
Orange-red with five arms. Found in deeper pools clinging to rocks. Leave them in the water — they can't breathe in air for long.
Hermit Crab
Looks like a moving snail shell. Pick one up and wait patiently — a pair of tiny legs and claws will eventually emerge. Kids love these.
Snakelock Anemone
Bright green tentacles with purple tips. Doesn't retract when exposed. Found in sunlit, sheltered pools. Don't touch — mild sting.
Blenny
Small, dark fish that darts between rocks. Has a comical face with big eyes. Can survive briefly out of water. Common in deeper pools.
Common Prawn
Almost transparent with delicate markings. Found in deeper pools, often in groups. Stay very still and they'll emerge from hiding.
Cushion Star
A special find! Small (coin-sized), olive-green star, flatter than common starfish. Found under stones in shallow pools. More common in Devon than elsewhere.
Rare Finds to Look Out For
- Blue-rayed limpet — iridescent blue stripes on a tiny shell. Found on kelp fronds, especially at Wembury
- Stalked jellyfish — tiny, flower-like creatures attached to seaweed. Very rare and easily overlooked
- Sea hare — brown, slug-like creature found in shallow pools in spring. Releases purple ink if disturbed
- Cuttlefish bone — the white internal shell washed ashore. The living animal is occasionally found in very large, deep pools
Essential Rock Pooling Kit
You don't need much to go rock pooling, but a few items make the experience much better. Here's what to bring:
- Bucket — clear or white is best, so you can see creatures clearly. Fill with pool water, not tap water
- Net — a small, fine-mesh hand net for scooping prawns and small fish
- Magnifying glass — transforms the experience for children. Suddenly tiny creatures become fascinating
- Old trainers or water shoes — rocks are slippery and barnacles are sharp. No bare feet!
- Sun protection — you'll be crouching over pools for hours. Hat, sunscreen, and water
- Identification guide — the Collins Complete Guide to British Coastal Wildlife is the best pocket reference
- Waterproof phone case — for photos of your finds
The Rock Pooler's Code
Rock pools are fragile ecosystems. Every creature you find lives in a delicately balanced environment. Follow these rules to ensure the pools stay healthy for future visitors — and future generations of marine life.
🐚 Rock Pooling Rules
- Look, don't take — never remove creatures or shells from the beach
- Replace stones exactly — animals live under and on rocks. Put them back the same way up, in the same spot
- Use wet hands — dry hands can damage the mucus coating that protects marine animals
- Return creatures quickly — if you put something in a bucket, return it to the same pool within minutes
- Avoid trampling — step on bare rock between pools, not on barnacles or seaweed-covered surfaces
- Don't poke anemones — touching makes them retract, wasting energy they need for feeding
- Leave seaweed in place — it's shelter and food for dozens of species
- Watch the tide — incoming tides on rocky shores can cut you off. Always know your escape route
The Marine Conservation Society and Devon Wildlife Trust both run guided rock pooling sessions at various beaches during the summer months. These are an excellent way to learn — expert guides know exactly where to look and can identify species that most visitors walk straight past.