Outdoor Tidal Pools in Cornwall

Did you know some of our Cornish beaches have these hidden secrets?

Dotted across Cornwall at various beaches, you can find the occasional tidal sea pool. Pools and lagoons built into the rocks that fill up naturally when the tide comes in, and are left to warm in the sun throughout the day. Some of them have become key features on their housing beach, but a few of them are more secluded and tricky to find!

Porthtowan

Only accessible at low tide, this is the hardest tidal pool to find. As you face towards the sea, head over to the rocks on the right hand side of the beach and climb over them until you find this hidden pool at the foot of the cliffs. We used to go hunting for this pool when we were kids, and jump off the rocks into the water with our pool floats!

Perranporth

The pool at Perranporth can be found on Chapel Rock (aka the large rock that sits in the middle of the beach with a flag on top!) and is great for kids to play in (it’s fairly easily accessible) or to find some rockpool creatures.

Portreath

I need to head to Portreath soon at low tide and catch a photo of this one! Tucked in the rocks next to the harbour wall on the right hand side, you need to do a bit of climbing over rock pools to reach this little lagoon. Again, this is one we used to play in lots as kids with our boards and pool floats.

Mousehole

If you walk along the sea wall to the left hand side of Mousehole harbour itself, you will reach this tidal pool at low tide after a 5 minute stroll. It’s not very deep, but still a fascinating place to find some little sea creatures, and not too much climbing from the path either.

Bude

Probably Cornwall’s most famous tidal pools, and one of the biggest draws to the seaside town of Bude each year! This is the largest natural sea pool in Cornwall, and was built in the 1930s as a safe swim spot for locals and tourists alike. Even when we went up for a dip recently, there were locals doing their morning lengths in this full size pool.

 

…and two I haven’t been to yet, but they’re on my list to visit soon!

Polperro

Described as more like a large rockpool, the tidal pool at Polperro is one on my list to visit, perhaps whilst on an adventure around the coast path there (it’s on my Cornish bucket list!).

Priest’s Cove, Cape Cornwall

I’ve never been to Cape Cornwall and I’m desperate to visit Botallack mine too, so this could be the perfect stop-off on that adventure. It looks like a good size pool and quite similar to Portreath’s in the way it’s built into the rocks.

 

 

Know of any more I need to add to this list? Comment below!

Naturally, due to the ‘tidal’ nature of these pools, you must be careful not to get caught out by the tide coming in. Stay aware of what the sea is doing and don’t get cut off.