ROCK POOLING

ROCK POOLING

IN WESTWARD HO!

Rock pooling is a great way to spend some time in Westward Ho! plus a perfect way to get kids engaged with nature. The rock pools in Westward Ho! are really easy to access and are teeming with life, especially in the summer months.

The rock pools around Westward Ho! are beautiful and full of life
Kids love rock pooling at Westward Ho!
The sewer pipe in Westward Ho! makes an easy walk to the good rock pools

Rock Pooling in Westward Ho! can be a relatively sedate activity or a full days adventure! You can see from the Google image below the amount of rocks/reef to the South West of the village centre.

Easy rock pooling, but still some amazing rock pools, can be found around the sea water swimming pool off the promenade, 3 hours after high water to 3 hours before high water. Just beside the sea water pool we have the old concrete sewer pipe (pictured beside), this can be walked on easily (take care as it can get slippy in places, see safety advise). This whole area has some brilliant rock pools to explore and are relatively easy and safe to get too for young ones and those less mobile (marked with white circle on the map below).

The rock pools in the village and spread over a wide area

When off Rock Pooling, by following this simple safety advise, it will make sure you get the most out of your day without the need to encounter the RNLI or Coastguards! 

-Know the tide times. The best rock pools are uncovered 3 hours after high tide through the low water to 3 hours before high water. If you are heading further out, make sure you are back in plenty of time, the cliffs will cut you off 2-3 hours before high water depending on tide height.

-On the incoming tide always make sure you can see a clear path back. A rising tide can cut you off if you are further out on the rocks. By being aware of this and your surroundings you won't get cut off.

-The rocks and the concrete pipe can get very slippery, good footwear is advised. High heels look amazing but may not be the best!

-Take some suntan lotion. It's very easy to get carried away in the rock pools and get burnt even if not bright sunshine.

-A change of clothing for the little ones is a great idea, they do tend to get a little too close sometimes.

-Take a mobile phone. If you did get into trouble or saw someone else in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Tide times and sea safety advise is always available from Kitemare-Surf & Kite Shop or Summerlands Tackle shop in the village or online. We want you to have fun safely and learn about the ocean plus it's inhabitants.

rock pools in Westward Ho! Devon are fully of life

In the summer months the rock pools are really clear, if you sit quietly around one you will see so much going on. Shrimps appear and if you put your hands in gently, they will explore your fingers, crabs will walk past, blenny's will swim out, you may see a hermit crab, winkles will start to move and a lot more too. It's only by sitting quiet and studying, that you get to see the best bits of the rock pools.

Mermaids Pool and big rock pools are quite close to Westward Ho!

Mermaids Pool is a very big rock pool down the old sewer pipe then across the rocks to the South as shown on the map above. This is a very big rock pool usually with big fish swimming in it. We haven't found a Mermaid yet but still looking!
It's a beautiful area plus always quieter. Please be aware of the tide times and make sure you are back 3 hours before high water.

Mermaids pool in Westward Ho! is the biggest rock pool, it's supposed to have a mermaid in it too!
Mermaids pool can be seen from the Tors in Westward Ho!

Mermaids pool can be seen beside. This photo was taken from the Look out on Kipling Tors and looks down onto Mermaids Pool. Look at all of these magical big rock pools to explore?

Last but not least be careful of this wonderful wildlife, find it, observe and protect it.  Turn over rocks carefully and place back, handle animals gently and return everything. If you find any washed up rubbish, give Mother Nature a helping hand and take it home to put in the bin.

Barnacles around the rock pools in Westward Ho! Devon
A child looking into the rock pools at Westward Ho!
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