Local tide times for Looe (BST) on Wednesday, 16 July 2025:

• Low tide: 3:58 am (0.94 m)
• High tide: 9:55 am (5.11 m)
• Low tide: 4:15 pm (1.15 m)
• High tide: 10:13 pm (5.36 m) (tideschart.com)

Rock pools are living windows into the hidden drama of the intertidal zone. Each pool is a miniature world, sheltered from the relentless push and pull of the tides yet exposed to dramatic changes in temperature, salinity and oxygen. When submerged, the shore resembles an underwater woodland—animals scuttle beneath waving fronds of seaweed and fish flit among pebbles, while anemones unfurl tentacles like blossoms in a watery garden (seabird.org). For families, rockpooling combines the thrill of discovery with hands-on science, sparking curiosity in young explorers and seasoned naturalists alike (nhm.ac.uk).

The rocky shore is divided into four broad zones, each defined by how often it is covered by the sea:

• Splash zone sits above the high-tide mark, splashed only by the highest waves. Here you’ll find hardy lichens and periwinkles.
• Upper shore is awash at every high tide; wracks (seaweeds) and barnacles form a stony crust.
• Middle shore is the playground of periwinkles, limpets and small crabs, with occasional rock pools.
• Low shore is submerged for most of the day, where deep pools teem with fish, anemones and dense algal forests (seabird.org, mhc.jncc.gov.uk).

Rock pools themselves are special biotopes—pools on the retreat of the tide that remain water-filled, creating stable microhabitats where species from different zones overlap for brief windows of exploration (mhc.jncc.gov.uk).

Here’s a starter list of creatures you’re likely to meet:

• Common shore crab (Carcinus maenas)
  A squat crab often green-brown, sometimes orange, with a broad carapace up to 9 cm wide and five spines beside each eye. Feeds on shellfish, seaweed and carrion (nhm.ac.uk).

• Common limpet (Patella vulgata)
  Conical, greyish shell (to 6 cm) with radiating ridges. Grazes on algal films, sealing itself tightly in a “home scar” at low tide to retain moisture (nhm.ac.uk).

• Beadlet anemone (Actinia equina)
  A blob-like anemone, usually red (sometimes green or brown), about 5 cm across. Out of water it looks deflated but unfurls tentacles in the pool to sting and capture prey (nhm.ac.uk).

• Common starfish (Asterias rubens)
  Five-armed and typically orange, 10–30 cm across. Pries open mussels and barnacles, everting its stomach to digest food externally (nhm.ac.uk).

• Shanny or common blenny (Lipophrys pholis)
  Mottled brown fish (to 16 cm) that shelters in pools and under rocks, venturing onto damp surfaces as the tide rises (nhm.ac.uk).

• Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus)
  Olive-brown seaweed with paired air bladders that keeps fronds afloat at high tide, maximising sunlight for photosynthesis (nhm.ac.uk).

• Cystoseira spp. and coralline algae
  In deeper micro-pools you may find brown algae like Cystoseira (formerly Fucales) alongside carpets of red coralline algae and turf-forming species such as Chondrus crispus and Ceramium spp. (marlin.ac.uk).

Before you set off:

• Equipment:
  – A small ID guide or smartphone app
  – A clear bucket or tub for dipping
  – A clear jar and magnifier for close-ups
  – Sturdy footwear (old trainers, wetsuit boots or wellies)
  – Sun protection, waterproofs and layered clothing (nhm.ac.uk)

• Timing:
  Plan your trip around low tide—spring tides reveal the most pools but can return quickly, so aim to arrive one hour before the low-tide mark and keep an eye on the clock (nationaltrust.org.uk).

A sheltered bay with a shallow reef and large pools ideal for kids and dogs. Look for hermit crabs, blennies, topshells, beadlet anemones, cushion stars and wrasse. Pools are prime two hours either side of low tide—check tide tables to avoid being cut off. Dog-friendly with nearby parking and cafés (campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk).

On the Jurassic Coast, this bay pairs rockpooling with fossil hunting. Common finds include sea snails, flat periwinkles, limpets, barnacles and dog whelk. Pools exposed only briefly at low spring tides—plan ahead to combine wildlife with stunning geology and interpretive displays at the Wild Seas Centre (campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk).

Milsey Bay and Seacliff Beach offer rocky platforms teeming with crabs, starfish, anemones and even juvenile lobsters. Arrive an hour before low tide for the best experience, then explore the nearby Scottish Seabird Centre’s rockpool rambles (campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk).

A mix of dunes and rocky outcrops, these beaches yield crabs, barnacles, starfish, shrimp and a dazzling array of seaweeds. Exposed an hour either side of low tide, with National Trust facilities and historic castles nearby for a full day’s adventure (campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk).

Home to Europe’s largest chalk reef, revealed at low water. Look for black squat lobsters, velvet swimming crabs, shore crabs and beadlet anemones in the reef pools. Ideal 1–2 hours before low tide; watch for changing conditions on this Blue Flag beach (campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk).

• Move slowly and deliberately—wet seaweed is slippery and waves can catch you by surprise (nationaltrust.org.uk, campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk).
• Never turn over rocks with force; lift gently, check underneath, and replace as found.
• Handle creatures as little as possible—keep one specimen per bucket, observe quickly, then return it to its pool to minimise stress (nhm.ac.uk).

Rockpooling isn’t just a summer pastime—wrap up in waterproofs for winter explorations and discover hardy barnacles, periwinkles and encrusting algae against a quieter, windswept coast. Cold-season visits offer fresh perspectives and fewer crowds (getkidsoutside.co.uk).

• Use a macro or close-focus lens to capture tiny details.
• Get low to the pool’s surface for dramatic reflections.
• A polarising filter cuts glare and enhances colour.
• Shoot in soft light (early morning or late afternoon) to avoid harsh shadows.
• Keep your gear dry—bring a microfiber cloth for splashes.

Coastal Folklore: Cornish legend tells of the “Star-Flower Maiden,” a sea spirit who left behind starfish as tokens of good fortune. If you gently return a starfish to the sea at dusk, it’s said she will whisper a secret of the tides to you.

Slack status: “🌊 Beach wanderer”