Croyde Beach rock pools

The rock pools at Croyde Beach are one of the simple pleasures of the North Devon coast. Tucked beneath the headlands at either end of the wide sandy bay, the rocky outcrops are exposed at low tide and reveal a network of clear pools fringed with seaweed, ideal for an hour or two of barefoot exploration. The bay sits between Baggy Point to the north and Saunton Down to the south, both protected as part of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere.

Children and curious adults can spot beadlet anemones, hermit crabs scuttling between shells, blennies, shore crabs, limpets and the occasional starfish. The pools change with every tide, so each visit turns up something different. A small net, a bucket and a tide-times check are all the kit you need, and rangers ask that any creatures be returned gently to where they were found.

Croyde village itself is a short walk inland, with thatched pubs, surf shops and cafes serving Devon cream teas. The beach is best known for its surf, so combining a morning of rock-pooling at low tide with an afternoon in the waves makes for a classic North Devon day out.