Rock Pooling Near Teignmouth for Kids: The Best Spots and the Tide

Short answer: Ness Cove, reached through the Smugglers' Tunnel at Shaldon, has red sand and stones, big clam shells and razor clams. Shaldon Beach has rock pools and a quay to crab from. Both are across the river — take the ferry rather than driving round.

Cross the river

Teignmouth's own beach is orange-brown sand with the railway behind it — good for a lot of things, thin on rock pools. The pooling is across the water at Shaldon, and the passenger ferry from the Back Beach gets you there in a few minutes without a second parking charge.

Ness Cove

The best of it, and reached through the Smugglers' Tunnel cut down through the headland — which is the most memorable thing to do here with children regardless of what you find at the bottom.

Reviewers describe Torquay-red stones and sand, lots of lovely big clam shells to pick up, razor clams, and cormorants diving offshore. Beach shoes are a must: one visitor specifically notes that climbing over the stones into the sea is precarious, and there are spiky crabs about that you would not want to step on.

Two car parks and toilets at the top if you drive, around £5 for four hours, and a café by the car park. Nothing on the beach itself, and it is not buggy or wheelchair accessible.

Shaldon Beach

The village beach on the estuary, small and relaxed with rock pools and a quay children crab from. Reviewers mention boats, beaches, rock pools and cafés all in one place. The estuary currents are strong, so this is a pooling and crabbing beach rather than a swimming one — keep children on the rocks.

Labrador Bay

The RSPB reserve on the cliffs between Shaldon and Maidencombe. Not a rock-pooling beach as such, but excellent for birds of prey with dolphins sometimes seen offshore, and a good add-on if the tide is wrong. Paid parking, and it is a working farm, so dogs on leads.

Timing

Rock pooling only works on a falling tide. Aim to arrive about two hours before low water and work outwards as the sea drops — that way the pools furthest out, which nobody has disturbed, are the ones you reach last. Check the tide table before you set off rather than guessing.

What to take

• A clear plastic tub rather than a net — you can see into it and it does not damage anything.
• Beach shoes or old trainers. Barefoot on wet rock ends badly.
• A small net is fine for shrimp, but hands and patience catch more.
• Something to sit on. The best pools reward waiting rather than poking.
• Sun cream even in cloud — you will be out on open rock for an hour.

The rules

• Put every rock back exactly as you found it. That is somebody's roof.
• Look, do not lift. Anemones and limpets come off badly.
• Return everything to the pool you took it from, not a different one.
• Never turn your back on the sea, and know when the tide turns.
• Beadlet anemones can sting soft skin — fine on fingertips, not on the inside of an arm.

Afterwards

Shaldon Wildlife Trust is beside the tunnel entrance — a tiny conservation zoo where the enclosures let you get properly close, and your ticket lets you come and go all day. It does not take dogs. The Ferry Boat Inn on the Strand runs an outdoor grill at weekends and lets you take food onto the beach.