If you’re the kind of person who enjoys getting the best from different worlds and if you’re looking for peaceful and enjoyable holidays in the UK, this article will introduce you to quite an interesting option: rock-pooling in Wembury.

Meet one of Britain’s little known holiday jewels

A quiet little village located in the southern shores of Devon, Wembury is remarked as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As you may know, this designation is exclusive to areas in the UK offering both unparalleled respite opportunities and enchanting natural landscapes.

Wembury is actually a peninsula, whose seashore geological formations account for one of area’s most unique attractions. Simply put, this is quite possibly the best place to go in Britain if you’re adept to rock-pooling. Additionally, there are also a few quite decent surfing spots in this area.

The beaches in the region are actively preserved to maintain their unique natural properties; all visitors are educated on how to get the most enjoyment from the rock pools, without tampering with them. This is surely one of the reasons why Wembury beaches remain unscathed and attractive, despite the steady flow of year-round tourists.

Rock-pooling: observing marine wildlife without diving

As you may know, there is more to rock-pooling than soaking in the warm natural pools formed along the shore while the tide recedes. Many visitors love exploring rock pools – especially the ones in this region – because there are miles of exposed seashore where you can literally walk through marine wildlife without need for scuba gear.

Through the 4-6 hours of low tide each day (which you should learn about by checking the local papers), you get a brilliant opportunity for trekking across exposed reefs, seaweed, and plenty of marine species… some of which are actually rare and exclusive to the local ecosystems. Notable examples include the “bloody-eyed swimming crab” as well as peculiar fish that can actually survive a few hours out of the water: locals call it the blenny, and you’ll surely hear about it more than a few times, you ever visit this quaint village.

Other species that can be observed in the local rock pools (and interacted with – at your caution, of course) include starfish, anemones, and assorted fish. Even for a repeated visitor, it’s hard ceasing to be amazed at the lovely natural aquarium-pools that are formed throughout the shore during low tide.

Wembury beyond the rock pools

Another point of interest is a tiny triangular offshore island, the Mewstone: a reformed prison, once said to be a refugee for smugglers, now turned into a haven for local birds. Although you’re not allowed to actually go there, it’s a curious little addendum to the wet landscape; and you’ll hardly fail to notice it… especially since the ever-shifting mass of birds adds quite the surreal touch to the local sceneries.

Suffice to say, Wembury is a great pick for a holiday escapade inside the UK. From its charming rock pools to its highly organized Marine Centre and effective Wildlife Trust management, there are many positive factors working together, to make this such a pleasant and interesting destination. If you love observing sea creatures in their natural habitat, this is a trip you need to make as soon as possible.

Photo credit: Visentico / Sento