Sea Pools & Lidos in Cornwall
From celebrated Art Deco lidos to giant, turquoise sea pools revealed by the ebbing tide, the Cornish coast is blessed with some of the UK’s most magnificent below sky bathing spots.
Join us on a tour of Kernow’s most cherished and lesser-known swimming settings…
Bude Sea Pool
We start our tour way up along the rugged north Cornish coast in the seaside town of Bude. Dating back to the 1930s, Bude Sea Pool is a semi-natural pool 91 metres long and 45 metres wide, found nestled beneath the curvy cliffs of Summerleaze Beach. Having overcome many challenges, from Atlantic storm damage to funding cuts, this much-loved lido is now in the care of The Friends of Bude Sea Pool, a charity run by volunteers whose sole aim is to protect and preserve this wonderful outdoor facility. Such was the outpouring of affection for the pool, the charity has already managed to raise almost half-a-million pounds to help fund its ongoing restoration projects. It remains the town’s most popular attraction, providing safe swimming for more than 50,000 bathers every year.
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Jubilee Pool, Penzance
Penzance’s Jubilee Pool is the largest and most celebrated sea water lido in the UK. Opened in 1935 to help mark King George V’s Silver Jubilee, this iconic Art Deco tidal pool is located on the east side of the promenade next to the town’s bustling harbour. With a capacity of up to 600 swimmers, its unique triangular shape is just shy of 100 metres at its longest point and spans 56 metres at its widest. Depths depend on the tides, with some outer reaches dropping to more than two metres. Other features include a learner pool, a geothermal pool, and a recently refurbished poolside café, not to mention the panoramic views of St Michael’s Mount and beyond. As part of the Jubilee Pool’s sustainability pledge, its five million litres of sea water are kept as natural as possible, while its chlorine levels are even less than you’d expect to find in a glass of household tap water.
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Porthtowan Tidal Pool
Hidden below rocky shelves on the northern end of Porthtowan Beach lies one of the west Cornish coast’s lesser-known (but no less enchanting) tidal pools. Wait for the sea to retreat before carefully negotiating a craggy path over the encompassing boulders, or if you’re feeling adventurous, cautiously traverse the precarious cliff steps. This tranquil pool is dammed by a concrete wall and has a depth of about five feet. Here, you can enjoy tranquil open sky swimming beneath the cliff tops and barnacled ledges.
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Chapel Rock Tidal Pool, Perranporth
Next, we follow the South West Coast Path towards the magnificent St Agnes Heritage Coast and the seaside town of Perranporth, not far from Newquay. It is here, on Chapel Rock, surrounded by the golden sands of Perranporth Beach, that the Chapel Rock Pool can be discovered. Wild swimmers love this turquoise sea pool, so easily missed behind the loftier head of the skerry, an outcrop island at high tide that reveals a natural, sunken habitat at times of low water. During the summer months, the pool is heated by the sun’s rays where you can bask and relax in the restorative salt waters.
Children’s Pool, Cape Cornwall
Further down the peninsular, along the dramatic tin coast to Cape Cornwall, lies Priest’s Cove. Encompassed by its rocky shelf is a small tidal sink known as Children’s Pool, a place of calm away from the froth and spill of the Atlantic swells that pound the twin-peaked rocky reef known as The Brisons. The surrounding coastline is stunning, embracing a majestic stretch of the South West Coast Path that has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (from Aire Point to Carrick Du). Wildlife enthusiasts search the skies above the cliffs for storm petrels and scout the cove’s rock pools for all manner of marine creatures. A towering chimney stack still stands on the cape, a reminder of the area’s rich tin and copper mining history. The beach has a small slipway still used by local fishermen and there is a National Trust car park nearby.
Want to learn more about rock pooling adventures in Cornwall? Have a read of our fascinating interview with Cornish conservationist and author, Heather Buttivant.
Mousehole Rockpool
The sparkling west coast and the unrivalled views of Mount’s Bay and Lizard Point await all those who dip their toes into Mousehole Rockpool. Discrete sea walls help to trap the ebbing tide, blending seamlessly with the rocky surrounds to create a small, natural looking pool that is perfect for youngsters to practise their swimming strokes or snorkelling technique. Also making the most of this stunning panorama is the Rock Pool Café, a place where you can enjoy sumptuous lunches, light bites and afternoon tea. Mousehole is a picturesque harbour village famous for its narrow, winding streets lined by stone-built fisherman’s cottages and also for its sandy harbour beach exposed at low tide.
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Polperro Tidal Bathing Pool
The fishing village of Polperro is the setting for our next tidal pool, a characterful waterhole that has helped local children learn to swim for generations. Known as the ‘Chapel Pool’, bathers can enjoy a dip on the mid-tide while soaking up the sunshine and making the most of Polperro’s many blue-sky days. There are steps leading down to the pool from Chapel Cliffs. Polperro Beach lies just beyond the main breakwater, a small, sandy bay backed by Willy Wilcox cave, named after an infamous 18th century smuggler who once lived in a clifftop cottage, above. Legend has it that the cave was linked to Willy’s cottage by way of a secret passage. This lovely tidal pool remains a great focal point for the village and delights visitors out exploring the local shores.
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Treyarnon Bay Rock Pool
Our final sea pool has been sculpted entirely by the Celtic Sea. Not far from majestic Trevose Head – a vantage point which takes in a huge swathe of the north Cornish coast – you’ll find the more sheltered waters of Treyarnon Bay. The beach is a contrast of soft, golden sand and craggy shelves and gullies, great for explorers and rock pool enthusiasts keen to seek out some of the local shore life. The tidal pool can be found on the northern flank of the beach, replenished twice a day by the sea which often leaves behind roaming starfish and darting blennies. You’ll be able to explore this sunken world and feel the rush of endorphins that accompanies all good wild swimming experiences…and don’t forget it’s totally free!
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Please be mindful of the changing tides and always let someone know where you’re heading and what your plans may be.
For more information about wild swimming in the West Country read our interview with renowned wild swimmers and authors Matt Newbury and Sophie Pierce.