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Porthpean Beach

Cornwall, England · United Kingdom

What have people found?

Perforated barnacle, montagu's crab and purple topshell turn up here more than at our other rock pools. European green crab, snakelocks anemone and atlantic beadlet anemone are the usual finds. ~94 distinct species have been recorded here.

What is the best time to visit today?

Download the app to see the 7-day schedule.

Predicted tide for Par, from The UK Hydrographic Office.

See low tide times at Porthpean Beach for the next three days
  1. Sun 15 Novin the dark2:051.6 m14:341.7 m
  2. Mon 16 Novin the dark2:381.8 m15:161.8 m
  3. Tue 17 Novin the dark3:262.0 m16:232.0 m

Every low tide each day, in local time at the shore.

Plan the week in Intertidal
  • A tide chart for every day, with the best window marked
  • Identify what you find from a photo
  • An alert when a good daylight low is coming

When do people visit?

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Most observations come from July and September.

What should you know before visiting?

Parking is about 200 meters away.
Arrive 45 minutes to an hour before low tide and leave as it turns. The water comes back faster than it left.
Grippy shoes beat sandals. Wet rock and algae are more slippery than they look. Rock pool safety
A rock pool is a fragile place. Look and photograph, take nothing. The rockpooling code

What lives at Porthpean Beach?

Species records from iNaturalist

European Green CrabCarcinus maenas
snakelocks anemoneAnemonia viridis
Atlantic Beadlet AnemoneActinia equina
Strawberry AnemoneActinia fragacea
Cushion StarAsterina gibbosa
Common PeriwinkleLittorina littorea
Atlantic DogwhelkNucella lapillus
Edible CrabCancer pagurus
Montagu's CrabXantho hydrophilus
Perforated BarnaclePerforatus perforatus
Saw WrackFucus serratus
Purple TopshellSteromphala umbilicalis
Common Hermit CrabPagurus bernhardus
Velvet Swimming CrabNecora puber
Lined Top ShellPhorcus lineatus
Scan this rock pool on your next visit.

Every organism named, every visit logged to your journal.