🌊 Sea Pools in Cornwall

I love swimming in a sea pool, in the summer the water is so sparkly and clear and it’s so fun to snorkel 🤿! And in the winter, the sea can often be rough which makes sea swimming harder, so sea pools offer some calm! (Even if it’s cold 🥶)!

👇🏼Below I’ve included a comprehensive guide to sea pools across Cornwall, but my five favourites are Treyanon, Trevone, Bude, Porthtowan and the Penzance Jubilee Pool 🏊! So make sure to tick all of those if you can 💙

🐚Wild & Rugged Sea Pools

These pools are raw and dramatic – expect uneven footing, wild beauty, and tide-dependent access.

• Carn Boel Rock Pool (near Nanjizal Cove) – A remote tidal pool beneath dramatic cliffs on the Penwith coast. Hard to reach, best for experienced coastal walkers.

• Mermaid Pool (Kynance Cove) – A dreamy, turquoise rock pool revealed at low tide. Take care on slippery rocks.

• Nanjizal Cove Pools – Explore the sea cave (Song of the Sea) and nearby natural pools like Big and Little Muzzan, perfect for a wild paddle.

• Priest’s Cove Tidal Pool (Cape Cornwall) – A small, sea-filled pool with Atlantic views. Rugged and wave-exposed.

• Porthtowan Tidal Pool – Tucked under cliffs north of the beach. Visit at low tide and take care on descent.

(This is one of my favourites, the water is so blue!)

• Portreath Rock Pool – A lesser-known natural pool at the base of the cliffs. Hidden and tidal.

• Mousehole Rock Pool – Small and charming, best for a quick dip at low tide near the slipway.

• Treyarnon Bay Tidal Pool – Large and family-friendly, carved into the rocks near the north side of the bay.

(Another one of my favourites, particularly at sunset 🌅)

🧭 Hidden Gems & Rock Pools

More off-the-beaten-track dips with magical settings — some only revealed at the right tide.

• Trescote (Trescore) Islands Pools (Porthcothan) – A series of wild rock pools around the islands at low tide. Rugged and scenic.

I discovered this place completely by accident on a coastal walk, and it’s so beautiful I’ve been back so many times! You can swim, snorkel and paddle board here! The descent down isn’t too tricky 💙

• Chapel Pool (Polperro) – A secretive rock pool hidden along the coast path below Chapel Cliff.

• Chapel Rock Pools (Marazion) – Small tidal pools near Chapel Rock with views across to St Michael’s Mount.

• Bocasgal Tidal Pool – A very niche spot that may need local insight to locate precisely.

🏊‍♀️ Structured & Iconic Sea Pools

Safe and family-friendly options with easier access.

• Bude Sea Pool (Summerleaze Beach) – Semi-natural, tidal, and great for all ages. Free to use and open year-round.

• Jubilee Pool (Penzance) – Cornwall’s famous Art Deco lido filled with seawater. Offers a geothermally heated section for year-round swims.

• Millendreath Sea Pools (South Coast) – Two quiet rock pools revealed at low tide on a peaceful stretch of coast.