Chapel Pool Polperro Guide: A Tidal Pool in Cornwall

Chapel Pool in the village of Polperro is one of nature’s own swimming pools. This is basically a tidal pool that fills with seawater, and after half-tide, it becomes a swimming pool separate from the sea.

This was a wonderful place to discover in Polperro. I found it after micro-browsing Google Maps and spotted some great intel about this special place. It’s one of many dog-friendly places to have fun in Cornwall.

Finding Chapel Pool in Polperro

To get to Chapel Pool, you need to climb the steps after the Blue Peter pub, a fantastic eatery in Polperro. You then need to walk along the coast path until you see the first left turn.

Then climb down the steps on the cliff to reach the rock pool. This is quite challenging, which makes it fun, but it seemed pretty safe, with rails along the way down and steps carved out to make it easier. Chapel Pool is listed on Google Maps to make it easier to find.

Chapel Pool, a Tidal Pool For Paddling in Cornwall

The pool has a shallow area right next to the sea, which warms up pretty quickly on a warm day. There is also a deeper section where people jump in or swim. It has all the wildlife you would expect to find in rock pools, such as seaweed, small fish, sea anemones and shellfish.

The pool is dog-friendly. My dog enjoyed a few dips to cool down and hone his doggy paddle technique. If you want to sit around the edges on the rocks, I would advise taking a towel or picnic blanket to sit on. This is because there are many barnacles, making it uncomfortable without them.

I highly recommend a swim or paddle here, as long as you are careful to monitor the tide. Google Reviews mention that the tide comes in quickly.

Other Rock Pools

In addition to the popular main tidal pool, there are other rock pools to see. Some are deep, and others are small. These are home to various types of sea life and great to see. I’ve seen crabs, shellfish and small fish in the pools.

We also saw people fishing from the rocks at Chapel Pool into the sea, and it looked like a great place to catch fish. From what I saw, they mainly caught mackerel. There are various rules for sea fishing on the UK coast; you can find these here.

Refreshments

There are no places to purchase refreshments at Chapel Pool; however, the village is nearby for a beer or two after. Thus, if you are staying at the tidal pool for a while, taking a drink is advisable. I took my hip flask with Cornish rum and a bottle of water in my bag.

Watch For The Tide

On various websites and on the big sign near the steps to the tidal pool, there are warnings. The sign says:

Danger: tidal currents and offshore winds can make swimming hazardous, and there may be a high risk of being swept out to sea from the shore by waves. There are no lifeguards or safety equipment present. Be aware of the state of the tide. You may become cut off by rising water.

You can find the Polperro tide times on the Tides Chart website.

What To Do Nearby in Polperro?

First, it is close to the centre of Polperro, so it is accessible from all parts of the village. For those who like a walk, the South West Coast Path is easy to join. Walking to either Lekerock Cove or Lansallos Bay takes about an hour. For more experienced hikers, the towns of Looe or Fowey are walkable in less than half a day.