Guides

The Painted topshell (Calliostoma zizyphinum) is a beautiful mollusc that can be found on many sheltered rocky shores in the UK. This mollusc has a distinctive conical shell and a flat base which can reach sizes of up to 3cm, both in height and width! This shell is covered in roughly 10-12 whorls usually with a white base colour that is marbled with yellows, browns, pinks and purples. If you’re really lucky, you might be able to see the snail itself, which is just as colourful. You’ll notice that these shells are very clean, this is because the snail uses its extendable foot to remove any algae – around 2 times every 24 hours.

Located on the shores of the UK’s first National Marine Park, Mount Batten Bay is a small sand and shingle beach with stunning views of Plymouth Sound and Drake’s island. Sheltered behind the break water, the beach offers a wonderful habitat for many marine species, such as Snakelock’s Anemones and the temperamental Velvet Swimming Crabs, allowing for some outstanding rock pooling.

Firestone bay is a small pebble beach to the West of Plymouth Sound located next to Devil’s Point. It provides great views of Mount Edgcumbe, Stonehouse peninsula and Drake’s Island. Connected to the popular Royal William Yard via an historic archway through the sea wall is a popular spot for swimmers, snorkelers and paddleboarders, with areas marked with yellow buoys while the nearby tidal pool offers an area for people wanting to just dip their toes in.

Barnacles, or Cirripedia, are one of the most abundant groups of species present on many rocky shores. However, to the untrained eye, the grey-white carpet of miniature creatures coating the rocks underfoot can seem an identification nightmare. Recently, we were extremely fortunate to have barnacle expert Mike Puleston give us a talk full of the tricks of the trade when it comes to UK barnacle ID.

The Atlantic bobtail squid (Sepiola atlantica) is truly a hidden gem of the rocky shore. These camouflage wizards are so easy to overlook that they are usually only spotted when accidentally disturbed, spending much of their time buried in the sand with only their eyes peeking out.

The edible crab (Cancer pagurus), also known as the pasty crab to those of us in Cornwall or the brown crab is a common crab found under rocks along our coasts. They get their name from their reddy-brown colour and a large oval-shaped carapace that is crimped around the edges to resemble a pie crust.

Also known as the common blenny, the shanny is one of the most common and characterful of all rock pool residents. With their downturned smile and discerning gaze, these fierce fish are not to be overlooked!

Wrack are a family of common seaweeds found on many UK coasts. The name ‘seaweed’ is rather deceiving as the wracks are actually a type of algae. There are three main types of seaweed; red (Rhodophyta), brown (Phaeophyta) and green (Chlorophyta), wracks are brown seaweed and are branched and have ribbon-like fronds

Gyllyngvase beach, commonly known as Gylly beach is one of the most popular and largest beaches in Falmouth, and is a perfect spot for families. It is a 10/15 minute walk from Falmouth Town Centre and is one of the seven beaches in Cornwall that has received a Blue Flag Award in 2019, recognising its clean, well-managed beaches and high water quality.

Castle Beach in Falmouth is a top survey site. At low tide, explore rich rock pools; at high tide, snorkel or dive at the offshore wreck teeming with marine life.