Mumblers recommend:
“West Runton definitely – cheap all-day car park & a lovely little cafe & shop on the slip down to the beach.” SC, June ’18
“West runton is great, just check the tide times before you go, the tide needs to be out so that you can get to the rock pools” AH, June ’18
“Sea Palling has rocks you can get to when the tide is out and you can climb over them and look in the pools for starfish and crabs etc. Nice beach too.” GN, June ’18
“Was at Cromer yesterday late afternoon and lots of rock pools before ride came back in, presumably there’s a point earlier in the day it’s like that – Or West runton was always the classic when I was little!” HL, June ’18
“If you head to Runton, go down the slip way and therock pools are to your left when the tide is out. You can’t miss them. Take buckets or trays to observe your finds and print an ID resource so you can work out what you find. Have fun!” JK, June ’18.
West Runton, Cromer, Sheringham and Hunstanton have all been mentioned as the best places to go rockpooling in Norfolk.
Here are some handy tips on how to go rockpooling from Visit Norfolk:
1 Make sure you check the tide timetable beforehand – the best time to rock pool is at low tide.
2 The only equipment you’ll need is a curious mind and sturdy footwear with a good grip. Flip-flops are useless on sharp stones! Don’t forget sun cream and sun hats too. Maybe even a jumbo magnifying glass.
3 A bucket with some salty water in it is useful if you want to take a closer look at what you catch. Change the water regularly. You can also gently pull the bucket through the water to see what you can scoop up. Don’t use a net, as you can hurt sensitive sea life.
4 The best, clearest rock pools are close to the sea edge – look at these first and move back with the tide. Don’t be afraid to get your hands wet – gently turning over seaweed can reap rich rewards. If you pick up a crab do it from behind, with finger and thumb top and bottom of the carapace. But beware of red-eyed blue velvet swimming crab – they can nip!
5 Sit very quietly and make sure you don’t cast a shadow over the pool – timid crabs and other inhabitants will know you’re there.
6 Look out for transparent common prawns and shrimp (which often swim backwards), starfish, and brightly-coloured anemones waving its tentacles at you, mussels and whelks, as well as limpets, the lawnmowers of the sea which scrape algae off rocks with their large rough tongues. Just under the surface you might see goby, butterfish or blenny. You might also see a shell moving on legs – if you do, it’s a hermit crab that’s made its home in a disused periwinkle shell.
7 When you’ve finished and it’s time to go, carefully return the contents of your bucket, salt water and all, to the rock pool.”
