Things to do at Wembury

Visitors at Wembury Beach, Devon | © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

There’s lots to explore when you visit Wembury and the surrounding areas. From water sports on the beach to rock-pooling with the family, there are plenty of adventures to be had. Take a look at what there is to discover when you visit the area.

Safety notice

Please note that there is no lifeguard stationed at Wembury.

Rock-pooling

Wembury is one of the best places in the country for a spot of rock-pooling. Get to the beach just before low tide and spend a few hours searching the pools and rocks for interesting sea creatures. You're likely to find limpets, anemones, shore crabs, pipe fish, sea scorpions, spiny star fish, Cornish sucker fish and edible crabs.

Seashore code

Remember to follow the seashore code and help keep Wembury a special place for you and for the wildlife that makes a home here.

Handle me with care: Poking or squeezing soft-bodied animals like sea anemones can harm them.

Buckets: Keep one animal at a time in your bucket and not for too long – sea creatures get stressed too.

No nets: Use a bucket and your hands to catch rock pool creatures rather than a net. Nets can rip seaweed off the rocks and animals like crabs can lose their legs and claws if they get tangled up in the net.

Don’t make me homeless: Only collect empty shells.

Put me back: Always replace animals, rocks and seaweed as you found them.

Hey, I’m down here: Watch where you walk – you can easily dislodge or crush small sea creatures.

I don’t like litter: Take your rubbish home – litter is a killer.

Look after yourself: Wembury is a wonderful place but be careful – the rocks can be slippery, the cliffs are high and the tides change quickly.

Children finding a crab whilst rock-pooling on the beach at Poldhu Cove on the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall — Children finding a crab whilst rock-pooling on a beach | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Surfing and kayaking

Wembury Beach is a popular spot for surfing and kayaking. With a swell of up to 10 feet, it's fantastic for surfers of all abilities. You can also explore this part of the coast and the River Yealm by kayak. Please note though, that landing is not permitted on the Great Mewstone, as it's a nature reserve and home to a wide variety of seabirds.

Swimming and snorkelling

Take a bracing dip at Wembury Beach with views of the Great Mewstone. With its diverse marine environment there's plenty to see beneath the waves at Wembury, including dolphins, basking sharks and porpoises.

Dartmoor pony on Trowlesworthy Warren, Upper Plym Valley, Devon — A Dartmoor pony | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Dartmoor Ponies

You'll find the Dartmoor pony grazing on the cliffs of Wembury. These pure-bred ponies are now an endangered species. Originally bred as a working animal to aid in the booming tin industry, they are recognisable for their high levels of strength, short legs, kindly eyes and alert ears. Please do not feed the ponies as the diet and health of these animals is crucial to their survival.

Green common lizard, Mendip Hills — Green common lizard | © National Trust Images/Phil Bruss

Reptiles and insects

The coastal grasslands are home to a range of wildlife including the common lizard, grasshopper, great green bush cricket, and the marbled white, grayling and dark green fritillary butterflies. Bloody-nosed beetles, oil beetles, weevils, mining and nomad bees have all been sighted in the area. Look carefully and you may spot the nest mounds of yellow meadow ants, food for the green woodpecker. Be wary of basking adders at Wembury and Wembury Point.

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Wembury Marine Centre

Wembury Marine Centre is located near the beach and is run by Devon Wildlife Trust. The area nearby is designated a Special Area of Conservation and a Voluntary Marine Conservation Area.

The Wembury Marine Conservation Area Advisory Group has worked in partnership with local stakeholders & the Wembury Community to develop a Code of Conduct for activities taking place within the Wembury Marine Conservation Area. To read the Code of Coduct, click here.

Places to explore around Wembury

Wembury Point

Wembury Point is the perfect site for a coastal walk with views of the entire bay and the Mewstone. A favourite spot for birdwatchers, Wembury Point is home to the rare cirl bunting, found only along this coastline.

River Yealm

Take the coast path eastwards and discover the wooded Yealm estuary. If you're feeling more adventurous, take the seasonal foot ferry across the river to the picturesque village of Noss Mayo.

Wembury Woods

Discover the perfect place for a relaxing and sheltered woodland walk at Wembury Woods. Look down upon the tranquil River Yealm and the peaceful villages of Noss Mayo and Newton Ferrers. Look out for deer tracks and vibrant bluebells in the spring.

You'll also find allotments here. The area of land was offered to local residents as a communal allotment in 2009. The site is managed by the Wembury Allotments Association with the National Trust providing advice.

Revelstoke Drive

The wide track along the coast from Noss Mayo to Stoke Point is part of a 9-mile circular carriage ride, called Revelstoke Drive. It makes an ideal track to follow – it's wide and flat and has uninterrupted views of the sea as it gently follows the contours of the cliffs.

Gunrow Signal Station

During the late 18th century, from 1793 onwards, Britain was continuously at war with post-revolution France and the Admiralty established a chain of signal stations to warn of approaching enemy fleets.

In south Devon these included stations at Mount Edgcumbe, Gunrow's Down, Scobbiscombe, West Soar and Prawle Point. The building here dates to the early 1900s, It has served as a coastguard lookout, a Second World War observation post and searchlight position, and a National Trust shop and café.