Chapel Pool is a beautiful tidal pool located in the picturesque village of Polperro. It’s big enough for a decent swim and the water shines a gorgeous blue/green in the sunshine. It’s surrounded by jagged rocks and close enough to the sea to have great views, without being affected by waves (swell permitting).
It’s pretty easy to reach and as a result does get busy in peak season, though even during our visit in late July there were moments when I got it all to myself.
Here’s how to find Chapel Pool and what to expect when you do.
Visiting Chapel Pool
A note on the tides and swell
Chapel Pool is best visited a couple of hours either side of low tide. You may also be able to visit on a mid tide, but we’ve personally not seen it at mid tide and given how dramatic Cornwall’s tides can be, it’s always a little tricky to predict how quickly the water comes in.
You definitely couldn’t visit on a high tide when the pool will be fully submerged. In terms of swell, it is set back far enough from the sea that on a slight swell or when the sea is marked smooth you will not get any waves at all in the pool.
You may get the odd wave during a moderate swell and rough conditions should be avoided altogether. You can see the 5 day tide and swell forecast at Polperro using this website.
The walk to Chapel Pool
The stats
Distance: 0.7 miles (1.2km) each way
Elevation gain: 50m
Difficulty: Easy, but not flat
Trailhead: Polperro Public Car Park, Cornwall
The walk
Unless you are staying in Polperro you cannot drive a car through the village and as such everyone must park in the Polperro car park - which is extortionately priced, more details on that below.
The walk to reach Chapel Pool takes you right the way through the village which is an absolute delight with a charming view around every corner.
There’s also a seemingly endless supply of places to buy drinks, ice creams and pasties if you want a pre or post swim pick me up.
From the car park you’ll follow the pedestrian signpost and then walk through the main street in the village. It’s pretty much flat and it’s a leisurely scenic stroll past beautiful houses built beside a stream.
After 750m you’ll make a right turn and then head left 30m later, the left turn is signposted for the harbour, which is close to where the pool is located. The water will be out as you walk past all the little boats, but it’s still pretty.
Approximately 200m after turning left you’ll see a staircase leading uphill to the right, it’s just past the Blue Peter Inn and it’s signposted ‘to the cliff’.
After a few sets of stairs the path flattens and you’ll soon get some great views down into the harbour.
At the 1.1km mark there’s a bench seat from which you can see the pool and just past this you’ll see some stairs leading downhill to the left.
Just under 100m later there’s a right turn onto the final stairs which lead down to the rock shelf.
The stairs are in good shape, although a little steep and have a bit of a drop off to the left. They are nice and grippy when dry and only really a problem if you suffer from vertigo.
Once you’re at the rock platform the pool is a few metres away to the left. The rock is uneven but grippy and doesn’t suffer from barnacles like many rockpools in Cornwall, so it’s easy to traverse even when barefoot.
Swimming at Chapel Pool
Although not huge, Chapel Pool still has plenty of room for a swim. The water is deep throughout much of it’s length, though shallow with some rocks on both the left and right side of the pool.
That still leaves more than enough space to swim uninterrupted through the middle. The pool is natural but for one small bit of retaining wall and stepping off this bit of wall is the easiest entry point to the water as you step into the shallows and there are no rocks to negotiate.
The pool is flushed by high tide every day so the water is clean and clear. It has a stunning bluey green hue in the sunshine. It’s a beautiful spot and looking out to the sea and up to the cliff tops from inside the water is very atmospheric.
Where to park for Chapel Pool
Unless you’re staying in the village cars are prohibited so everyone will need to park in the Polperro car park (unless arriving by boat). The car park is a decent size but very expensive.
The current charges are:
- Up to 3 hours: £7
- Up to 6 hours: £12
- Up to 10 hours: £15
- 1 day / 24 hours: £20
- 7 days: £40
Coaches - £10
Motorbikes - £12
Caravans & Trailers: Up to 3 hours - £12, up to 24 hours - £28
Three hours is enough to walk to the pool, have a swim and a little wander through town.
The car park only accepts coins, though there is a machine where you can change your notes. If you want to shorten the walk you could take the tuk-tuk service into the village which only costs £3 and is a bit of a novelty, but the walk is lovely and it would be a shame to miss it.
In terms of facilities there are toilets just as you get into town, the current cost is 50p.
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.
Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the area, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
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