About Firestone Bay:
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.
Firestone has also made history by becoming part of the UK’s first National Marine Park.
The Rock Pool Project at Firestone:
Our Firestone survey site is located to the eastern side of the beach, with a wonderful variety of species being found throughout the many rock pools found there.
Our finds at Firestone:
Top – Green Sea Urchin (Psammechinus miliaris)
Bottom – Edible crab (Cancer pagurus)
Keep your eyes peeled for:
Appearing as a solid orange or yellowish structure, Cup Coral (Caryophyllia smithii) is found along the west and south-west coasts and can occasionally be found in deep, shaded pools on the lower beach.
What to know:
Access;
There is a small carpark at Devil’s Point on Admiralty Road offering free parking but has a maximum stay period of 3 hours (double check might have changed). There is also paid parking available in the area.
The number 34Citybus to the stop outside Royal William Yard runs every 30 minutes from Royal Parade in Plymouth City Centre.
A ferry service runs in the summer months connecting the Barbican and Royal William Yard which is a great way to travel to Firestone Bay and take in a sea view of Plymouth Hoe and Smeaton’s Tower. The timetable for which can be found here.
Facilities;
Firestone Bay is
connected to Royal William Yard hosting a marina with lots of cafes,
restaurants, bars and independent shops. It is also home to Ocean Studios focusing
on the work of local artists and offers regular exhibitions and events.South West SUP beside the Royal William Yard provides paddle boarding lessons and rentals.
We highly recommend visiting our friends at the fantastic Hutong Café and grabbing a delicious bagel and a coffee.
Important:
While Firestone makes for a wonderful place to unwind, the currents around the aptly named Devil’s Point can be dangerous, as such it is recommended to stay to the areas marked out by the yellow buoys for recreational swimming.
