About Mount Batten:
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.
Mount Batten has had a long and prestigious history, ranging from early maritime trade to Charles I’s Royalist forces during the civil war, and is now part of the first National Marine Park in UK history. You can even experience some of this history with a brief walk up to the Mount Batten Tower.
The Rock Pool Project at Mount Batten:
Mount Batten Bay is one of our main survey sites in Plymouth and makes for a great break activity for us while working at the Mount Batten Water Centre.
Our finds:
Top – Montagu’s Crab (Xantho hrydrophilus)
Bottom – Snakelocks Anemone (Anemonia viridis)
Keep your eyes peeled for:
Lifted up a rock and seen something dash away? It might have been a Squat Lobster. These flighty crustaceans like to flap their tails at the first sign of danger and shoot away at quite a speed.
What to know:
Access;
There are two parking lots within a 5 minute walk of the beach.
The number 2 bus runs from royal parade and stops in front of Mount Batten Beach.
A ferry runs every 30 minutes from the Plymouth Hoe. For more information please check here.
Access to the beach involves use of wooden stairs and as such is not wheelchair friendly.
Dogs are welcome on the beach all year.
Facilities;
Near the survey site, there is the popular Mount Batten watersports and activities centre. An outdoor education centre offering sailing, kayak and SUP lessons and tours and also has an outdoor climbing wall.
There are many fantastic waterfront pubs, cafes, and restaurants offering traditional menus.
