A remote beach with rock pools overlooked by cliffs often carpeted with wild flowers.
The toilets at Duckpool aren’t on mains services. Water is pumped from nearby natural sources and is reliant on sufficient water to be flowing in order to function effectively. Alternative facilities are at nearby Sandymouth. Please be aware there is no overnight parking or camping at Morwenstow, Duckpool, Sandymouth or Northcott Mouth car parks.
Duckpool sits at the mouth of the Coombe Valley, in an area steeped in history and surrounded by coastal grasslands and ancient woodlands.
A river flows down the valley and emerges at the top of the beach, giving Duckpool its name. Like other beaches in the area such as Sandymouth, Duckpool is very tidal with pebbles lining the top of the beach and sand becoming exposed around low tide.
There are great opportunities to enjoy a walk here, both along the South West Coast Path for exhilarating sea views as well as inland. A circular walk along the valley takes in Stowe Barton farmstead, and woodland trails in Stowe Wood can be explored too.
There is much history and wildlife to discover here. Anti-tank blocks installed before WW2 can be found scattered along the beach. King William’s Bridge built by Parson Hawker in 1836 crosses the river at the top of the access road. Nearby sheltered woodlands are dripping in lichens and the maritime grasslands are strewn with flowers such as thrift and squill. Rock pools offer an array of sea life.
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
