Features
If you like your crabbing trips with a bit of exploring thrown in, Lee Bay and Ness Cove are perfect. These are the kind of spots that feel like you’ve stumbled across a secret — quieter than the big tourist harbours, with a more rugged, natural feel.
🎣 The crabbing itself
Lee Bay is all about the rockpools and crevices. At low tide, the beach transforms into a network of pools where crabs, shrimps, and little fish hide out. The kids absolutely love flipping over bits of seaweed and finding tiny creatures darting around. You won’t get huge numbers here like you might from a busy harbour wall, but the thrill is in the hunt.
Ness Cove is reached through a smugglers’ tunnel from Shaldon, and it already feels like an adventure before you even start crabbing. Once you’re on the beach, there are more rockpools to explore, plus deeper spots by the rocks where dropping a hand line can sometimes tempt out a bigger crab.
🪱 Where to get bait and gear
Neither Lee Bay nor Ness Cove have shops right on the beach, so I always bring my own lines, buckets, and bait. Bacon, mackerel, or even a bit of old cheese works a treat. If you’re coming via Shaldon for Ness Cove, you can pick up basic crabbing gear from local shops before you head through the tunnel.
đźš— Parking
For Lee Bay, there’s a small car park just above the beach — get there early, as spaces are limited. Ness Cove uses the Shaldon Beach Car Park, and then it’s a short walk through the tunnel to the cove.
🍦 Nearby facilities & food
Lee Bay has limited facilities, so it’s more of a picnic-and-flask sort of spot. Ness Cove is close enough to Shaldon that you can walk back for cafés, pubs, and ice creams once you’ve had your fill of rockpooling.
🦺 Safety & accessibility
Both spots have uneven, slippery rocks, so sturdy shoes are a must. They’re not great for pushchairs or wheelchairs, and little ones will need a close eye — especially near the rock edges where the tide can come in quickly.
đź“ť Final thoughts
Lee Bay and Ness Cove aren’t about hauling up bucketloads of crabs — they’re about the adventure of getting there, exploring, and finding those hidden pockets of marine life. If you’re after a crabbing trip that feels like a proper seaside treasure hunt, these two are hard to beat.