Cornwall Beaches
Visit Cornwall Beach Guide for information about beaches in Cornwall.
South East Cornwall is a great place to visit with a number of decent family beaches. There are also several attractive coastal villages and towns to explore, including Looe and Polperro. The scenery is excellent and there is good walking on the coast and inland.
To the east of the area and looking across to Plymouth are the twin villages of Kingsand and Cawsand which are pleasant to visit and there are small beaches here. There is excellent scenery around Rame Head and west of Rame Head is the beautiful three mile sweep of Whitsand Bay which is popular with families and surfers.
Further west are the small beaches at Millendreath and Plaidy and then the seaside town of Looe with its popular family beach. Dogs are banned all year at Looe, but at West Looe there is a dog friendly beach at Hannafore.
From Hannafore there is enjoyable but exacting walking west to Talland Bay, another popular family beach. On the way to Talland Bay are the quiet Samphire Beach and Portnadler Bay.
Further west is the unspoilt Cornish fishing village of Polperro which is a must visit. There is a small beach here and tidal pool. Further west of Polperro are the beaches at Lansallos and Lantic Bay.
For the purposes of this guide, Mid Cornwall is the south Cornwall coast stretching from the Fowey Estuary to Falmouth. There are plenty of beaches here and some very nice seaside towns to visit.
To the east of the area is the town of Fowey which is well worth a visit. At Fowey there is a small beach called Readymoney Beach. From Fowey the coast stretches west to St Austell Bay and there are beaches here, the cove at Polridmouth and the small fishing village at Polkerris.
There are a good selection of beaches in St Austell Bay including the huge sandy beach at Par Sands, Carlyon Bay, Porthpean, Du Porth and Pentewan. Also a must visit is the harbour of Charlestown, famed for film and TV production and there are two small beaches at Charlestown.
Further south in St Austell Bay is the picturesque town of Mevagissey and there are nearby beaches at Polstreath and Portmellon.
South of Mevagissey, the coastline stretches south to the fishing village of Gorran Haven and then to Vault Beach and Dodman Point.
West of Dodman Point are Veryan Bay and Gerrans Bay. This area is rather remote from the main roads and it can be difficult to find your way through the lanes. There are certainly some nice beaches, including Hemmick Beach, Porthluney Cove, Portholland and the fishing village of Portloe. Further west into Gerrans Bay are the large sandy beaches at Carne Beach and Pendower Beach.
Further south there are a number of nice beaches on the Roseland Peninsula, including Porthcurnick Beach, the fishing village of Portscatho, Towan Beach, Porthbeor Beach. There is fine walking around St Anthony Head and the town of St Mawes is worth a visit, with two nice beaches. Across the Carrick Roads is the big harbour town of Falmouth and there are some popular beaches south of Falmouth including Castle Beach, Gyllyngvase Beach, Swanpool Beach and Maenporth.
The Lizard Peninsula is Britain's most southerly point and there is outstanding scenery here and great walking. There are also a nice selection of beaches.
On the east coast of Lizard is the fishing village of Coverack and there is a nice beach here. Further south-west are the beaches at Kennack Sands and at the picturesque fishing village of Cadgwith.
There is suberb scenery around Lizard Point and there is a small beach at Housel Bay.
On the east coast of the Lizard there is great scenery and a number of coves and beaches including the scenic Kynance Cove, the harbour at Mullion Cove, Polurrian Cove, Poldhu Cove and Church Cove. Further west is the three mile stretch of Porthleven Sands, comprising the beaches at Gunwalloe Fishing Cove, Loe Bar and Porthleven itself.
West Cornwall is the remotest part of Cornwall but there are great beaches and wonderful seaside towns and villages to visit. The coastal scenery towards Lands End is very impressive and there is great walking on the entire coast line.
In the south east of the area is the popular surfing beach at Praa Sands. Further west there is excellent walking around Prussia Cove and there are some small but picturesque beaches here at Kenneggy Sand, Bessys Cove and Piskies Cove.
You can walk from Prussia Cove to Marazion. On the way is the sandy beach at Perranuthnoe. At Marazion there is a super beach and at low tide you can walk the causeway to St Michaels Mount.
The beach at Marazion stretches all the way to the big seaside town of Penzance, which is well worth a visit. West of Penzance is the picturesque fishing village of Mousehole and further west Lamorna Cove.
Further west and getting closer to Land End is the super sandy beach at Porthcurno. Beyond Porthcurno there are smaller beaches at Porth Chapel, Porthgwarra and Nanjizal.
Lands End is a must visit and you can walk from Sennen Cove to Lands End. There is a great surfing beach at Sennen Cove.
There is a small beach at Cape Cornwall and further north a small cove at Portheras Cove.
In the north east of the region is fabulous St Ives Bay. St Ives itself is a wonderful seaside town to visit and there are great beaches here Porthminster Beach and the surfers beach at Porthmeor Beach. Beyond St Ives are the beaches at Carbis Bay and Porth Kidney Sands and east of the River Hayle is the 3 mile sweep of Hayle Sands which culminates in Gwithian Towans and Godrevy. Gwithian Towans is one of the best surfing beaches in Cornwall.
North Cornwall is a great place for holidays with a huge selection of beaches along the north Cornish coast. Many of the beaches can be surfed and there are plenty of seaside towns to visit, such as Perranporth or Bude. There are picturesque coastal villages to visit too, such as Port Isaac or Boscastle. Also of interest is the ruined castle at Tintagel, rumoured to be the Camelot of Arthurian legend. For the walker, the coastal scenery is spectacular and inland the north of Bodmin Moor can be explored, including Brown Willy the highest point in Cornwall. The Camel Trail can also be walked or cycled.
In the west Portreath, Porthtowan and Chapel Porth are good surfing beaches and from Chapel Porth there is great walking to St Agnes Head. At St Agnes is another surfing beach at Trevaunance Cove.
Perranporth is a big seaside town with a huge two mile long surfing beach. North of Perranporth is Holywell Bay, Porth Joke and the huge sandy beach of Crantock Beach.
North of Crantock are the surfing beaches at Fistral Beach and Newquay. North of Newquay is a nice sweep of sandy coastline with east facing beaches all of which can be surfed, including Porth, Watergate Bay, Mawgan Porth, Bedruthan Steps, Porthcothan, Treyarnon Bay, Constantine Bay and Boobys Bay.
From Boobys Bay, there is great walking around scenic Trevose Head and its lighthouse. East Of Trevose Head are the beaches at Mother Iveys Bay, Harlyn Bay and Trevone Bay.
The north of Cornwall is split into two by the Camel Estuary and the Camel Trail can be walked or cycled from Padstow to Wadebridge and beyond. Padstow is a nice harbour town to visit, with a fabulous stretch of sand which stretches along the west bank of the Camel.
On the west of the Camel is another super stretch of sand from Rock to Daymer Bay. North of Daymer Bay is the super surfing beach at Polzeath.
East of Polzeath are the small coves at Lundy Bay, Port Quin, Port Isaac and Port Gaverne. Trebarwith Strand is another popular surfing beach and there is a small cove at Bossiney Haven.
Further north is the surfing beach at Crackington Haven with its impressive cliffs. There are also some quieter beaches at The Strangles and Millook. North of Millook is the big beach at Widemouth and then the big seaside town of Bude which has a great beach at Summerleaze Beach.