Bude

Crooklets and Summerleaze beaches, acres of golden sand when the tide is out with a seawater pool on Summerleaze, an ideal family beach and close to the shops and town centre. Great surfing at Crooklets.

A large sandy beach, spectacular cliff top views nearby, surfing. An ideal spot in the winter months to witness the power and majesty of the Atlantic Ocean on a windy day. The Bay View Inn is adjacent to the beach.

Atmospheric, flanked by steep cliffs and wooded valleys, take your camera! (No lifeguard cover, swimming not recommended). This is a National Trust beach.

A small sandy beach with rock pools, high cliffs, lovely walks.  The Coombe Barton Inn is adjacent to the beach.

Just North of Bude, a secluded spot, ideal for seashore exploration, good surfing. This is a National Trust beach.

A National Trust beach with spectacular surfing, voted one of the best clean water surfing beaches in the West Country by the Readers Digest.

Watergate Bay

3 miles north of Newquay. One of Cornwall's more spectacular rural beaches with 2 miles of golden sand at low tide backed by 300 foot cliffs. There is car parking right behind the beach, shop facilities, food is available too. Watergate Bay is an excellent destination for a brisk walk. It is about an hour's walk along the Coastal Path north from Newquay. Life guards on duty in Season.

Mousehole

At the entrance to the village there is a sandy beach with safe bathing and there are sandy areas in the harbour when the tide is low. On the road to Newlyn there is a rocky beach at Roskilly. Small quay car park.

Porthcurno 

Beautiful sands situated underneath the cliffs near the Minack Theatre. Very safe bathing except on some occasions at high tide when the steep shelving beach can cause problems. Sunbather's paradise.

St. Ives Harbour 

Very sheltered, with sandy areas in the harbour. A perfect suntrap in the heart of the town.  

Crantock 

This is a wide stretch of beach located on the western side of the town and offers superb views over the river Gannel estuary.

Sennen

A long, sandy beach, with small fishing harbour and lifeboat station. First class surfing conditions and safe bathing within the flagged areas. Pay special attention to this area as the flags can be changed and moved frequently due to tidal movements.

Gwenver - Sennen 

This sandy beach provides some of the most spectacular surfing conditions in the county, but only suitable for experienced Malibu board riders. Bathers should take particular care to keep within the flags, and if in doubt seek the advice of the lifeguards. Young children or weak swimmers should not be left unattended in the water.

Newquay is indeed spoilt with several of the best surfing beaches in Cornwall. Fistral facing the Atlantic is very popular with surfers of all abilities. Venue for International Surfing Competitions.  Several areas are kept for swimmers alone. All Newquay's beaches are popular with families.

The Harbour Newquay

A small pleasant beach and fishing harbour visited by locals.

Trebarwith Strand

3 miles from Tintagel. The beach has Gull Rock as a backdrop, a huge expanse of sand at low water and lots of rock pools for the kids to explore. Parking nearby, and life guards on duty during the Season. Trebarwith bears witness to many spectacular sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean, particularly on a high tide.

Holywell Bay 

At low tide the cave on the North side of the beach is accessible, beware of times of high water though to ensure that you don't get cut off ! Newquay.

The Gannel 

A sandy river bed exposed at low tide is ideal for picnics but not suitable for swimming due to strong currents.

Great Western 

This beach can be reached by a steep slope leading off Cliff Road beside the Great Western Hotel or to the right of the 'Island' at low tide, the beach is sheltered by the high cliffs which provide shelter from the mid day sun in the summer season.

Tolcarne 

This is a privately owned beach with beach huts which can be hired out. Reached by a flight of steps leading down the cliff face from 'Narrowcliff' or by he winding slope at the eastern end of the beach.

Lusty Gaze 

A privately owned beach with facilities such as abseiling and lifeguard training courses run from the beach. Accessed by walking along the sands from the town at low tide. 

Lantivet Bay 

Three south facing sandy beaches hidden in a Bay mid way between Polperro and Fowey, reachable by a stiff 2 mile walk from the nearest road, with lots of steps. The Bay is popular as a mooring with yachts hopping along the Cornish Coast. South facing beaches None are ever busy due to their inaccessibility.

Near St Austell a beautiful East facing beach sheltered by the Harbour walls. A wide expanse of sand at low water. Popular as a launch for dive boats. 

Prussia Cove 

This old-world corner has a pebbly beach with safe bathing and seclusion.

Pisky Cove 

A small isolated cove south-west of Prussia Cove. Good bathing, but at high tide the beach becomes covered. There are large flat areas of rock suitable for sunbathing.

Perranuthnoe 

A sandy beach backed by high cliffs. Safe bathing at most times, but keep clear of the sand bank which can form in the centre of the beach. Ideal for children. Some parking close to the beach.

Marazion 

Sandy beach with causeway to St Michael’s Mount at low tide. Popular with families and for water sports. Large car parks.

Penzance Through To Long Rock 

Along from Eastern Green, there is a shingle beach turning to sand towards Marazion. Windsurfing schools are open to the public. Car park at Long Rock beach.  

Lamorna 

Small harbour surrounded by boulder-clad foreshore. There is a small amount of sand in the harbour and safe bathing within the harbour limits. Small harbour car park.

Penberth 

A small National Trust owned fishing cove at the end of a very pretty valley. Very limited car parking. Best viewed from the coastal footpath.

Pedn-Vounder 

Isolated stretch of sand almost totally covered at high tide. Moderate safe bathing, but take care of sandbank forming as the tide comes in. Difficult access.

Porthchaple 

A small sandy beach, with little sand remaining at high tide. Bathing is safe on the eastern side of the beach. Car park by the church a quarter of a mile away. Seals may be seen.

Porthgwarra 

Picturesque, with sand at the bottom of the slip, and access through a cave.

Nanjizel 

Sand and boulders in this beautiful cove. Bathe with care.

Porthnanven - Cot Valley 

A mixture of sand and boulders, pleasant spot for a picnic. Very limited parking.

Priests Cove - Cape Cornwall 

Attractive fishing and relaxing scene. Children's swimming pool in the rocks. Limited access to the sea, except on slipway. Car park

Boat Cove - Cape Cornwall 

Picturesque fishing cove, with pleasant bathing for good swimmers. Limited parking.  

Porth 

Superb beach with easy access for everyone. Porth island is located on the eastern side of the beach and is the site of an Iron Age settlement. At Trevelgue Head there is a pitch and putt course.

Portherras - Pendeen 

An attractive blend of sand and rock. Conditions often unsuitable for bathing. Beware of sharp metal fragments from old wrecks in sand and water. Excellent cliff walks.

Porthmeor - St. Ives 

Sandy, surfing and surf-bathing beach. Good surf conditions prevail frequently. Surfboard area marked with orange buoys, generally safe bathing - check with lifeguards. Restaurant and cafe facilities on the beach.

Porthgwidden - St. Ives 

Small sandy cove and delightful sun-trap, with safe bathing, but keep inside the line of buoys.

Porthminster - St. Ives 

A half-mile of golden sands with calm sea conditions. Very safe for bathing, sheltered from most winds. Scenic cliff walk to Carbis Bay.

Carbis Bay 

A large, sandy beach, with very safe bathing and almost always calm conditions. Lovely spot for children.

Porthkidney - Lelant 

There is a vast expanse of sand, and a long walk to reach the beach. There are sand dunes behind, and at low tide it is almost a mile to the water's edge. It is dangerous to bathe in the river but very safe in the sea if you keep between the flags. Plenty of room for everyone! Limited parking by Lelant church.

Towans - Hayle 

On the Hayle estuary promontory there is a sandy cove, with sand flats on the riverbank. Bathing is safe, as long as you can stay away from the river itself, which is dangerous, and keep within the flags.

Mexico Towans - Hayle 

On the north side of the Black Cliffs, with moderate surfing conditions and a sandy beach. Excellent for bathing.

Beachside - Hayle 

An open sandy beach with safe bathing. Occasional good surfing conditions, and ideal for novices.

Upton Towans - Hayle 

In the centre of the long, sandy beach, this is fairly well used, but has ample scope for large numbers of people. Ideal for surfing and windsurfing and safe for bathing. It is backed by sand dunes and holiday camps.

Peter's Point - Hayle 

On the northern end of the three mile stretch of sand. There is difficult access but this means it is often uncrowded and is a good alternative to the more popularly used Gwithian and Hayle. Moderate surfing conditions.

Gwithian - Hayle 

Situated at the end of the long, sandy beach at Hayle, it offers small coves and stretches of open sand with safe bathing, and surfing conditions are generally favorable. It is sheltered on one side from the north-east winds. Parking on dunes.

Godrevy - Hayle 

A rocky beach adjacent to the island lighthouse, with marvelous surfing conditions. (Although the Red River sometimes dis-colour's the water from tin waste, it has no harmful effect on bathers.) The beach is perfectly safe if you listen to advice and keep away from the stretch of water between the island and the mainland, because of the strong tides there. Large car park.  

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