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Perranporth is a holiday centre today and the town, busy in the summer season, takes on a near deserted aspect in the winter. There was quite extensive mining carried on around here and there are some older buildings because of that, but most of the houses and hotels have been built in the 20th century. The big attraction of course, is the sand and the dunes. There are a couple of large holiday parks above the town and a links golf course links. The Tourist Information Center is next to the front car park as is the bus terminal.

The main beach area which is not covered at high tide is to the right of the stream under the dunes and links golf course. The sea goes out a fair way here, revealing a wonderful, flat expanse of sand and the lifeguards use buggies or 4X4's to patrol and place their flags. Around the rocky corner on the right hand side is the further expanse of Perran Sands, which stretches for over two miles up to Stern Point. If you're staying at the holiday park above this area, there is access to the beach via some steps, but walking round to Perranporth on the sand is not possible at high tide.

From the town along Perran Sands at low tide is a fabulous walk, with the dunes on one side and the sea on the other. Just before Stern Point you can cut up into the dunes a short step and pick up the coastal path to Holywell Bay. Unfortunately, a large chunk of this coast has been taken over by the military, so it is not possible to explore inland; there are signs making it plain that this is forbidden and dangerous. However, the cliffs are incredibly beautiful, wild and interesting, with deep jagged cuts and sheer drops. At Holywell Bay you come to another beautiful, sandy beach and more dunes.

Once more buried in the sand, up in the dunes, is the ancient St. Piran's Oratory, where one of the earliest Irish Saints lived. It is believed to date back to 6th century and, it is said, that when excavated, the skeleton of a large man was found inside. St. Piran is believed to have been a big, powerful man with the gift of healing. About a mile away, to the east is the large St. Piran's Cross. There are a number of Holy Wells in this general area, at Crantock, there are two and another at Cubert, but the most interesting is the one in a cave on the beach at Holywell Bay. It is said that sick children were taken there to be healed.

Tourist Information Centre

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