Must sees:
Looked after by the National Trust, this stunning beach on the Lizard Peninsula gets super popular, so get there early. It’s a steep walk down to the beach, so not accessible for everyone, and there’s a dog ban during July and August. Make sure to visit at low tide.
As with Kynance, get there early! Stunning beach beloved of Instagrammers. Soft, white shell beach with freshwater stream, surrounded by turquoise seas and backed by granite cliffs. Visit PK Porthcurno and make a day of it – the museum of global communications. Find out how we communicated before the internet! Family friendly.
Locals:
One of the most popular beaches in Cornwall, a Blue Flag status beach, with its wide arc of golden sand and inviting sea. Great amenities, with award-winning cafe, yet still only a 15 minute walk away from Falmouth town centre. Us locals just call it ‘Gylly’ if you’re wondering on the pronunciation!
Situated alongside Pendennis point. Rocky sections mean that at low tide it’s an excellent beach for rockpooling as well as diving and snorkelling. As you walk way from the Pendennis Point end of the beach, rockpools give way to golden sand as the beach joins Tunnel Beach. The majority of the whole beach can be covered at high tide, so this is something that needs to be remembered.
Beautiful sandy cove, approximately 2 miles from Falmouth town centre, perfect for sun bathing, rockpooling, fishing and boating. Excellent family facilities that include a cafe, car parking and the opportunity to hire out or book from here, a range of watersports activities including kayaking, sailing and scuba diving
A delightful swimming cove, with an excellent watersports centre. Try your hand at dinghy sailing, kayaking or windsurfing. Bouncy castle located on the beach during the summer months for the smaller children. The award-winning cafe serves a great selection of teas, coffees, sandwiches and ice-creams.
A small sandy sheltered beach on the west coast of the Lizard, surrounded by dunes and popular with families. The beach cafe overlooks the beach and serves breakfast, hot and cold lunches, cake and ice cream. Allow time to visit the Marconi Centre up on the hillside, the location is famous for the first transatlantic radio signal.
Though surfing and swimming are certainly the headline acts at Perranporth Beach, there’s a wealth of alternative activities to undertake in the area. Experience the sea in new ways with the selection of water sports offered by local companies, or float about on the surface with a snorkel while gazing on the marine life below. The beach is easily accessible which is ideal if you’ve got young ones in tow and you can just plonk yourself on the sand close to the village, put down your towels and relax, there’s even a bar close by! Plus there’s a fantastic tidal sea pool for kids to swim in.
Located a short woodland walk away from the National Trust car park at Bosveal is the secluded Grebe beach. Access is via a fairly steep path, this is a lovely spot backed by woodland and looking out onto the stunning Helford river. There are rocks at either end of the beach with a few rock pools worth exploring. As with most of the Helford beaches swimming is relatively safe but the absence of a lifeguard means caution is advised. Dog friendly. Perfect for a spot of wild swimming and 10 minutes from Tresooth Cottages.
10 minutes from Tresooth, this pleasant sand and shingle beach is the backdrop to the 300 year old Ferry Boat Inn, a huddle of cottages and dinghies and boats of all shapes and sizes pulled up on the beachside. If you fancy it you can hire a boat here and explore the Helford, including the famous Frenchman’s Creek just around the corner. You can also take a ferry across to Helford village in the summer months. Swimming is generally safe here although the beach isn’t lifeguarded. Bathers should, however, be aware of river traffic as the beach is a popular launching spot.
Remember:
Always check the tide times before you leave, make sure you don’t get cut off. Some beaches are inaccessible at high tide. Most resort beaches have lifeguard cover from Easter to the end of September during the daytime. Find out more from the RNLI Beach Safety Guide.
