Cornwall Swimming beaches
The beach guide has 76 swimming beaches listed in Cornwall. Check here for all swimming beaches in the UK
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1. Penzance Beach
There are a couple of areas that could be described as beaches between Penzance harbour and the end of the Promenade at Wherrytown.
At lower tides there is a small band of sand and shingle running along the front of the Promenade.…
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2. Porthminster Beach (St Ives)
Porthminster is the easternmost and second-largest of St Ives' four beaches. Sheltered and sandy, with generally calm waters and excellent views across St Ives Bay to Godrevy lighthouse.
A short walk from the town centre, Porthminster…
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3. Gyllyngvase Beach
Gyllyngvase Beach is a sheltered sandy beach on the outskirts of Falmouth. The most popular beach in the area, Gyllyngvase has plenty of facilities and good disabled access. A range of activities are on offer.
4. Trevone Bay
A lovely sandy beach set in a cove. It is situated in an area of great geological interest.
5. Summerleaze Beach (Bude)
Summerleaze is a wide sandy beach within easy walking distance of Bude town centre. Flanked by the river, backed by dunes and sheltered by an impressive breakwater, Summerleaze is popular with families and surfers. A seawater bathing pool…
6. Towan Beach (Newquay)
Towan Beach is the closest beach to Newquay town centre, and gets extremely busy in summer. Adjacent to Newquay harbour, Towan is the westernmost of four beaches…
7. Upton Towans Beach
Upton Towans is the central section of the stretch of beach sand dunes that make up Hayle's "3 miles of golden sand". It is hard to identify where one part…
8. Gwithian Beach
Gwithian is a very long and exposed sandy beach that joins up with Hayle Towans and Godrevy at low tide. Very popular with surfers of all abilities, although there can be serious rip currents. A car park and cafes above the beach.
9. Porthcurno Beach
Porthcurno beach is a stunning spot that joins up with two others beaches at low tide to create an expanse of golden sand that runs all the…
10. Porthgwidden Beach (St Ives)
Porthgwidden is perhaps less well known than St Ives' other sandy beaches. All of these have a different character and the same can be said of Porthgwidden. Located between the harbour and Porthmeor beach, Porthgwidden sits in the shelter…
11. Porthmeor Beach (St Ives)
Porthmeor is the most exposed beach in St Ives, sandy and very popular with surfers due to rare protection from south-westerly gales. A stone's throw from the Tate Gallery, there is a small car park right above the beach and an excellent…
12. Porthgwarra Beach
This secluded little cove is tucked away just around the coast the coast from Land's End. Barely anyone was familiar with the charms of Porthgwarra until the BBC's 2015 series of Poldark put it on the map. Whilst it is still relatively…
13. Longrock Beach
Longrock beach lies around half way between Penzance and Marazion. Despite being a long sandy beach with views over Mount's Bay and St Michael's Mount, it is rarely ever busy. It does have a slightly scruffy feel in sections where it backs…
14. Charlestown Beach
Charlestown has a Georgian harbour that may be recognised from several film and television programmes. A fleet of tall ships currently resides in the harbour. There is a sand and stone beach to the east of the harbour and a small pebble…
15. Trebarwith Strand Beach
Trebarwith Strand is a large, sandy beach a couple of miles south of Tintagel. Backed by cliffs and caves and lying at the bottom of a deep valley, the beach is completely covered for several hours at high tide. Popular with surfers and…
16. Fistral Beach (Newquay)
Half a mile west of Newquay, Fistral Beach is considered to be the UK's leading surfing beach. Commonly split into two halves, North Fistral and…
17. Penhale Sands Beach (Perranporth)
Penhale Sands is part of a Special Area of Conservation that joins up with Perran Sands and Perranporth beach to form a stunning, three mile stretch of golden sand. Backed by dunes that house the ruins of St Piran's oratory, the beach…
18. Tolcarne Beach (Newquay)
Tolcarne is the largest of four beaches that join up at low tide to create the mile of golden sand that Newquay is famous for. Sandwiched between Great…
19. Northcott Beach
A rocky, unspoilt beach with plenty of sand at low tide. Northcott is owned by the National Trust, who operate a small car park. No other facilities apart from a caravan selling tea and coffee in summer. Exposed, with rock pools and dangerous…
20. Priests Cove
Priests Cove is a rocky beach just west of Cape Cornwall. Access to the (usually rough) sea is via a slippery slipway, although a man-made saltwater swimming pool, carved out of the rocks, makes the cove a popular choice for local families.…
21. Coverack
Coverack is a picturesque fishing village on the Lizard peninsula, with a small sand and pebble beach, popular with families. Diving is also popular, due to a group of treacherous rocks known as the Manacles, where numerous boats have…
22. Polzeath Beach
Polzeath is a small seaside resort on the north coast of Cornwall, with a sandy beach that's mostly covered at high tide. Six miles north of Wadebridge, Polzeath…
23. Constantine Bay
Constantine Bay is a wide, sandy beach three miles west of Padstow. Popular with surfers, the beach can be accessed via a ten minute walk…
24. Perranporth Beach
Perranporth Beach is one of Cornwall's best known and most popular beaches. Boasting an enormous expanse of golden sand, great surf and all…
25. Watergate Bay
Watergate Bay is a large open sandy beach located about 3 miles from Newquay. This beach absolutely radiates space but it still tends to get reasonably busy around the main car park in front of the Watergate Hotel.
Being north-westerly…
26. Mousehole Beach
The little west Cornwall fishing village is well known for its charms. In fact it was once described by the poet Dylan Thomas, as the loveliest village in England. The village's name comes from the small entrance to the harbour and it…
27. Marazion Beach
A sand and pebble beach opposite the iconic St Michael's Mount, which can be reached via a causeway at low tide.
Safe and sheltered, with plenty of shops and cafes in the village. There is a good children's playground adjacent…
28. Polkerris Beach
Polkerris is a sandy, south-west-facing beach with plenty of facilities, including watersports equipment hire. There is a easy access via a slipway, and a stone quay to provide shelter from the wind.
29. Porth Kidney (Lelant) Beach
Porth Kidney is a large, sandy beach at the mouth of the Hayle estuary. North-facing, with a river that makes for dangerous currents, the beach offers occasional good surfing. Two miles from St Ives, it is possible to walk around the headland…
30. Duporth Beach
Duporth is a privately owned beach between Charlestown and Porthpean. It is open to the public and access is from the coast path or parking at Porthpean.
31. Harlyn Bay
Harlyn Bay is a reasonable-sized stretch of golden sand not far from the popular harbour town of Padstow. Backed by sand dunes and low cliffs…
32. Poldhu Cove
A small west-facing beach on the Lizard peninsula. The first trans-Atlantic radio signal ever sent was from Poldhu, now in the hands of the National Trust and part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and an SSSI. An easy walk on the…
33. Crantock Beach
Crantock beach is part of extensive sands between the headlands of Pentire and West Pentire, near Newquay. A large, sandy beach with dunes, rock…
34. Carbis Bay Beach
One mile east of St Ives, Carbis Bay is the most sheltered of a line of sandy beaches that hug the coast all the way from St Ives to Godrevy. Carbis Bay offers safe swimming and is served by the picturesque St Ives branch line.
35. Padstow Beach
Padstow used to be a thriving fishing port. Now it is a typical picturesque Cornish village with narrow streets and pastel white-washed walls, geared mainly for tourism. It is set on the Camel estuary with extensive areas of sheltered…
36. Porthbeor Beach
Porthbeor is a long sand and shingle beach reached via a half hour hike along the coast path from St Anthony.
Access to the beach itself…
37. Lankidden Cove
This is one of Cornwall's hidden gems, set just around the corner from the Lizard Point - mainland Britain's most southerly point. With turquoise water and fine white sand backing…
38. Loe Beach (Feock)
The small stretch of shingle at Loe Beach is located in the village of Feock between Truro and Falmouth. The beach here is privately owned but open to the public and a good range of facilities are available. The beach sits at the head…
39. Millendreath Beach
Millendreath is a small, south-facing sandy cove, very popular with families. Most of the surrounding area is taken up by a holiday park, with many facilities open to the public.
40. Kingsand Bay
Like neighbouring Cawsand, Kingsand is a small, shingle beach that gets some shelter from Picklecombe Point to the east, and Penlee Point to the west. There are shops and pubs in the village and excellent walking on the nearby Rame Head.…
41. Gwynver beach
A secluded sandy beach about 100 yards long with limited access. At high tide the beach slopes steeply into the sea and can be dangerous for swimmers. Joins with Sennen at low tide. Views to the Scilly Isles and to Brisons rocks off the…
42. Vault Beach
A long stretch of fine shingle and sand which sites hidden to the east of Dodman Point. Although just around the corner from the popular village of Gorran Haven the beach here has a very secluded feel. Vault beach has, however, become…
43. Sandymouth Beach (Bude)
A 1.5 mile long beach made up of rock and pebbles with a vast expanse of sand in front.
The beach has rock-pools and is backed by high cliffs. It is reached…
44. Gorran Haven Beach
Little Perhaver is a sand and shingle beach that links up with Gorran Haven's main beach at low tide. Popular with families.
45. Porthtowan Beach
Porthtowan is a large sandy beach, backed by imposing cliffs, in the St Agnes Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. North-west-facing and popular with surfers, Porthtowan…
46. Kynance Cove
Kynance Cove is a picturesque sandy beach two miles north of Lizard Point. A ten minute walk from the National Trust car park,…
47. East Looe Beach
East Looe is a very popular sandy beach adjacent to the town of Looe, in East Cornwall. South-facing, with shallow waters that offer good, safe swimming, the eastern end of the beach is rockier and hence less crowded than the western end,…
48. St. Mawes Beach
There's a good-sized stretch of sand and shingle at the upmarket coastal village of St Mawes.
49. Mother Iveys Bay
Mother Ivey's Bay is somewhat tucked away on the North Cornish coast between Newquay and Padstow. It is a very pleasant sandy beach at the bottom of steep cliffs. If it were not for the large caravan site above the beach it would be…
50. Daymer Bay
This wide sandy beach sits near the mouth of the Camel estuary opposite Padstow. It is backed by sand dunes and a golf course. Daymer Bay sits…
51. Perranuthnoe (Perran Sands) Beach
Perranuthnoe beach is tucked away just around the corner from better known Marazion. The beach here consists of a good-sized stretch of sand…
52. Tregantle Cliff Beach (Whitsand Bay)
Long stretch of sand with rocky outcrops. The beach is backed by Ministry of Defence property with including an army base. Tregantle Fort overlooks the beach, and access is occasionally prohibited when the firing range is in use (Red…
53. Par Beach
Par is a safe, sandy beach two miles east of Carlyon Bay. Backed by dunes and stretching half a mile, Par is great for swimming and popular with families. There is ample parking, easy access and plenty of facilities.
54. Readymoney Cove
A small sheltered gently sloping sandy beach. It is situated in a cove sheltered by cliffs which open out on to the mouth of the River Fowey Estuary. To the North it is bounded by the medieval part of the Fowey. To the South West is St…
55. Port Isaac Beach
Beach / car park / harbour - take your pick Port Isaac has them all rolled into one idyllic little cove. The sand and shingle beach here is flanked on either side by high headlands and backed by one of Cornwall's prettiest little fishing…
56. Mexico Towans Beach
A long sandy beach next door to Gwithian.
57. Maenporth Beach
Maenporth is a small, sheltered cove two miles from Falmouth town centre. Shallow water, rock pools, parking right by the beach and great views across to Pendennis Castle.
58. Pendower Beach
Pendower Beach is situated within a bay on the Roseland Peninsula south of Truro. It is a fairly remote and rural spot but all the same quite popular due…
59. Downderry Beach
Downderry is a sheltered sand and shingle beach with rock pools at low tide. The eastern end is harder to access and popular with nudists. There is a pub right on the beach and plenty of parking in the village.
60. Crackington Haven Beach
Set in a bay this is a small sheltered beach consisting of a mixture of sand shingle and pebbles. The beach has rock pools and is surrounded by high cliffs.
61. Polridmouth Beach
Two secluded sandy beaches which are joined together at low tide. Access is by foot and there are no facilities.
62. Crooklets Beach (Bude)
A small west-facing beach just north of Bude, within easy walking distance of the town centre. Crooklets joins up with neighbouring Summerleaze at low tide. More exposed and usually bigger than its neighbour, Crooklets is popular with…
63. Bossiney Haven Beach
A sheltered sandy cove completely covered at high tide.
64. Eastern Green Beach
Eastern Green is the closest beach to Penzance, accessed via a concrete footpath from the bus station. The sheltered sand and shingle beach follows the curve of Mount's Bay to Long Rock. Clean water and safe swimming make it popular with…
65. Hemmick Beach
A sheltered sandy cove with no facilities and limited parking.
66. Holywell Bay
A mile-long sandy beach six miles west of Newquay, yet retaining an unspoilt rural backdrop. Whilst never as busy as the main Newquay beaches Holywell…
67. Pendower - Carne Beach
Pendower is a popular family beach on the Roseland peninsula. It joins up with neighbouring Carne at low tide to form a one and a half mile stretch of sand, with excellent views over Gerrans Bay. There is easy access from a car park where…
68. Crinnis Beach - Golf Course
A popular sandy beach, over a mile long, backed by cliffs and suitable for families.
69. Pentewan Sands Beach
The sandy beach at Pentewan Sands stretches for over half a mile. Whilst it is open to the public it is in fact owned by the holiday park behind…
70. Plaidy Beach (Looe)
Plaidy beach is a small, sandy beach, with rock pools, less than a mile on foot from Looe. There are no facilities on the beach, which prevents overcrowding.
71. Hannafore Beach (Looe)
A long mainly rocky beach stretching around Hannafore Point west of Looe. There are some pebble and sandy patches, and there are grassy banks above the beach.
72. Portholland Beach
A large sandy bay that has some interesting rock pools and is surrounded by cliffs.
73. Pollurian Cove
A large exposed beach set in a cove, surrounded by rocks and steep cliffs.
74. Swanpool Beach
Swanpool beach is located on the edge of Falmouth and often plays second choice to the larger, sandier Gyllyngvase…
75. Great Western Beach (Newquay)
A beautiful sheltered sandy beach surrounded by high cliffs. The beach is fully tidal and completely covered at high tide. It is popular with surfers who want to avoid the heavy swells at Fistral beach. It is quieter than the neighbouring…
76. Lusty Glaze Beach
Lusty Glaze is a privately owned beach and cove with beautiful golden sands sheltered by dramatic 200ft cliffs. It is home to The Adventure Centre where visitors can experience the buzz of adrenaline in this idyllic natural environment…
