Tucked away in the far south east of Cornwall is an area commonly known as the “forgotten corner”. Located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Whitsand Bay is off the beaten track and as such has retained a true authentic Cornwall atmosphere.

Think wooden chalets built into the sides of the cliffs, mile long stretches of unspoilt beaches and vast open space – some people even proclaim it to have healing properties, a place to clear the mind. Yet most visitors who whistle through from Plymouth to Cornwall completely miss this stretch of coastline. 

To illustrate its beauty, Visit Cornwall has produced a video on the area that captures the tranquillity of this undiscovered coastline. In this film - Heaven is a Beach Hut - owners of Whitsand Bay’s iconic chalets, perched on the cliffs of Cornwall's most unsung peninsula, share their stories.

Rob, a chalet owner in Whitsand Bay, who was interviewed for the film explains: “You have to be staunch to stay in one of these chalets. Some haven’t got any electricity, and most offer a kind of stripped down living…but with an astonishing view.” 

The song overlaying the film is Lifeline written by the Cornish singer, Gareth Lee. Gareth explains the meaning behind the lyrics: “It's about second chances and not giving up on trying to find the things that make you happy and settled.”

Rob continues: “For me, Whitsand Bay is a spiritual place. On a day you can play and swim on the beach, from the cliff you can watch the dolphins swim past and to top it off enjoy a good glass of wine while watching the sunset. It is in fact heaven.”

Whitsand Bay offers over three miles of stunning sand from Rame Head to Portwrinkle. Reached by steep paths and steps that wind down between the verdant vegitation and chalets, these beaches are never crowded. At low tide the long stretches of glistening sand provides great walking or jogging opportunities, whilst the constant swell keeps surfers happy riding some huge waves.

There are many fine walks to be enjoyed in the area and on the nearby Rame Peninsula. Why not try the stretch of the South West Coast Path from Tregantle Fort to Cremyll?. This offers a moderate/difficult grade of walking. Starting near the imposing Tregantle Fort, still used by the army for firing practice, the path weaves along the cliffs to the eastern end of the bay where you pass Polhawn Fort (Like Tregantle, one of a ring of forts built to defend Plymouth in the 1800s and now a wedding venue), and head out onto Rame Head. This fine headland guards Plymouth Sound from the prevailing westerly winds and is crowned by a medieval chapel dedicated to St Michael. From here the path continues to Penlee Point and the unique Queen Adelaide’s Grotto, before carrying on through woodland to the twin village of Kingsand and Cawsand before you reach the grounds of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park. 

Publisher: Visit Cornwall www.visitcornwall.com
Producer: De Facto Films