Beaches in Cornwall
Beaches for all.
Cornwall's beaches are the headline act. From wave-lashed sands to sheltered coves, the variety on our 300 miles of coastline is unmatched anywhere in Britain.
On the north coast, Atlantic swells pound pearly sands and granite headlands – territory for surfing, kite flying and sand-to-cliff hikes. On the south coast it's a different story – glassy coves, fishing harbours and hidden inlets invite swimming, rockpooling and paddle-powered days afloat.
The question isn't which are the 'best' beaches in Cornwall – it's which beach fits the day you want to have.
Catch a wave: Cornwall's surf beaches
From Bude to Sennen, a string of west-facing beaches turn ocean swells into rideable ramps of all sizes – with surf schools and kit hire making it easy to hit the waves.
Newquay is the UK's surfing capital – with Fistral Beach at its heart and Kernow-fornia energy spilling across beaches for all conditions. Follow the Atlantic Highway all the way to Bude and Widemouth Bay, or head west to Sennen, which catches every ripple of swell rolling across 3,000 miles of Atlantic.
Don't stop at the north coast – southerly swells wrap into Cornwall's most famous (and challenging) reef break at Porthleven, and light up beaches from Mount's Bay to Whitsand Bay.
Off the beaten track: Cornwall's hidden coves
The best beaches in Cornwall aren't always the ones in the guide books. Follow the coast path, unfold an OS map, or ask a local – and you'll find beautiful coves most visitors never reach.
Prussia Cove's necklace of rocky bays are worth every step, jump off boulders and seek anemones clinging to narrow gullies. Hunt for shipwreck treasure at Dollar Cove, wait for low tide to discover the cliff-hugged waterfall and sea caves at Bossiney Cove, or stroll from verdant clifftops to the sugary sands and cobalt waters of Lantic Bay, hugged by Pencarrow Head.
Family friendly: easy access and safe play
Cornwall's best family beaches go beyond lifeguards and ice cream. They make a day on the sand so effortless that nobody – from tots to gramps – will want to pack up and head home.
Roll into Carbis Bay by scenic railway for snorkelling and canoe trips in Caribbean-clear water – and a line-up of waterside eateries that means all you need is a beach towel. Park-and-beach at Falmouth's Gyllyngvase, with the ease of a café, bakery and paddleboard hire on the sand.
Park steps from the sand at Sexton, where a valley-backed bay with a trickling river keeps kids happily anchored for hours. Float to Crantock on the foot ferry from Newquay, or park up and slide down the dunes to on-the-sand beach gear hire. For dawn to dusk beach days, Treyarnon delivers with a sea pool, bodyboarding breakers, and a YHA café where sunsets slide into live music on the terrace.
Picnics and plunges: Cornwall's wild swimming beaches
Long before wild swimming had a name, people were slipping into Cornwall's sea pools, coves and tidal lagoons. The water is cold – yes, even in August – but the reward is a whole-body reset that's hard to match.
Nanjizal, a mile from Land's End, has earned cult status: turquoise water surging beneath a dramatic rock arch, and a well-earned cold-water hit by the time you've walked in. Trevone's sea pool is one of Cornwall's finest – big enough for lengths, with rocks for post-dip picnics, and a café for hot chocolates after. But the undisputed heavyweight is Bude Sea Pool on Summerleaze beach – nearly 100 metres long and 50 metres wide, providing a glorious, free swimming pool year-round on the surf-hammered Atlantic coast.
Don't wait for summer to take the plunge – shoreside saunas make it an inviting ritual year-round, February included.
Paws in the sand: Cornwall's dog-friendly beaches
Zoomies on wide open sands. Paws in rock pools. Cornwall's beaches welcome dogs – and many welcome them year-round. Even those with seasonal restrictions open up again from September to May — and most are only daytime bans, so the beach is all yours for sunrise walkies and golden-hour runs along the tideline.
'Happy Dog Beach', or Porthkidney Sands, remains blissfully uncrowded even in the busiest months, while Daymer Bay's sandy crescent is made for fetch and a dip after climbing Brea Hill.
Surfers and dogs rule Atlantic-lashed Watergate Bay year-round, with sandy paws welcome at the beach café. And Holywell Bay has dunes to tear up, a stream to splash through, and a proper dog-friendly pub at the end of it all.
All at sea: Cornwall's beaches for watersports
Cornwall's beaches are a launchpad for water-bound adventures – with options that go well beyond surfing.
Polkerris near Fowey offers sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding and powerboat trips – with Sam's on the Beach waiting with pizzas and seafood when you're done. Swanpool near Falmouth is a base for paddle and sail adventures – or spectate with a hedgehog ice cream.
Looking for white-knuckle wet hair thrills? Head to Port Quin and swim, scramble and rock jump on a coasteering trip.