Beaches

Bedruthan Steps

This is a very large sandy beach which is broken by very large spectacular granite outcrops. Please be aware that swimming is dangerous due to the strong currents and access to the beach is unsuitable for wheel chairs and push chairs as the steps down to the beach are very steep.  These steps are closed to the public during the winter months and re-open on 1^St March each year. Please note that there is a risk on some parts of the beach of being cut off.

Parking: Limited parking in the one small National Trust Car Park however in the summer season there is usually a privately run car park available.

Facilities: Tea Room run by the National Trust with toilet facilities.

Dogs:  This is a dog friendly beach and is available all year round.

Booby's Bay

This is a wide sandy beach with many rock pools and popular with surfers. Constantine Bay and Boobies Bay are two stunning beaches, both crescents of soft golden sand that form one long beach at low tide. Booby’s Bay is approximately half a mile north of Constantine Bay.  A point of interest is of a ship wreck that is only visible at low tide. Access to the beach is by climbing down from the coast path or walking along the beach at low tide.  The surfing at Booby’s Bay is recommended for intermediate and experienced surfers only. Please note that access and surfing is not possible for about 2 hours either side of high water as the beach is submerged.  

Parking: There is none at Booby’s Bay. You will need to park at Treyarnon Bay or Constantine Bay and walk the coast path to Booby’s Bay as there is no direct access. There is limited parking at Constantine Bay, so Treyarnon may be a better option.

Facilities: There are toilets facilities at Constantine Bay. Lifeguards patrol this beach from late May until late September.

Dogs: This is a dog friendly beach all year round.

Constantine Bay

Constantine Bay is a wide sandy beach with many rock pools and plenty of sand and is north of Treyarnon Beach. At low tide Constantine Bay and Boobies Bay form one very long beach. It is separated from Booby's Bay, on the north, by a narrow rocky headland. Access to the beach is by a sloping path.  Lifeguards Patrol this beach from late May until late September including the Easter weekend. Please be aware that there are rocks at this beach and dangerous rips with the beach shelving quickly at high tide. A very popular surf spot producing top quality waves however this is recommended to experienced surfers only.

Facilities: There are toilets including disabled available.

Parking: Parking is limited at Constantine Bay and it may be better to park at Treyarnon Bay and walk the coast path to Constantine Bay which only takes approximately 10 minutes.

Dogs:  Dog friendly beach - all year round.

Daymer Bay & Greenaway

Daymer Bay situated between Rock and Polzeath is one of the jewels in North Cornwall's Crown and is a pleasant sandy bay with rock pools to the north. Access to the beach is via steps.  This wide sandy beach is very sheltered and at high tide you can walk out in to the sea for quite a way before it comes up to your waist.  At low tide the sand stretches south to Rock to form a large expanse of sand.

Daymer Bay is found in the mouth of the Camel estuary and unlike Polzeath has very little in the way of surf but it is an excellent spot for swimming, windsurfing, boating or canoeing. It is an ideal location for families with youngsters to spend the day. It also offers some stunning walks for those of you who don't care for the water.

Facilities: There is a shop where you can purchase beach and food items.

Parking: There is one large car park situated by the beach

Dogs: This beach is dog friendly all year round.  

Greenways

To the right of Daymer Bay you will find loads of rock pools and the small beach known as Greenaways, which is accessible from Tristram car park, it is a small beach usable only at lower tides.

Harlyn Bay

Harlyn Bay is a crescent shaped bay of sand and pebbles with rock pools and is situated on the eastern side of Trevose Head, west of Padstow. It is a wide, sandy bay with a reputation as one of the 'safer' beaches and is therefore popular with both families and surf schools. Lifeguards patrol this beach over the Easter weekend and from the beginning of May until the end of September. 

This is an excellent beach for many seaside activities such as surfing, swimming and sunbathing, with some fine walks along the headlands in either direction.  Walkers can take the coastal path to Mother Ivey’s Bay and Trevose Head from Harlyn bay however please note that part of the coast path is on the beach, so this route may be impassable at high tide. 

Facilities: There are toilets available within the parking area. The Harlyn Inn is across from the beach with a shop adjacent.  Harlyn Surf School and surf hire is based here.  It is an RNLI approved hire cente.

Parking: There is one large car park adjacent to the beach which extends into a field during the summer seasons.

Dogs: Harlyn Bay is a year round dog friendly beach.  

Mawgan Porth

Mawgan Porth is a wide sandy beach with sand even at high tide. There is level access to the beach. The beach is patrolled by Lifeguards during the summer.

Parking: There are 2 car parks nearby

Facilities: Toilets and a range of café’s and shops nearby.

Dogs: This beach is dog friendly year round.

Mother Ivey’s Bay

Mother Ivey’s Bay is a picturesque and pleasant sandy beach, West of Padstow. There is no direct access to this beach with neither facilities nor parking available. This does have the advantage of being un-crowded even on the busiest summer day.  

Parking: The nearest parking is at Harlyn Bay (to the east), which then involves a 15 to 20 minute walk along the coast path.

Facilities: None available

Dogs: The beach is a dog friendly one.  

Padstow

To the north of the town and accessible by the coast path is a super stretch of sand from St Georges Cove to Harbour Cove and Hawkers Cove. The walk from Padstow to St Georges Cove takes about 20 minutes with great views across the estuary. Harbour Cove is just further along the coast.  The walk out to the headland to Stepper Point (The Sleeping Dragon) provides the most stunning view's of the estuary including Daymer Bay, Rock and up the estuary to the old Iron Bridge which is part of the Camel Trail. Padstow is connected via a ferry service to the village of Rock.

Parking: There is parking in Padstow however this does get very busy in the summer season.

Facilities: Toilet facilities are situated in Padstow with shops and cafe's.

Dogs: Dogs are banned from St Georges Cove from Easter Day to October 1 however are permitted at Harbour Cove and Hawkers Cove.

Polzeath

Situated at the mouth of the Camel Estuary, Polzeath Beach is a super family beach with a large expanse of sand and excellent surfing making it one of the finest surfing beaches in the U.K. Access to Polzeath beach is via the beach car park. Lifeguards patrol this beach over the Easter weekend and from late April until late September. Access to New Polzeath beach is via steps.  

New Polzeath and Pentire Glaze Haven North of Polzeath) are located to the right of the main beach in the direction of Pentire Head, which affords stunning views over the bay and the camel estuary to Padstow and beyond to Trevose head Lighthouse.  You can only reach Pentire Glaze Haven via the beach at fairly low tide, but there is a footpath at New Polzeath that accesses the beach when the tide is up. Newlands is the small islet off Pentire Point and further North at the mouth of the Camel Estuary

Facilities: Council run toilets with disabled ones available. Numerous shops, café’s and shops available. Surf Schoosl and Hire.

Parking: A Council car park situated on beach, a large field car park above the cliffs at Tristram, Anne’s Cottage Surf shop and New Polzeath, behind the Atlantic Hotel.

Dogs: No dogs during the summer from Easter Sunday to October 1st.

Porthcothan Bay

Porthcothan is part of the "seven bays for seven days" grouping of beaches. These include Constantine, Trevone, Harlyn and Treyarnon which are all very close by.

This is a lovely sandy bay, popular with families, with a small stream, running across a fine golden sandy beach, which is sheltered by sand dunes and craggy headlands. . This is the most southerly of the North Cornwall beaches and the access to Porthcothan beach is from the main road and car park or from the coast path which follows the headland. Lifeguards patrol this beach from May 22nd until September 31st.  At low tide there are rock pools and other nooks and crannies to poke around in.

The headland and cliffs to the north of Porthcothan are owned and protected by the National Trust, which makes for plenty of wildlife and a diverse flora and fauna. From here Porthcothan affords stunning views towards Trevose Head and the lighthouse.  Off shore of Porthcothan there are several little islands to the left, called Trescore Islands and to the right is Will's rock, and slightly further north areMinnows Islands and Fox cove.

Parking: 1 Council run car park

Facilities: The beach entrance, where a public telephone and shop are located, is opposite the car park and toilets. Shop nearby.

Dogs: This is a dog friendly beach.

Port Gaverne

Port Gaverne is a sheltered, narrow cove with plenty of sand at low tide. It is popular with families as it has plenty of rock pools it’s also worth exploring neighbouring Port Isaac. There are no lifeguards patrolling this beach.

Parking:  Park at Port Isaac and walk across. Also parking on Port Isaac beach (tide permitting)

Facilities: toilets available. There are Café’s, shops and restaurants available in Port Isaac.

Dogs: Dogs allowed all year.

Port Isaac & Port Quin

Port Quin is a sheltered but narrow beach to the east of Port Isaac. To the west is a beautiful walk. Lifeguard patrols are not available.  

Parking:  At low tide the beach at Port Isaac doubles as a car park. Port Quin has parking at the small National Trust car park

Facilities: There are various cafes, restaurants, telephone and pubs in the village of Port Isaac.

Dogs:  Dogs allowed all year

Rock

Rock has a long sandy beach on the east side of the Camel Estuary on the opposite side of the estuary to Padstow. At low tide the beach stretches from Porthilly Cove north to Daymer Bay. There are extensive sand dunes. There is a passenger ferry between Rock and Padstow called the Black Tor Ferry . The beach is called Porthilly Cove but stretches north to Daymer Bay. This is on the Camel estuary and has no surf.

Parking: There is a small car park available also some road parking

Facilities: Yes, by the car park, Cafe, beach shop, Waters sports/activities

Dogs: Dogs allowed all year

Trevone

The village of Trevone comprises of two beaches and is about 1½ miles from Padstow. There is a sandy beach and a rocky one with a natural swimming pool which is great for children to go crabbing in the rock pools and to collect shells. The sand is fine and golden, ideal sandcastle material. The sandy beach is quite sheltered and has lifeguards fromlate May until late September.  Access to the beach is via a small slope and there are also steps from one of the car parks.

Just above the sandy beach is a giant natural blow hole, which is at least 80ft deep and is a great tourist attraction. Trevone Bay is located between Padstow and Harlyn Bay.  

Parking: 2 car parks

Facilities: Beach Stores, a Farm shop, pub, Surf school and café. Council run toilets including disabled.

Dogs: It is a dog free beach from Easter Sunday to October 1st.

Treyarnon Bay

Treyarnon Bay is a popular beach with the surfers and is one of the ‘Seven bays for seven days’ which can be found along this stretch of the North Cornwall coastline.

Treyarnon Bay is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is a clean beach which, at low tide, reveals a large area of golden sand. There are numerous rock pools to explore and sheltered small coves ideal for sun bathing.  The renowned “natural” swimming pool, at the bottom of the low cliffs near the Youth Hostel, was a hollow in the rocks which has been dammed at one end. It is flushed out by the incoming tide and is easily accessible at low tide.

The coastal footpath provides breathtaking views along the coast to Trevose Head in one direction and Newquay and even St Ives on a clear day, in the other direction.

At the mouth of the bay is Treyarnon Island. This large rock, topped with grass and thrift, is separated from the mainland by a narrow gulley and is a nature reserve and home of breeding sea birds.

The coastal path and beach provide a wonderful level where you can watch the surf rolling in, amazing sunsets, seals and if you are fortunate a school of dolphins. The beach is patrolled by lifeguards from the May Spring Bank Holiday until mid September. This sandy bay lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty next to Constantine Bay.

Parking: End of the approach road before the Youth Hostel

Facilities: Toilets and a Beach Shop

Dogs: This is a dog friendly beach – all year round