Top 10 Must See Cornish Beaches

We LOVE the beach come rain or shine and Cornwall is home to some of the very best beaches in the UK, arguably far beyond just the UK too. White sand and turquoise waters aren’t in short supply here and there’s so many undiscovered coves you could even find a beach all to yourself. We’ve collated 10 of the beaches we believe are an absolute must see and give you a bit more information about what they each have to offer below.

1. Fistral Beach, Newquay: home of international surfing, Fistral Beach has all of the surf vibes and is a beautiful expanse of sandy beach with plenty of facilities, bars and restaurants surrounding you to keep you entertained from dusk til dawn. Dog friendly all year round.

2. Kynance Cove, The Lizard: if you fancy something a bit quieter and more rustic this is it. An increasingly well known spot on the Lizard Peninsula with crystal clear turquoise sea and a true Cornish rugged coastline. There’s a cafe for a coffee and cake stop too. Seasonal dog ban on this beach (from October until Easter day) but before 7am and after 7pm outside of these months you’re ok.

3. Gwithian, West Cornwall: a vast expanse of golden sands, Gwithian stretches three miles from the Hayle River mouth to the Red River mouth at Godrevy. A popular surf haunt and a few lovely cafes scattered along the stretch make it a great place to walk along the dunes or spend a day on the beach. There is a seasonal dog ban between Red River and the lighthouse but you’re ok on the dunes all year round, do be careful of adders in the height of summer though).

4. Porthmeor, St Ives: a picturesque St Ives beach; white sands and turquoise waters, you could easily mistake it for the meditteranean. Fantastically located just outside of the main town and right next to The Tate Gallery, Porthmeor is a great spot to enjoy the sunset and the last of the day’s rays. Seasonal dog ban – Easter day to October 1st.

5. Marazion, West Cornwall: There’s always a lot of activities going on here; windsurfing, paddle boarding, kite surfing, you name it! Your backdrop is also the mesmerising St Michael’s Mount. You can walk all the way from Penzance along the promenade to Marazion, it’s a lovely walk and Marazion village is definitely worth a visit too. Seasonal dog ban (May to October) but you can take dogs on Gwelva beach which is to the left of the Castle Causeway (when looking at St Michael’s Mount) and can be accessed from Godolphin steps.

6. Porthcurno, West Cornwall: probably one of the most photographed beaches in Cornwall. If you’ve heard of the Minack Theatre, this is the beach just below it and is definitely one of the most spectacular beaches in Cornwall. At low tide take a stroll around the corner to the neighbouring beache and Logan Rock; you won’t believe your eyes. No pun intended here as what I mean is Pedn Vounder (the neighbouring beach) is one of Cornwall’s most incredible beaches that’ll have you feeling as though you’re in Thailand, however it is a nudist beach, just to let you know. Porthcurno has a seasonal dog ban but Pedn Vounder is dog friendly year round, it is however very important to note tide times because you will get cut off at high tide. The walk up and down is not for the faint hearted so be aware of this if you’re not accessing from Porthcurno beach.

7. Whitsand Bay, South East Cornwall: South East Cornwall’s unspoilt gem. A vast expanse of beautiful sands and lots of different beaches and coves along the stretch to explore. It’s 3 miles of coast from Rame Head to Portwrinkle. Most of the beaches are accessed by a relatively steep cliff but well worth the effort. Dog friendly all year round.

9. Watergate Bay, Newquay, 2 miles of soft golden sand and great for surfing and kitesurfing just 3 miles from Newquay. There are quite a few great cafes and restaurants to keep you entertained during your visit too. Dog friendly all year round.

10. Carbis Bay, St Ives: another beach with the St Ives charm – crystal clear water and vast white sands, just 1 mile from St Ives itself. Beautiful and calm seas make it perfect for swimming and paddle boarding. This beach really is bliss and it’s one of Cornwall’s 2019 Blue Flag beaches too! Seasonal dog ban between Easter and October except 5am and 8am outside of these months.