West Cornwall beaches and coastline

Discover Cornwall -> Beaches and Coastline

Carbis Bay Holidays :: Beaches and Coastline

For lovers of the great outdoors West Cornwall is a paradise. At the south western tip of England, West Cornwall has been blessed with both a North Coast and a South Coast, providing a diverse wealth of rocky coves, windswept beaches, dramatic granite cliffs with crystal clear blue waters.

The golden sands offer surfing, swimming, strolling along or simply just lazing and enjoying the sweet fresh Atlantic air and the mild Cornish climate. Enjoy the wildlife with dolphins, basking sharks and seals are residents in these warm Gulf Stream waters.

Discover Cornwall for yourself and if you have brought your dog on holiday too, then download our dog friendly beach guide here.

Carbis Bay Beach

Carbis Bay beach is magical, at any time of the year the colours of the sea and sky change as times passes. From the sun rising over Godrevy and Hayle to the sunsets over St Ives, you will begin to understand why this part of Cornwall has so inspirational. For safe family bathing with lifeguard cover in the summer, the Blue Flag beach is the place for those endless days relaxing or building sand castles or paddling in the crystal clear waters.

To really appreciate Carbis Bay, you need to venture along the cliff footpaths and the beach, discover the old reminders of tin mining in the area, the tunnels not only stretching inland but also miles undersea. Experience some of the most inspiring coastal views in England, the colours of the gorse, heather and thrift abound the cliffs.

Porthminster Beach

Porthminster beach is a short level walk from the harbour and town centre of St Ives, it is ideal for families and provides safe bathing and of course good sand castling. At extreme low tides, you can walk from the harbour beach around the headland. Historically, this was the beach mainly used by the Victorians who came by train from Penzance and further afield. The single track railway still passes along the scenic coastline to Carbis Bay and St Erth. There is also a large station car park but for those traveling from out of town, the rail link is recommended.

The Porthminster Beach Cafe and Restaurant is highly regarded and with many awards and has featured on the discovery Channel series, it is important to book particularly for dinner but this is special. Right on the beachside, the open terrace is the place to be, listen to the surf, watch the sunset, even fireworks on New years Eve, the quality of local produce and the inventiveness of the chef ensures an excellent dining experience.

Porthmeor Beach

St Ives is blessed with a number of beach on three sides. Porthmeor beach is renowned for two things Surfing and the Tate Gallery. a short walk through the centre of St Ives town, just follow the people with surf boards because this is the beach to enjoy some serious surfing. Whether you favour boogie or malibu, the Atlantic swells roll onto the beach to provide some ideal sets. There is a small car park but you will need to be early and don't be tempted to park on the road, you will be fined. During the summer season, lifeguard support is provided and the Surf School is open to hire wetsuits and boards or even lessons for beginners.

Just off Porthmeor beach is an excellent cafe and terrace open year round. Porthmeor beach also earns a reputation from the Tate Gallery which perhaps landmarked St Ives certainly amongst artists. Even if you are not interested in the constantly changing exhibitions, it is worthwhile just sitting in the auditorium, this has been designed accoustically to maximise the sound of the surf - even at low tide. In the evenings of course the sun sets directly over the beach, you can enjoy some of the most spetacular colours , don't forget the camera.

Porthgwidden

Porthgwidden Beach is the smallest and the most popular for small children, convenient for St Ives town there is also a good restaurant the Porthgwidden Cafe at the head of the beach which even does barbecues in the summer. There is safe bathing up to the buoys and small rock pools to explore. The walk up the hill to The Island is where you will find St Nicholas Chapel which dates back to the turn of the century. There is also The Lookout which dates back to earlier St Ives history as a smugglers watch and also as a lookout for pilchards.

From The Island overlooking Porthgwidden Beach, the views are outstanding in both directions. In one direction the view extends across St Ives Bay past Godrevy Lighthouse to Trevose Head near Padstow. In the other direction is Clodgy Point and the rough cliffs of Zennor. The South West Coast extends all the way from here, past Lands End and The Lizard most of the walks having spectacular views. Porthgwidden does have a car park tucked away but is best accessed from the harbour or Porthmeor beach. The St Ives Museum is on the headland and worth a visit to understand the history of St Ives.

Harbour Beach

The Harbour beach of St Ives is also the town centre and hub of the community, The Wharf is the name of the area surrounding the harbour, this has a wealth of restaurants and bars, you can also find some of the best pasties in Cornwall although be careful not to lose them to the seagulls! The harbour is tidal and once the clear waters recede, the soft sandy beach is revealed.

As the harbour is the centre of St Ives, a lot of festivals and events are focused in this part of town. At New Year, the residents and holiday visitors descend into the town and throng the streets in fancy dress, the crowd usually spills over onto the beach if the tide is out and at midnight, the fireworks start. This is one of the places to celebrate New Year, the atmosphere is electric. On quieter days, it is just pleasant to relax in the morning sun, perhaps with some local mussels at one of the harbour front cafes or hire a deckchair and enjoy a Cornish ice cream. For the adventuerous, there is boat hire, trips to see the local seals even yacht charter around St Ives Bay.

Porthkidney Sands, Gwithian and Hayle Towans

Porthkidney Sands, Hayle Towns and Gwithian

Porth Kidney Sands is sometimes claimed by Lelant but is in fact a lesser known beach of Carbis Bay. Reached at low tide from Carbis Bay beach around Hawkes Point, Porthkidney stretches as far as the Hayle Estuary and is backed by sand dunes and unspoilt by buildings. The views across the beach to Godrevy create evocative images which have been the inspiration of many artists including John Miller. The coastal path from Carbis Bay past Porth Kidney House will reveal the old miners' steps which you can take down to Porth Kidney Sands at low tide, alternatively take the Headland Road coast path from Carbis Bay.

The wide sweeping expanse of of the Bay is divided by the Hayle Estuary, the oldest golf links in the UK overlooks this stunning panorama. Towards Godrevy Lighthouse is Gwithian Sands a surfer's paradise where annual championships are held more recently for kite surfing.

Godrevy

A short drive though the village of Gwithian takes you to Godrevy, if a National Trust member then drive through onto the hillside car park. A short circular walk takes you past the lighthouse and along the cliff tops. On the way back, the beach cafe at Gwithian is worth a visit, the beach itself is renowned for it's surfing and kite- sand yachting - its another mile to Hayle over the "Red River" and along the beach past the Towans

You can watch the grey seals from Navax Point in the "fishing cove" 250 feet below the grassy headland, and the area is an important site for cormorants, razerbills and oyster catchers - even wild ponies. Virginia Woolfe was inspired to write "To the Lighthouse". Built in 1859 after the sinking of many ships including the 700 ton steamer "The Nile " with the loss of all hands.

Perranporth

Perranporth is just a short drive up the coast from St Ives, superb for surfing and a wonderful beach for the kids .The choice is yours: boating or putting in the beautiful gardens, or play golf on the local 18 hole golf links nearby. Visitors are welcome to the Bowling Club in Perranporth, and also to the Gliding Club. You can 'go up' if you like! Enjoy a spectacular view of Cornwall on a scenic flight from Perranporth Airfield.(link to page)
a gentle horse ride through the countryside via bridleways or a good gallop on the sand dunes. Grass and hard courts are available for tennis and also there is a bird watching hide in the nature reserve at Nansmellyn Marsh (link here)

St Michaels Mount

St Michael's Mount is 3 miles east of Penzance and is one of the treasures of Cornwall. Set on an island a few hundred yards off-shore from the ancient town of Marazion and in the heart of Mounts Bay, the castle - now owned by the National Trust - has for centuries been the home of the St Aubyn family. Originally, the building was a Benedictine Priory which had religious links with the equally famous Mont St Michel in Normandy, France. Today, the Island and Castle are open to the public every weekday and most weekends during the summer and on a limited basis during the winter. While access to the island is easy at low tide when the granite causeway is opened for pedestrian crossings, there are ferry boat services running at high tide during the summer.

Porthcurno

Porthcurno Beach and Minack Theatre is 7 miles south-west of Penzance and is one of the finest beaches in Cornwall, golden sand set in a cove beneath a curve of granite cliff where, facing to the south-east, it acts as a "sun-trap" to the joy of sunbathers, while the sea is a magnificent turquoise-blue (reminiscent of Caribbean beaches). The eastern end of the beach is flanked by the headland, on which stands the famous Logan Rock - a monumental stone weighing 60-70 tons. Above the western end of the beach is the famous Minack Theatre, built in the style of an ancient Roman Amphitheatre, but with the added drama of the ocean as its backdrop, it is now a world-famous venue for summer season of plays and musical entertainment.

Sennen Cove

Just 9 miles from Penzance , Sennen Cove has a wide sandy beach which is popular with surfers and families. At low tide the beach stretches from Sennen Cove to Gwynver Beach. The South West Coast Path continues and can be walked south to Lands End for spectacular coastal views. Sennen Cove offers not only beauty and abounding scenic views, but also legends of treachery and ghosts. The most well known ghost resides at the First & Last Inn. This is one of the most famous inns in Cornwall, built about seven centuries ago and gaining a notorious reputation when it was known to be the headquarters of smugglers and wreckers.

Lands End

Lands End is the most westerly point of the English mainland, on a clear day, the Isles of Scilly can be seen, closer to shore is the Longships Lighthouse, just over a mile out to sea, while in the distance, about six miles to the south-west, can be seen the Wolf Rock lighthouse. This area is best enjoyed as a coastal walk from Sennen, however for families a more commercial form of entertainment is offered in the form of tourist complex which features the history and heritage of Cornwall and Land's End.

Kynance Cove

A little further afield, enjoy the beauty of the Lizard Peninsular, one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Cornwall! Both the west and east coasts of the Lizard offer a choice of idyllic beaches, particularly Kynance Cove. Rugged and dramatic landscapes including Lizard Point, the mot southerly tip of England.