Beaches

POLSTREATH BEACH, Mevagissey

Just a quarter of a mile north of the harbour, Polstreath remains relatively quiet. This is in part due to the difficulty in accessing the beach which involves walking along the South West Coast Path and descending around 200 steep steps to reach the cove below. The beach itself is around 200 metres long with shingle leading to sand. It is an attractive cove with shelter from the wind provided by the cliffs behind and an assortment of rocky outcrops break up the beach at higher tides.

PORTMELLON BEACH

A small sandy cove with a slipway which is completely covered at high tide, Portmellon Beach is an easy 15 minute walk along the coast south of Mevagissey Harbour.

PENTEWAN BEACH

A large sandy beach, excellent for swimming and all water sports - swimming, surfing, windsurfing, sea canoeing, water skiing and sailing. Jet skis are banned but canoes and sailing dinghies can be hired from the Holiday Park. Bathing is safe except in strong easterly winds.

Dogs are not allowed from 1st March to 1st November.

The beach is on the South West Coast Path and there is the Pentewan Leisure Trail to follow.

GREAT PERHAVER BEACH, Gorren Haven

The lovely sandy beach of Great Perhaver is just around the corner from the popular Gorran Haven. But you won't find a bustling village beach with all the facilities here. In fact you may not find anyone else here except for the peak summer season.

Protected from the wind by high cliffs, this sheltered beach has gently sloping sands which makes it generally safe for swimming (although please note there is no lifeguard service). There are plenty of rocks and interesting nooks and crannies for kids to explore, although access isn't the most child friendly.

To get to Great Perhaver requires a bit of a climb down a steep, muddy path from the coast path above. Alternatively, if you have a boat to Great Perhaver is an ideal spot to pull up on the beach. (Nudist beach)

GORRAN HAVEN BEACH

Gorran Haven is a pleasant sandy beach just in front of the village. It is fairly sheltered, sitting in the lee of the 400ft high Dodman point just to the west. Along with all the facilities of the village close to hand this makes for a great family beach and despite the lack of lifeguard cover this is a safe beach to swim at.

The beach also reflects the village's roots with a stone pier forming a small harbour and lending further shelter. Built at the time of the pilchard boom in the 19th century the harbour is much quieter these days. There are still a few working boats, but most of the traffic is now fishing trips.

VAULT BEACH, St Goran

Vault Beach is a sheltered beach to the eastern side of Dodman Point which reaches up 110 metres. It is a curved sweep of sand and shingle that gently slopes into the sea.

The sea here is usually pretty calm and bathing is generally safe, although there is no lifeguard patrol. The far end of the beach is unofficially recognised as a nudist beach and can be quite popular during the summer. Dogs allowed. 

HEMMICK BEACH

Small, attractive sandy beach to the west of Dodman Point.

Relatively safe swimming

PORTHPEAN BEACH

A safe, sandy, sheltered beach popular with families. The cliffs to the east are used by nesting birds, and there are lots of rock pools to the west. Safe for swimming, windsurfing and sailing. No jet-skiing allowed.

The beach is cleaned daily during the summer season. Dogs banned Easter - September.

On the coastal footpath, an easy walk to the Georgian port of Charlestown to the east.

CARLYON BEACH, St Austell

The beach is a stretch of almost 2 miles of coarse sand, steeply shelving in places.

However, the beach is somewhat spoiled by the development and decay that has taken place over the years. At present, there is a lot of work going on, building (or not!) a new complex behind the beach.

LANSALLOS BEACH, Polperro

There is a small waterfall on the eastern side of the beach known as Reed Water which used to power a small mill.

Access - parking is by the church with the footpath access beside the church and a 20 minute walk down an unmade track, possible, but not easy with pushchairs.

PAR SANDS BEACH, St Austell

Par Sands offers a large expanse of firm sand backed by the dunes close to the village of Par, situated 4 miles from St Austell.

This south-facing beach is popular in the summer accessed from the large car park with links to the Eden Project and Wheal Martyn Museum by the Clay Trail Cycle Routes.

READYMONEY COVE BEACH, Fowey

Readymoney Cove is a south-east facing sandy beach to the south of the harbour town of Fowey. It is sheltered by cliffs close to the mouth of the River Fowey Estuary and bounded, on one side, by the medieval town of Fowey and, on the other, by St Catherine's Castle. The beach can be covered during spring tides. The beach is cleaned daily during high season, and a bathing platform is moored in the bay.

Dogs are welcome on this beach except between Easter Sunday and 30 September when a seasonal dog ban is in place.

CHARLESTOWN BEACH

Charlestown beach is a south-facing sloping shingle beach with the eastern beach accessed by steps from the historic harbour, home to the Tall Ships and the western beach via a slipway. Dogs are not permitted on this beach at any time.