Beaches in Abundance

Beaches for… foodies

Of course, you’re never far from great food in Cornwall, but when you can combine this with great beaches too, you’re really in for a treat. Porthcurnick on the Roseland peninsula may not necessarily be the easiest beach to access, but you’ll be justly rewarded upon arrival. Not only is the scenery itself beautiful, it’s also the perfect spot to enjoy great food.

The Hidden Hut, as the name suggests, is the kind of place you’ll need to actively seek out. Yet with food this delicious, you’ll be glad you did! Padstow is well known as a foodie destination, thanks to the likes of Rick Stein and Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth’s patronage of the town. But you may not know it also has beaches nearby too, the closest being St George’s Cove. So grab some fish and chips from the town, make the short trek and kick back in style.

Fistral in Newquay is beloved of surfers due to its iconic break. But it’s increasingly known for its culinary delights too, with The Fish House, Rick Stein and The Stable all taking residence on the beach. Here the food is as good as the views, the ideal spot for witnessing a Cornish sunset.

Beaches for… watersports

The generally more sheltered south coast is the ideal place to try your hand at watersports. A great place to start is Polkerris, a beautiful beach nestled in a secluded bay between Fowey and St Austell, and easy to access from either Southern Halt or Stonerush Lakes. It is known for its award–winning watersports centre. Here you can enjoy dinghy sailing, wind-surfing and stand-up paddle boarding, with courses available to accommodate all ages and abilities.

Rock on the Camel estuary on the north coast is known as a watersports and sailing Mecca for good reason. The estuary provides a natural shelter from the Atlantic, creating ideal conditions for dinghy sailing, waterskiing and paddle boarding.

East Looe Beach is a lovely stretch of golden sand – a traditional seaside beach, ending at a pier as the bay meets the river. Beloved of sunbathers, kite surfers and those having a paddle, it’s conveniently located to enjoy a boat trip, perhaps out to Looe Island, where, if you’re lucky, you might spot some wildlife.

Beaches for… culture

If you want to venture to the far west of Cornwall, you’ll find two great icons: the Minack Theatre at Porthcurno and St Michael’s Mount which can be reached via the ancient causeway at Marazion. But there is plenty of culture to be found a little closer to home.

Nearby Carlyon Beach in St Austell Bay, for example, has a fabulous open-air theatre and film night programme throughout the summer, often with performances from the utterly unique Miracle Theatre.

Readymoney Cove, just south of Fowey is not only a gorgeous little beach, but also just around the corner from the 16th Century ruin of St Catherine’s Castle, maintained by English Heritage, and is well worth a visit after topping up your tan with a good book.

Towards the end of May, Watergate Bay plays host to Polo on the Beach, returning for the eleventh consecutive year. This is a real spectacle including live entertainment and Medieval jousting, topping it all off with a grand fireworks display.

Beaches for… dog walking

There many great places for walkies, but remember that some beaches have restrictions including seasonal dog bans (from Easter to October), while some, such as the aforementioned Watergate Bay and Fistral, are dog friendly all year round. Two more, close to our resorts, are Seaton Beach, just east of Looe, and Gorran Haven, Mevagissey, both on the south coast.

Find out more about exploring Cornwall with the pooch including beaches close to our Southern Halt and Stonerush Lakes sites, in our ‘A tail to tell’ blog published a couple of weeks ago.

To book your next Cornish break please visit our rentals page.