Beaches and Coastline of Cornwall
Praa Sands to Nare Point
Places in Italics are Cliffs, Headlands and Coastal Features.
Kennegy Sands
Hoe Point
Praa Sands
Mile long crescent of beach backed by high sand dunes.
Swimming with care at low tide. Lifeguard, shop/cafe, toilets, parking. Surf beach. Dog ban.
Lesceave Cliff
Rinsey Head
Porthcew (Rinsey)Not safe for swimming, parking, dog ban.
Trewavas Head
Ruins of old mine workings.
MemorialCommemorates the many seamen who have lost their lives in Mount's Bay.
Porthleven
Old fishing port with narrow streets. Deep harbour dries out at low tide. Swimming and surf beach popular with divers. Dog ban.
Loe Bar and The Loe
The Loe is a large freshwater lake separated from the sea by a shingle and sand bar, it has excellent water sports facilities. The Loe Bar is not safe for swimming.
Gunwalloe
Pebble beach, swimming, lifeguard, shop/cafe, toilets, parking. Snorkelling. Dog ban.
Berepper
Dollar Cove
Castle Mound
Cliffs with 15th Century church at their foot.
Church Cove
Sand and shingle.
Poldhu Cove
Sandy beach, swimming, lifeguard, shop/cafe, toilets, parking. Dog ban.
Marconi MemorialCommemorates the first transatlantic radio transmission.
Polurrian Cove
Sandy surf beach accessed by steep steps. Swimming, life- guard. Dog ban.
Mullion Island
Bird sanctuary. Closed to the public.
Mullion Cove & HarbourGreenstone rocks form the harbour walls of this old harbour. A slipway leads down to the beach and a cave leads to another small cove. Swimming, shop/cafe, toilets, parking. Boat trips
Predannack Head
Devil's Bellows
West of Kynance Cove, this is a blow hole at certain stages of the tide.
Asparagus Island
Named after the wild asparagus which grows on its slopes.
Kynance Cove
Famous for its serpentine rock outcrops this is a popular spot.
There are caves to explore at low tide and a sandy beach which can be dangerous on an ebb tide. reached by a toll road and walk from the car park. Swimming, shop/cafe, toilets, parking. Dog ban.
Lion Rock
Caerthillian Cove
Tiny cove.
PentreathSwimming.
Polpeor CoveFormer lifeboat station, shingle beach. Not safe for swimming, shop & cafe.
Housel Bay
Swimming, dog ban.
Lizard Point
Lizard
The lighthouse here dates from 1751 and succeeded one built in the early 17th C. The story has it that there was much dissent about the construction of the lighthouse locally because the wrecking industry would have been badly affected.
Bass Point
Kilcobben CoveLifeboat station.
Church CoveTiny, rocky cove with slipway and old boathouse. Probably named after the nearby church where cars can be parked.
The Devil's Frying Pan
Natural rock archway.
Little Cove
Cadgwith Cove
Fishing village set in a narrow valley with thatched, stone cottages. Shingle beach, swimming, shop/cafe, toilets, parking. Boat trips. Dog ban.
Carleon CoveThis now deserted cove was once a busy pilchard processing village and later a serpentine processing area.
Kennack Sands
Wide sandy beach, swimming and surf beach, shop/cafe, toilets, parking. Dog ban.
Black Head
Coverack
Once busy pilchard landing port and smugglers' base. Sweeping bay of sand and shingle, swimming, shop/cafe, toilets, parking. Boat trips.
The Manacles
Treacherous rocks a mile offshore which have wrecked many ships.
Manacle Point
St. KeverneThe churchyard contains the mass grave of the 106 crew and passengers of the Mohegan which was lost on the Manacles in 1898, a stained glass window in the church is a memorial to the tragedy. A stone marks the graves of nearly 200 Cornish emigrants who were lost when their ship hit the manacles.
Porthoustock
Stone and shingle beach with sand at low tide. Cars and boats are parked on the beach. Popular with divers. Swimming, parking and toilets.
Porthallow
North facing beach, swimming, shop/cafe, inn, toilets, parking.
Nare Point