Gorran Haven & Little Penhaver
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The first place you have to check out is Gorran Haven beach! I am genuinely stunned that the beach is not continuously swamped in summer (although I admit it does get busy it is nothing like those of the north coast). It is such a great place to take the family as it has not only the sea to swim in (obviously!) but also the harbour wall to provide a diving platform (with the high board being off the top of the back wall) and a beautiful series of rock pools behind it to swim or snorkel in. Around the corner (turn left at the small cliff on the left side of the beach or on the right hand side in the video above) is the second town beach of Little Penhaver. Great for beach cricket at low tide, it does get cut off from the main beach as the tide comes back in, but don’t worry there is a set of stairs back up to the top of Church Street.
Vault Beach
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This is a rugged sandy beach just to the west of Gorran Haven, in the leigh of the Dodman point (one of the famous land marks that sailors used to navigate their return to Britain – featured in the song Farewell to you Spanish Ladies), is beautiful and rarely busy. When the sea has a swell on it the beach can collect some biggish waves (it is South Westerly facing as opposed to Gorran Haven being South Easterly). Access is via the costal path – pick it up from Gorran Haven by following the signs just by the Haven fish and chip restaurant – it is a climb to start with but the views are spectacular.
Hemmick Beach
Another south easterly facing beach in close proximity to the Beach House, Hemmick is a National Trust owned beach with a small car park. A diminutive sandy beach with rocky outcrops at either end this is a quiet location and great for a picnic with space. The beach does pick up swell when it is in the right direction and fun can be had in the waves.
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Porthluney Cove
With plenty of parking (which is monitored by a camera so remember to pay and display) this is a wide sandy beach with a south westerly aspect. A headland on the south end of the beach helps to funnel swell so there can be plenty of fun to be had with surf and body boards for all the family. There is a beach side café for refreshment and it is only a short run in the car from Gorran Haven if the kids get a bit cold or the weather turns!
Kynance Cove
This beach is a national trust property and so you will need to be a member of the national trust or have to pay for car parking. It is a bit of a walk from the car park down a moderately steep path onto the beach but once there it is really worth the journey! The sea is turquoise and the sand white – if the water wasn’t just a bit cooler you could mistake yourself for being in the Caribbean. There is an ice cream shop and a national trust café to keep you fed and watered and the beach has lots of nooks and crannies for the kids to explore. If you like sea swimming it is approximately 1400m to do a lap of the bay (from memory - going from beach to the nearest headland on the left side of the picture above, across to the opposite rock on the right side and back to the beach). Although it is a bit of a drive from Gorran Haven it is definitely worth the trip.
Chapel Porth, St. Agnes
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Situated on the north coast, Chapel Porth is just south of St. Agnes. Another National Trust beach there is a car park (with charges if you are not a member) and a cafe (with its famous Hedgehog icecreams!) situated just on the beach. You need to check the tide times because at high tide there is no beach! At low tide however (as seen in the photo above) a huge expanse of golden sand becomes available to play on, with caves to explore and large beach pools that little ones can swim in. It is also a surfing beach but requires a degree of caution at mid tide to high tide as rocks can be an issue and the waves funnel into the beach.
St. Ives
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St Ives has 5 beaches to choose from each with a different character. If you are fancying driving there you will need to be super early in the high season as parking is at an absolute premium. There is parking at railway station – possibly the largest of the in town car parks, at the leisure centre (although it is a bit of a walk down into town and up a steep hill on the way back), by the Tate Gallery and in the Island car park (this is accessed through the harbour road and past the old town Downalong cottages).
Porthminster Beach, St. Ives
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Beautiful golden sand with a shallow sloping sea makes this ideal for families. The beach faces north east and so is protected from swell and means that paddling is perfect here for small children. There is plenty of room on the beach and a stream at the far end of the beach (away from the town, on right in the picture above) which is great for building dams with (if you have any budding civil engineers in your household). The Porthminster Beach Cafe is great for lunch or supper but be sure to phone in advance as it books out in the summer. There is takeaway cafe directly below the Beach cafe which does hot and cold food (including great fish and chips) and a shop next door selling beach ware and ice cream. Parking is tight for the whole of St. Ives but the nearest car park is the station car park directly above the beach - if you are hoping to park here try to arrive as early as possible otherwise you will be waiting in the car park for a spot to become free with at least 5 other cars! St. Ives is a must for anyone visiting Cornwall and Porthminster Beach will not disappoint.
Harbour Beach
As the tide goes out the beach becomes usable – it is a bit small at high tide! Located in the centre of town in the leigh of the harbour wall harbour beach is a popular choice for visitors. The closest car park is the Island, though as mentioned above this is usually busy. Because there are no waves and the beach is quite shallow it is very safe for little ones. All the shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants in the town are within easy reach.
Porthgwidden Beach
This is a great but small sandy beach facing due north. The beach is very family friendly but again shelves quite steeply and when there are waves and the tide is at the mid point it can have a bit of a rip. Swimming around the big rock can be really fun for those just gaining their confidence swimming in the sea (it is only about 10 metres out at high tide but our 8 year old felt quite proud of his achievement!). Body boards and body surfing can work here when there are waves. The Porthgwidden Beach Café is a destination in itself (as is it big sister restaurant the Porthminster Beach Café) with great food – you can get a limited menu from its beach kiosk below. This beach is one of our firm favourites. If you can find a space at the island car park it provides the best location to access it from.
Porthmeor Beach
This is a north westerly facing beach with the ability to hold quite big swell, and well known as a surfing spot. It has a lovely café on the beach and a huge stretch of sand for playing on. The beach shelves quite steeply so can be a bit sucky at mid tide for little ones – Porthminster or Harbour Beach may be a better bet for those under 5 years old. The Island car park is at the town end of the beach with a car park by the Tate at the opposite end (both have quite limited spaces).
Bamaluz
Bamaluz is a very small beach located between Harbour and Porthgwidden set in a rocky cove. We’ve never actually been on it but from memory the only access if to swim to it!