England

Cornwall beaches

What our guide lists, with the official pages for water quality, lifeguards and safety. Check them on the day you go.

Porthmeor Beach, St Ives & West PenwithPhoto: DS Pugh, CC BY-SA 2.0

Porthminster Beach, St Ives & West PenwithPhoto: ArildV, CC BY-SA 4.0

Carbis Bay, St Ives & West PenwithPhoto: Andy F, CC BY 3.0

Beaches listed on this page.

Before you go

Water quality

Official classifications and any pollution warnings are published by the environment agency. We do not copy them because they change.

Environment Agency: find a bathing water (opens in new tab)

Tides, cliffs and currents

Red and yellow flags mark the lifeguarded zone, the safest place to swim or bodyboard. A red flag means nobody should enter the water, and black and white chequered flags are for craft such as paddleboards and kayaks, not swimmers. Met Office: 10 beach safety tips (opens in new tab)
An orange windsock means offshore wind. Do not use inflatables, because they can carry you out to sea. HM Coastguard: On the beach (opens in new tab)
A rip current is a channel of churning, choppy water or drifting debris running out to sea. If caught, do not fight it: wade if you can stand, otherwise swim parallel to the beach, raise a hand and call for help. Met Office: Understanding rip currents (opens in new tab)
Rising tides can trap people in bays, coves and on sandbars with little warning. Check tide times and the weather, go exploring as the tide falls, and learn the exit points. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

All safety notes

More official pages

Cornwall Council: dogs on beaches (opens in new tab) Beach-by-beach dog restriction table and the order it comes from.

23 beaches

Each entry links to the official pages we could read. A missing line means we found no official statement, not that the answer is no.

Beach

Gyllyngvase Beach

Town beach on the south-east side of Falmouth, looking across Falmouth Bay.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Cornwall Council lists Gyllyngvase as dogs prohibited from 15 May to 30 September, 10am to 6pm. Check the council page for the current order. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach

Maenporth

Cove and beach about two miles south-south-west of Falmouth, facing east across Falmouth Bay.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Cornwall Council lists Maenporth as dogs prohibited from 1 July to 31 August, 10am to 6pm. Check the council page for the current order. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach

Readymoney Cove

Sandy beach south of Fowey harbour, sheltered by cliffs near the mouth of the estuary.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Cornwall Council lists Readymoney Cove as dogs prohibited from 1 July to 31 August, 10am to 6pm. Check the council page for the current order. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach and village

Polzeath

Small seaside village with a sandy beach popular with holiday-makers and surfers.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Cornwall Council lists Polzeath as dogs prohibited from 15 May to 30 September, 10am to 6pm. Check the council page for the current order. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach and village

Trevone

Seaside village and bay near Padstow.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Cornwall Council lists Trevone as dogs prohibited from 15 May to 30 September, 10am to 6pm. Check the council page for the current order. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Town and beach

Marazion

Town on Mount's Bay two miles east of Penzance, facing St Michael's Mount.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Cornwall Council does not name Marazion but lists the stretch from Longrock level crossing to Marazion as dogs prohibited from 1 July to 31 August, 10am to 6pm. Check the council page for the current order. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Cove and village

Sennen Cove

Small coastal village near Land’s End, on the South West Coast Path.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Cornwall Council lists Sennen Beach as dogs prohibited from 15 May to 30 September, 10am to 6pm. Check the council page for the current order. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach

Porthmeor Beach

Surfing beach on the north-west side of St Ives, below Tate St Ives.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Cornwall Council lists Porthmeor Beach as dogs prohibited from 15 May to 30 September, 10am to 6pm. Check the council page for the current order. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach

Porthminster Beach

Beach with almost half a mile of sand on the south-east side of St Ives.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Cornwall Council lists Porthminster Beach as dogs prohibited from 15 May to 30 September, 10am to 6pm. Check the council page for the current order. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach

Carbis Bay

Beach and village about a mile south-east of St Ives, with the South West Coast Path passing above.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Cornwall Council lists Carbis Bay Beach as dogs prohibited from 15 May to 30 September, 10am to 6pm. Check the council page for the current order. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Cove

Lamorna Cove

Village, valley and cove on the Penwith peninsula, popular with artists of the Newlyn School.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach

Fistral Beach

Beach in Fistral Bay, half a mile west of Newquay between Towan Head and Pentire Point East.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach

Lusty Glaze

Beach on the north-east side of Newquay, privately owned but open to the public for much of the year.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach

Watergate Bay

Two-mile sandy beach about two miles north-north-east of Newquay, used for water sports, kite flying and sand art.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach and village

Mawgan Porth

Beach and small settlement north of Watergate Bay, about four miles north of Newquay.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Cliffs and beach

Bedruthan Steps

Stretch of coast between Padstow and Newquay, part-owned by the National Trust, with rocks standing along Bedruthan beach.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Village and beach

Crantock

Village two miles south-west of Newquay on the south side of the River Gannel, where Celtic missionaries founded an oratory in 460.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Town and beach

Perranporth

Seaside town about seven miles south-west of Newquay with a two-mile beach facing the Atlantic.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach

Daymer Bay

Bay and beach on the east side of the Camel estuary.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach

Harlyn Bay

Bay on the north coast, about three miles from Padstow.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach and village

Constantine Bay

Village and beach on the Atlantic coast, about three miles west of Padstow.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach and village

Polkerris

Small village and beach on St Austell Bay, part of the Menabilly estate.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Beach

Talland Bay

Bay west of Looe with two sheltered shingle beaches, Talland Sand and Rotterdam Beach.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Cornwall guide

Sources

Environment Agency: find a bathing water (opens in new tab). National lookup for designated bathing waters; used as the pointer for water quality, no beach-specific claim. Checked on 2026-10-25.
HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (cliffs and tide cut-off) (opens in new tab). General cliff and tide cut-off advice. Checked on 2026-10-25.
Cornwall Council: Dogs on beaches (opens in new tab). Dog restriction for Carbis Bay Beach. Checked on 2026-10-25.

Walks nearby: Camel Trail: Wadebridge to Padstow, Penzance to Marazion, Hayle to St Ives by the coast path.

All beaches · Parks and gardens · Cornwall guide