Beaches and Coastline of Cornwall
Newquay & District - Bedruthan Steps to St. Ives
Places in Italics are Cliffs, Headlands and Coastal Features.
Park Head
Bedruthan Steps
Toilets, parking, cafe/shop. Famous for its wave swept stacks at the foot of rugged cliffs, these are the stepping stones for a legendary cornish giant. One of the rocks, Samaritan Island, is named after a ship which was wrecked here in 1846. Do not swim here and beware of being trapped by incoming tide.
Trenance
Berryl's Point
Mawgan Porth
Surf beach. Horseshoe shaped sandy bay. Shops and parking.
Beacon Cove
Griffin's Point
Watergate Bay
Surf beach. 2 miles wide, sandy.
Whipsiderry
Steep descent down steps leads to this sandy cove surrounded by cliffs. Surf beach.
Porth
Once had shipbuilding and pilchard cellars. Wide sandy beach with a river entering it on the North side. That side is best avoided by swimmers. Dog Ban
Trevelgue Head
Lusty Glaze
Newquay Bay & Harbour
Eleven beaches in all comprise the Newquay area. The harbour is a working fishing port with limited accommodation for visiting craft.
Tolcarne
Surf beach.
Great Western
Surf beach.
Tea Caverns
Old metal mining works which were used by smugglers to hide contraband tea. Close to Huer's House which is an old lookout pilchard post.
Towan Head
Towan Beach
Surf beach.
Fistral Beach
Surf beach.
Pentire Point East
Crantock Beach
Broad stretch of sand backed by high dunes and a plateau known as Rushy Green. The River Gannel enters the northern end and swimming is banned there. Surf beach. Ferry operates in summer at high tide.
All beaches below are covered by St. Agnes Inshore Lifeboat.
Pentire Point West
Unspoilt sandy beach accessible only on foot (5 mins walk). The name comes from the cornish for chough. Suitable for swimming and surfing. Parking.
The Chick
Islet.
Kelsey Head
Holywell Bay
Lifeguard. A mile of sandy beach suitable for swimming and surfing. Parking, toilets, cafe/shop. Named after a holy well the location of which is unknown.
Gull Rocks
Penhale Point
Ligger Point
Gear Sands
Grass covered sandhills and shifting sands which alternately expose and conceal St. Piran's Oratory. A 6th C saint who was the patron saint of tin miners.
Perran Bay
Lifeguard. Two miles of sandy beach suitable for swimming and surfing. On the southern side by Chapel Rock there is a natural tidal swimming pool. Due to the streams entering the sea on this southern side swimming is unsafe. Parking, toilets, cafe/shop. Beach huts.
Droskyn Point
Cligga Head
St. Agnes
Once thriving mining area the main industry is now tourism. The history can be seen around the area in the form of old mine workings.
Trevellas Porth
Once the busy Blue Hills tin mine was the centre of activity here.
No lifeguard. Rocks at low tide, shingle at high, not safe to swim and the cliffs are dangerous.
Trevaunance Cove
Once the main harbour for the St. Agnes mines, there are only vestiges of the harbour left.
Lifeguard. Wide sandy beach at low tide, shingle at high tide, suitable for swimming and surfing. Parking, toilets, cafe/shop. Beach huts. Dogs must be kept on lead.
St. Agnes Head & Beacon
The beacon once warned of the approach of the Spanish Armada. Standing 629 feet above sea level it's possible to view both coasts of Cornwall and thirty parish churches. At night twelve lighthouses can be seen.
Wheal Coates Mine
The ruins of the Towanroath engine house and Wheal Coates will be familiar to many because of their frequent appearance in photographs. Their imposing cliff edge position has become a symbol of Cornwall so take a camera if visiting this area.
Chapel Porth
Close to the beach are the ruins of the Charlotte United Mine.
Lifeguard. Sandy beach with sun traps among the rocks. At high tide the sand is covered. Suitable for swimming and surfing but with caution. Parking, toilets, cafe.
Porthtowan
Lifeguard. Sandy gently shelving beach suitable for swimming and surfing. Parking, toilets, cafe/shop. Dog ban.
Portreath
Small harbour used by local fishing boats, diving and pleasure boats. The harbour was once a busy port exporting over 100,000 tons of copper a year and importing coal to feed the mine engines.
Lifeguard. Sandy & rock beach suitable for swimming and surfing. Parking, toilets, cafe/shop. Dog ban.
Basset's Cove
Deadman's Cove
Hell's Mouth
Navax Point