To say Cornwall has the best beaches in England seems something of an understatement. We’ve spent the last 13 years living in Australia, famed for its exquisite beaches and the beaches of Cornwall still take our breath away.
This isn’t going to be your average run of the mill guide; we’re not simply going to list out every beach we’ve ever been to in Cornwall. We’re including the ones we believe are truly unmissable, whether that’s because they have the most exquisite water colour, picturesque setting, or amazing sea caves and rockpools.
So with that said here are the best beaches in Cornwall we’ve visited…so far.
Best beaches in Cornwall map
The embedded map below shows you the location of every beach we’ve listed. You can access it by clicking on this link.
The best beaches in Cornwall
1. Mother Ivey’s Bay, near Padstow
On a sunny day, Mother Ivey's Bay looks like a tropical paradise. The water is spectacular - turquoise in the shallows and indigo further out.
The golden sand is pristine and rugged headlands give the small coves a majestic backdrop.
The beaches are world class and reached via a short (620m) walk that is accessible on any tide, a rarity for these smaller coves in Cornwall. Happily, even that short walk is enough to keep the majority of people away.
However, if it’s ultimate seclusion you’re looking for, you can swim, paddle board, or kayak to a jaw-dropping beach which has no footpath.
It’s here you can really live out all of your Robinson Crusoe fantasies! For all the details on the bay and the swim to the hidden cove, check out our Mother Ivey’s Bay guide.
2. Pedn Vounder Beach, near Penzance
This is the beach which has made it onto various ‘best beaches in the world’ lists and we wondered if it was going to live up to the hype.
But then we saw it for ourselves. And it’s true: Pedn Vounder really is an exceptional beach.
With clear turquoise water, pristine golden sand and grand cliff walls as a backdrop, it definitely has the wow factor.
Added to that, a picturesque sand bar appears at low tide making the already spectacular scene even more special.
It’s not, however, the easiest beach to access, despite only being a short walk (1km/0.6 miles) and that’s because the last section down to the beach is a scramble. Alternatively you can swim round from the next beach along.
Here’s all the details on walking and swimming to the beach as we’ve done it both ways.
3. Lantic Bay, near Polperro
Ah Lantic Bay. A visit here is the stuff Cornish dreams are made of.
The cove is picture perfect, with two tone turquoise and indigo water and bookended by steep headlands. The beach is part shingle, in fact I’d say it’s more shingle than sand, but who’s complaining when it looks so utterly delightful?
As with many of Cornwall’s beaches you can wade or swim across to smaller more secluded coves depending on the tide.
And though I say more secluded, Lantic Bay itself is far from busy, perhaps in part due to the fact the walk to reach it is steep. Short at 0.6 mile/1.05 km, but steep, however, there’s a handy little bench seat part way up if you need a break!
All the details on Lantic Bay, including how to access the smaller coves can be found here.
4, Lankidden Cove, near Lizard
Lankidden Cove is the least well known beach on this list, yet it’s one of the most stunning.
However, a treasure this quiet even in peak season must have a catch and that comes in the form of the final scramble down to the sand - which is steep, loose, and requires the use of some sturdy rope.
However, I am pretty inept as such things and I made it, so read this before ruling it out if that doesn’t sound like it’s for you.
Once down you will find a wild and wonderful beach with turquoise water, pristine sand and even a couple of extra coves and sea caves thrown in for good measure.
It’s a hard spot to leave and there’s no phone signal down there so make sure you put enough money in the car parking meter or you’ll be running back in a panic like we were!
5. Kynance Cove, near Lizard
Kynance Cove is wildly popular but deservedly so because it’s pretty darn incredible. Pick a sunny day and you will be dazzled by the sparkling turquoise water and golden sand.
The surrounding sea stacks and cliffs give it a unique shape and look, and although we prefer visiting on a sunny day, it’s dramatic and atmospheric in any weather.
For maximum space to lay out a towel you want to come a couple of hours either side of low tide, but there’s still a little sand on show even at high tide.
When the swell is calm you can also enjoy the Mermaid Pool, one of the most beautiful rockpools in Cornwall, and Cornwall is home to the best rockpools in all the UK!
There are two routes to the cove depending on where the tide is at, one is 470m long and mainly stairs, while the other is slightly longer at just under 1km, but mainly sloped.
All the details on Kynance Cove and the Mermaid Pool can be found here.
6. Chapel Porth Beach, near St Agnes
Chapel Porth Beach is glorious, a huge sandy beach backed by towering cliffs, there’s even the ruins of a little mine on top which gives it a quintessentially Cornish feel.
It’s on the wavier side so it’s more popular with body borders than it is swimmers and it’s sheer size makes it great for long walks beside the rolling waves.
And it’s not just the beach itself that is special, it also has an incredible sea cavern and a small dippable rockpool set far back from the sea making it perfect for little ones.
The beach, which doesn’t require any walking to reach, is enormous a few hours either side of low tide, which allows you to spread out and find a secluded spot even in the busy summer holidays.
The beach reduces in size dramatically at high tide making exploration more limited. More details can be found in this guide.
7. Benoath Cove, near Tintagel
I first set eyes on Benoath Cove when heading for a dip in the fabulous gorge waterfall at Rocky Valley and honestly, I may never have seen more beautiful water anywhere in the UK.
At high tide it’s baby blue and glorious for swimming.
Come low tide there is plenty of beach and sea caves to explore and you can even walk round to nearby Bossiney Cove, which is another gorgeous beach.
Reaching Benoath via the high tide route (710m walk) does have a short, slightly sketchy section on a narrow loose path with a big drop, but there is a handrail along most of it and a fixed rope to help you down the final few metres to the shore.
At low tide you can easily walk over from Bossiney Cove which has a much better track.
All the finer details can be found in this guide.
8. Porthcurno Beach, near Penzance
Porthcurno Beach is probably on every ‘best beaches in Cornwall' list and rightly so. It’s just a few minutes walk from the nearest car park and simply spectacular on a sunny day.
Well any day really, but it’s at its most captivating in the sunshine when the golden sand verges on white.
It’s relatively sheltered by steep headlands and there’s an abrupt drop off into the water making it good for swimming straight off without having to wade too much in the shallows.
You can also swim or wade (depending on the tide) to another small cove from the eastern side of the beach which is very charming and slightly quieter than Porthcurno itself.
If you have more time you can swim or walk over to Pedn Vounder Beach, and both options are detailed in this guide.
9. Porthcothan Beach, near Padstow
Porthcothan Beach has a wild beauty and while you don’t get the calm turquoise water you’ll find at some of the other beaches on this list, it more than makes up for it with fabulous sea caves and an incredible emerald lagoon.
The lagoon has crystal clear water sheltered by rugged cliffs, making it perfect for kids or less confident swimmers.
Just make sure you time your visit for when the tide is low enough to access all the hidden treasures that only reveal themselves when the tide is out.
The beach is just a few minutes walk from the nearest car park, though it does fill up quickly in peak season.
10. Holywell Bay, near Newquay
Holywell Bay is a pretty beach with a huge sweep of sand overlooking picturesque sea stacks. It’s backed by large sand dunes giving it a wild feel.
However, none of that is why it made it on to our list. For Holywell Bay hides some of the most fabulous and mysterious sea caves in the UK.
There are no signposts and no evidence from the cave mouth that what you are about to see looks like it could be part of the Aladdin film set.
As your eyes adjust you can take in the kaleidoscope of vibrant coloured rock and ornate terraces that lead into a small chamber. I don’t feel like that description does it any justice so you really should go and see it for yourself!
There’s even a second cave nearby which has its own incredible formations, yet no one seems to visit it!
You can find out exactly how to find the caves in this guide.
11. Polstreath Beach, near Mevagissey
Polstreath Beach is a real gem, with clear turquoise water and unusually shaped headlands that reminded us of a world famous beach in Bali and none of the crowds you’ll find on many of Cornwall’s more well known beaches. And it's only a 350m walk if you use the quickest route.
So what’s the catch? Well it is more pebbly than it is sandy, but one look at that gin clear water and you couldn’t possibly be disappointed.
If you’re looking for even more seclusion than the main beach you can swim around to a smaller cove which is quick and easy to do, you may even be able to walk over at low tide, though we haven’t tried that ourselves yet.
Here’s all the details on the quickest walking route to the beach.
12. Gwynver Beach, near Land’s End
Gwynver Beach is gorgeous with a wild and windswept vibe. It’s quite a wavy beach, so it’s best suited to those who enjoy body boarding and surfing.
You can swim here but I’m personally never such a big fan of being constantly buffeted by the waves.
It’s a beautiful beach to relax on and generally a bit quieter than neighbouring Sennen Cove which is more well known.
It’s a pretty steep 400m walk down to the beach, but the path is in good shape and if you’re visiting in the summer months there are usually some sweet treats available as a pick me up from the little stand by the car park entrance after you’ve walked back up.
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.
Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the area, it will go a long way to keeping the beaches clean.
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This isn’t your average run of the mill guide to the best beaches in Cornwall; we’re not simply going to list out every beach we’ve ever been to. We’re including the ones we believe are truly unmissable, whether that’s because they have the most exquisite water colour, picturesque setting, or amazing sea caves and rockpools.