Cornwall is one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations. It’s renowned for its unique culture, beautiful scenery and fantastic attractions. However, a typical Cornwall holiday experience will undoubtedly involve a trip to one of the area’s picturesque beach locations. Some of the best beaches in Cornwall come in all shapes and sizes.
We’ve put together a useful guide to the best beaches in Cornwall, so you can uncover the hidden gems or take a trip to the popular parts of the county.
Sennen Cove
The Strangles
Up near Crackington Havens are The Strangles, an idyllic summer hideaway which you can reach via a steep jagged path and it has to be on our best beaches in Cornwall guide. When the tide is out you can walk as far as Rusey beneath the stunning cliffs. The highest cliff in Cornwall is over 700 feet high and whilst it makes an enjoyable yet tricky walk, this is very much a beach for adventurous hikers and explorers. There are actually two separate beaches at The Strangles that meet up during low tide. Little Strand is popular with naturists. The larger beach is more popular with the general public. This beach in Cornwall is not far from our YHA Boscastle, which sits a short distance from the coast and can be hired exclusively for big group visits.
Perranporth Beach
Perranporth beach is regularly described as the best in the whole of the UK and it’s easy to see why, so that’s why it features on our best beaches in Cornwall guide. It is billed as fantastic for everything from surfing to sailing to splashing around with the kids. Miles and miles of shimmering golden sands offer an exceptional location for walks and hikes, as well as huge surf and sand dunes for the adventurers out there. The village too is a hub of tourist activity and the beach café is a popular haunt for drinks and snacks throughout the day. Our YHA Perranporth overlooks the beach from a picturesque cliff top location and is perfect for surfers looking for affordable Cornwall hostels.
Hemmick Beach
One of those hidden gems that everyone feels blessed to discover, Hemmick Beach. A a south-west facing sandy beach which is accessed by a steep road from its small car park. It can only be reached by traversing the winding roads from the village of Boswinger and it has plenty of coves to explore and beach to stroll along. Hemmick is situated on part of the popular Cornish Riviera but is one of the less crowded and popular beaches in Cornwall. It also benefits from being not too far from our YHA Boswinger, which is ideal for groups looking for a Cornwall holiday cottage with a bit of privacy and seclusion. Make sure Hemmick Beach is on your list of places to visit!
As the name suggests, Coverack Beach is very ‘local’ to our Cornwall holiday home YHA Coverack. It is fairly rocky as Cornwall beaches go but popular with families and even gains quite a lot of interest from anglers thanks to excellent fishing conditions throughout the peak season. The infamous Manacles, a set of treacherous rocks renowned for causing all manner of shipwrecks, are a short distance from the Coverack Coast which has also made the area popular with divers. This cornish beach is perfectly located for evening strolls from the hostel and is easily accessed via steps down from its nearby car park.
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