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by Rob Hayes / Day Out Guides
A region known for its stunning stretches of golden sands, North Cornwall makes for a wonderful place to consider spending your next holiday… especially if you’re hoping to spend as much time as you can soaking up the sunshine!
With so many amazing beaches in North Cornwall to discover and explore, many of which boast Blue Flag Awards for their beauty and sustainability, you’ll have more than a wealth of options to choose from right at your fingertips.
Keep scrolling to uncover all the best beaches in North Cornwall …
Found in the bustling town of St Ives and one of a handful of beaches in the town, Porthmeor Beach is a hotspot for surfers and sun worshippers alike. Sheltered by rocky headlands on both sides, being Mans Head and St Ives Head, Porthmeor has long been considered one of the best beaches in North Cornwall because of its golden sands and roaring waves.
What’s best is that this beautiful beach sits right next to the heart of the town, making it an easy place to reach on foot if you happen to be staying here for your next staycation. However, even if you’re travelling here by car, there’s also a spacious car park situated along Porthmeor Hill where you can walk straight down onto the beach.
After spending the day lounging on the beach, why not walk up to the fantastic Porthmeor Beach Café for a drink and a bite to eat? Just a stone’s throw away from here you’ll also find the popular Tate St Ives, one of the town’s best attractions that’s also well worth checking out if you have the time.
Type: Sandy
Parking: Porthmeor Beach Car Park, TR26 1JU
Parking Charge: Pay & Display
Postcode: TR26 1JU
Dog-Friendly?: Seasonal restrictions in place between 15th May – 30th September (10am-6pm)
Often regarded as a “hidden gem” amongst the best beaches in North Cornwall, Pendour Cove can be found near the village of Zennor just off the South West Coastal Path, nestled between Zennor Head and the Carnelloe Headland.
According to the legend of the Mermaid of Zennor, the cove was home to a mermaid that fell in love with a local man, known as Matthew Trewella. After falling in love with the mermaid, he vowed to stay with her wherever she went. When the mermaid returned to the cove, Matthew followed her beneath the waves, never to be seen again.
Although there’s a steep walk down to the beach, and the chances of spotting any mythical mermaids are quite slim, the walk is well worth the effort! Be sure to check tide times if you plan on visiting during your next Cornish staycation as if you time it right, you’ll also get the chance to walk around the headland to the neighbouring beach at Veor Cove, another of the best-hidden beaches.
Type: Sandy
Parking: Parking in Zennor village around half a mile away, TR26 3DA
Parking charge: Pay and display parking available
Postcode: TR26 3BZ
Dog-Friendly?: Yes, all year-round
Another one of St Ives’ fantastic beaches and easily one of the best beaches in North Cornwall, Porthminster Beach is the southernmost stretch of golden sands that this town is famous for, drawing in hundreds of holidaymakers and tourists during the hottest months of the year. Featuring pristine white sands and crystal blue waters, it’s also considered to be one of the best exotic beaches in the UK and one of the best beaches in Cornwall.
Home to a wonderful beach café that overlooks the sea, you’ll find the popular St Ives Surf School where you can hire out equipment for an afternoon of thrilling water sports! Whether you fancy learning how to surf, kayak or stand-up paddleboard, this is the place to do it!
Despite being one of the most popular beaches in the county, it’s gone untouched by the seasonal restrictions placed on dog walkers, which also makes it one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall!
What’s best is that this North Cornwall beach is extremely well connected to the rest of the town, being only a 10-minute walk from the harbour. After spending the day enjoying this wonderful beach, we’d highly recommend taking a walk back into the town to enjoy one of the many bars and restaurants that line the seafront, with some of the best being The Rum & Crab Shack and the Hub St Ives.
Type: Sandy
Parking: Station Car Park, TR26 2BH
Parking Charge: Pay & Display
Postcode: TR26 2EB
Dog-Friendly?: Yes, all year-round
Nestled on the eastern side of St Ives Bay, Carbis Bay Beach is arguably one of the most recognisable and most-visited beaches in North Cornwall. Visited by world leaders who attended the G7 Summit at the Carbis Bay Hotel back in 2021, this beach is a hotspot for swimmers, beachgoers and water sports enthusiasts alike, drawing in thousands of visitors every year.
Flanked by lush green cliffs on both sides, this North Cornwall beach is easily reachable from the town, with a road leading down to The Beach Club where you’ll also find a block of public toilets and a spacious car park for visitors to make use of. This exceptional beach is well worth the visit and Carbis Bay’s train station can be found just a stone’s throw from the beach, making it an easy place to reach no matter where you’re staying in Cornwall.
Not only that, but one of the town’s best restaurants, The Ugly Butterfly, can also be found here and makes for a brilliant place to unwind and relax after spending the afternoon relaxing on the golden sands.
Type: Sandy
Parking: Porthrepta Long Stay Car Park, TR26 2NZ
Parking Charge: Pay & Display
Postcode: TR26 2NN
Dog-Friendly?: Seasonal restrictions in place between 15th May – 30th September (10am-6pm)
Found within the village of Portreath, which lends its name to this gorgeous stretch of golden sands, Portreath Beach is one of the largest and best beaches in North Cornwall. Popular with locals and tourists alike, its soft golden sands draws in surfers from all over the country to ride its wild waves.
Winner of a Seaside Award in 2024 for its cleanliness and water quality, it’s situated conveniently close to the heart of the village, making it an easy place to walk to if you happen to be staying here on your next break. Not only that, but you can easily hop on the South West Coastal Path here, which will take you past the picturesque Carvannel Downs if you head southwards.
With fantastic bars found along the seafront such as the Waterfront Inn and great places to stop off for a bite to eat like the Pod Café, you can quite easily spend a full day here, no matter what it is you’re hoping to get up to!
Type: Sandy
Parking: Portreath Car Park, TR16 4NN
Parking Charge: Pay & Display
Postcode: TR16 4NN
Dog-Friendly?: Seasonal restrictions in place between 1st July – 31st August (10am-6pm)
Situated a few miles north of Portreath is Perranporth Beach, a huge beach stretching over three kilometres across the North Cornwall coast. With easy access to the beach from the town of Perranporth, here you’ll find a spacious car park along the promenade as well as a wonderful bar known as The Watering Hole that sits on this beach’s golden sands.
Known for being one of the longest beaches in the county, you won’t struggle to find space to unwind and relax here, even on busy days. If you’re looking to explore, the northern end of this North Cornwall beach brings you to the old Gravel Hill Mine, a unique network of coastal tunnels hollowed out by miners during the industry’s heyday.
For keen walkers, the miles of hilly dunes make for a wonderful place to go for a wander, offering impeccable views of this North Cornwall beach and the sea. Popular with tourists and locals, Perranporth Beach is also considered to be one of the best beaches in North Cornwall due to its popularity with water sports enthusiasts.
Type: Sandy
Parking: Wheal Leisure Car Park, TR6 0EY (Free during off-season) or along the Promenade (Pay & Display), TR6 0JL
Postcode: TR6 0JL
Dog-Friendly?: Yes, all year-round (Must be kept on leads between July & August, 9am-5pm)
Known as Polly Joke to locals and regular visitors, this North Cornwall beach is set back in a beautiful cove, bordered by Kelsey Head to the west and Pentire Point to the east. Situated just a stone’s throw from the village of West Pentire, the beach is owned and protected by the National Trust and is much less visited than many others on this coastline, making it one of the best beaches in North Cornwall and one of Cornwall’s best secret beaches too.
Although there isn’t direct road access to the beach, there’s a small car park just on the outskirts of West Pentire, where you can park up and take a 10-minute walk along the footpath down to the beach. However, once you reach this stunning beach, you’ll be more than impressed with the beautiful views of the sea and the dramatic cliffs that surround this North Cornwall beach.
After enjoying an afternoon on the golden sands, why not head into the village to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat in the Bowgie Inn or the C-Bay Bar and Bistro? Alternatively, you could always take a 5-minute drive from the car park to the neighbouring village of Crantock to enjoy a drink at the Old Albion Inn if you’re looking for somewhere with plenty of historic charm!
Type: Sandy
Parking: West Pentire National Trust Car Park, TR8 5SE (15-minute walk from the beach)
Parking Charge: Pay & Display (Free for National Trust members)
Postcode: TR8 5SE
Dog-Friendly?: Yes, all year-round (No restrictions)
The largest and most popular beach in the bustling coastal town of Newquay, Great Western Beach draws in thousands of locals and holidaymakers every year and is easily one of the biggest hotspots for surfers in the county.
Being so well connected to the town and being the largest beach in the area, it should come as no surprise to hear that Great Western can get extremely busy during the hottest days of the year, so arriving here early to secure a spot on the golden sands is a must-do if you plan on visiting during your next break! It popularity is a testament to its status as one of the best beaches in North Cornwall.
Lined with fantastic places to eat and drink like The Boathouse and the Great Western Surf Café, here you can also take the opportunity to learn how to surf on one of the best surfing beaches in Cornwall at the NQY Surf School or the Newquay Watersports Centre on the beachfront.
Type: Sandy
Parking: Newquay Station Car Park, TR7 2NG or Albany Road Car Park, TR7 2NS
Parking Charge: Pay & Display
Postcode: TR7 2NE
Dog-Friendly?: Yes, all year-round
Polzeath Beach is one of the largest beaches on our guide to the best beaches in North Cornwall and can be found between the villages of Polzeath and New Polzeath. It is also known for being one of the most popular surfing spots in the county.
With two large car parks on the beachfront for visitors to use, you can easily walk straight onto the beach from here, or, if you’re feeling a bit peckish, stop off at Surfside Polzeath for a bite to eat. There’s also a fantastic surf shop here known as Surf’s Up where you can book lessons or hire out equipment for yourself.
If a bit of rest and relaxation is on the cards, then making your way to the northern side of the beach will bring you to Saunas By The Sea, who provide woodfired saunas for hire that offer impeccable views of the bay.
Type: Sandy
Parking: Polzeath Beach Car Park, PL27 6TB
Parking Charge: Pay & Display
Postcode: PL27 6TB
Dog-Friendly?: Seasonal ban in place from 15th May – 30th September (10am-6pm)
Tucked away in the northwestern corner of the county near the border with Devon, Widemouth Beach is an exceptional North Cornwall beach that stretches over a kilometre in length and makes for a wonderful place to visit if you’re looking for somewhere less busy to enjoy the Cornish sunshine.
Situated right next to the village of Widemouth Bay, this North Cornwall beach can be easily reached by driving down to the car park on the beachfront, as well as being well-connected to the South West Coastal Path which passes through the beach. If a spot of surfing is on the cards too, then the OA Surf School situated right next to the car park will be able to help you out with lessons and equipment hire.
For those of you hoping to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat after spending the afternoon lounging on this gorgeous North Cornwall beach, then heading back to the car park to find the Black Rock Café is a must-do. Alternatively, taking just a 2-minute drive south will bring you to Widemouth Manor, a brilliant hotel that boasts a popular restaurant that overlooks the bay.
Type: Sandy
Parking: Two car parks on the north and south end of the beach, EX23 0AH
Parking Charge: Pay and Display parking
Postcode: EX23 0AH
Dog-Friendly?: All year-round (Black Rock / South Beach only)
Rounding off our guide to the best North Cornwall beaches is Summerleaze Beach, an award-winning hotspot for surfers, tourists and locals alike, that is tucked away between two rocky outcrops, Compass Point and First Cove.
Like many other North Cornwall beaches, it too is a magnet for surfers and water sports enthusiasts, so if you’re planning on riding the waves on your next break, then heading here is a great idea to consider. On the southern edge of the beach, you’ll also find the entrance to the Bude Canal, home to The Barge restaurant which makes for an unforgettable place to grab a bite to eat.
Not only that, but you’ll also find the impressive Bude Castle right on the edge of the beach. Built-in 1830 and boasting a Grade II listing, this historic building houses a brilliant museum dedicated to local history that’s well worth checking out if you’re interested in learning about the area’s rich seafaring history.
Type: Sandy
Parking: Summerleaze Long Stay Car Park, EX23 8HJ
Parking Charge: Pay & Display
Postcode: EX23 8HN
Dog-Friendly?: All year-round (Must be kept on leads between 15th May – 30th September (10am-6pm)
If this list of the best beaches in North Cornwall has inspired you to book your next break here, then choose from these wonderful cottages in North Cornwall. You can also choose from these other coastal cottages in Cornwall. If you’re unsure when to stay here, then this guide covering the best time of year to visit Cornwall will be sure to give you plenty more inspiration!
by Rob Hayes / Day Out Guides
I'm Rob and I joined the Sykes team in February 2024. I am a passionate writer and have always enjoyed holidays in the UK, especia...
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