The 10 best beaches in Cornwall

Cornwall is renowned for its spectacular coastline and beaches, making it a popular destination for family seaside holidays.

Our pick of the 10 best beaches in Cornwall are all stunningly beautiful and provide fantastic choices that will appeal to watersport enthusiasts, walkers, families and wildlife watchers alike.

The most beautiful beach…

Kynance Cove is situated two miles north of Lizard Village and is widely regarded as one of the world’s prettiest beaches. Soft white sand, beautiful turquoise water and a variety of intriguing rock formations will impress anyone who visits this striking spot.

The best family beach…

The gorgeous Porthcurno Beach is ideal for fabulous family fun, with an abundance of sand for building entire sandcastle cities as well as suitable swimming conditions to cater to adults and children. At the top of the beach is a paddling stream for kids, while the steep shelf of the beach provides fun for experienced swimmers. The beach can also offer surfing conditions that suit experienced surfers. Up on the cliffs behind the beach is the amazing Minack Theatre, if you fancy some evening entertainment.

The best beach for adventure…

Lusty Glaze is a small but lovely beach situated near Newquay that offers a variety of exciting activities. Outdoor sport enthusiasts can have fun surfing, bodyboarding and riding jet skis, with lessons available to suit all levels of experience. The cliffs surrounding the beach are great for diverse activities too such as abseiling, zip wire riding and an obstacle course from the bottom to the top of the cliffs. This beach also hosts live music gigs, concerts and parties throughout the year. If you did want to stay nearby, you can find Newquay campsites here.

The best beach for watersports…

Watergate Bay was voted the best beach in Cornwall through a survey involving over a hundred UK travel writers and editors. It’s not hard to see why Watergate Bay came out on top as this beach has no shortage of alluring appeals. Visitors seeking sporting action can get stuck into fantastic surfing as well as the likes of windsurfing, kitesurfing and power kiting. Exciting sporting events such as surfing competitions are hosted each year at the beach too. Visitors who feel a bit peckish in the brisk sea air have a variety of formal and informal dining venues to choose from. Dogs are also allowed on the beach throughout the year.

The best secret beach…

Lantic Bay is situated about a mile and a half from the town of Fowey and isn’t the easiest beach to locate or reach. There are two car parks and toilets within a mile of the beach but no facilities at the beach itself. Getting there involves a steep climb down to the sand for which you will be well rewarded. The lack of manmade additions here really enhances the tranquillity and beauty of this picturesque spot. Dogs are welcome on the beach at any time and it’s a great place for simply relaxing on the sand, enjoying a lazy stroll or an evening fire.

The best surfing beach…

There are loads of great surfing beaches in Cornwall depending on your experience and, of course, the surf. Our top pick goes to Polzeath in Hayle Bay, which is one of Cornwall’s most popular surfing beaches and is also renowned worldwide for its surfing conditions. The beach has a fun atmosphere and there is good camping nearby. Lifeguards are present during summer and surfboards and wetsuits can be hired at the beach. There are also many excellent coastal walks around the area and the sister beach known as New Polzeath is a good place for swimmers who want to avoid the surfboards.

The best beach for walkers…

Situated near Land’s End, Nanjizal is a beautiful but quiet beach due to its tricky access. It can only be reached by walking a fair distance, as the closest car park is about 3 miles from the beach, but it’s definitely worth the effort. A footpath leading off from the South West Coast Path will lead walkers to this striking spot and visitors may spot seals and birds in addition to being greeted with stunning coastal views.

The most dramatic beach…

Bedruthan Steps Beach near Padstow is a glorious sight set in a ruggedly beautiful location. The beach is surrounded by cliffs which provide excellent views. Visitors should try to plan their arrival during low tide when the beach is exposed and they can get up close to the rocks in the sand that are reputed to be stepping stones placed there by a giant known as Bedruthan. During high tide the beach almost completely disappears.

The most romantic beach…

Beautiful Porthluney Cove occupies a fabulously secluded setting. This beach is even more special because it is overlooked Caerhays Castle and enjoys a strikingly scenic backdrop, making it the most romantic on our list. Mostly visited by locals, this is a wonderful beach for spending some quality time. The beach is not developed and there is just a small hut here selling drinks and snacks in the summer. Even in the winter there are some lovely wild walks to be taken over the headland.

Best beach for beating the crowds…

Crantock Beach is a gorgeous unspoilt stretch of golden sand that was voted Best British Beach by BBC Coast in 2013. Located surprisingly close to Newquay, this is a superb beach for escaping the crowds during summer. There are surf, cliffs, dunes and a tidal river here. The area is popular with walkers and the beach is also dog-friendly, with dogs welcome throughout the year.

Sand, surf and stunning scenery

These wonderful beaches should definitely be added to the itinerary of anyone visiting Cornwall. With an abundance of activities and sights to be seen depending on where you choose to go, you can have a great beach holiday that’s just right for your needs and preferences.

Take a look at our Cornwall guide for more beautiful beaches you can't afford to miss!

You can also discover some of the best coastal campsites in the UK here.