Our guide to the best beaches in West Cornwall

We all love an adventure, don’t we? Nothing quite beats discovering something new…and stumbling across something you never knew existed before. As part of our series of Cornish Adventure blogs, this time we’re showcasing some of the best beaches in West Cornwall…

We all know that Cornwall has a fantastic coastline. After all, that’s why so many of us come here year after year. There are few places quite like it in the UK. In fact, we think it’s the best place to come if you love being near the beach and the sea.

If you’re planning a day on the beach with the kids – but don’t want to travel all the way up to the north coast resorts of Newquay and Polzeath – then we have the answer. Why not try some of the many quieter but no less beautiful beaches right here in West Cornwall? The beaches all around our Cornwall holiday park are much less overcrowded than those on the north coast and are made for families and couples who like nothing more than lying down and soaking up the sun, diving into clear blue waters or building the perfect sandcastle.

The best beaches in West Cornwall – our favourites

Loe Bar, near Porthleven

Stretching over half a mile and boasting soft white sand, it’s easy to see why Loe Bar is so popular. It’s great for walks on a blustery day (to really blow away the cobwebs) but it’s also perfect for lazy days in the sun. Here you can enjoy a walk to the National Trust’s Penrose estate or head along the coast to Porthleven. One note of caution – Loe Bar does produce strong currents so please don’t even think about swimming here.

Perranuthnoe Beach

Recommended for its excellent water quality, Perranuthnoe Beach is about a mile or so east of Marazion and enjoys stunning views of St Michael’s Mount. The beach is popular with surfers and is a sandy beach with some shingle that is mostly covered at high tide.

Polurrian Cove

Another beach that is recommended for its excellent water quality, Polurrian is a south-west facing beach with golden sand and patches of fine shingle. It’s a popular beach in the summer months and is a great place to start a cliff walk, where you can head to nearby Mullion Cove or Poldhu Cove.

Porthcurno Beach

We can’t really talk about beaches in West Cornwall without mentioning Porthcurno. It’s not exactly off the beaten track, as it’s well-known and popular, but it’s such a lovely beach that we simply have to list it here. With gorgeous fine soft white sand washed by a sea that turns turquoise in the sun and high cliffs on both sides providing shelter, it’s an oasis of stunning natural beauty.

Church Cove (Gunwalloe)

If you’re both a fan of stunning, sandy beaches and Poldark then this is the place for you. Church Cove has been used extensively for beach and shipwreck scenes in the popular BBC adaptation and the tiny church of St Wynwallow was also used for wedding scenes. Away from Poldark, the beach itself is worthy of TV stardom. It is owned and maintained by the National Trust and is framed by a headland of solid rock. Parking is just a few hundred tards away.

Portheras Beach

Now this one really is off the beaten track. Known as a proper locals’ beach, Portheras. A great spot of surfing, it is located on the northern edge of West Cornwall between Morvah and Pendeen. The cove is sandy and located at the end of a small valley. Dogs are welcome here year-round.

Gwynver Beach

If you’re a keen surfer then forget heading all the way up to Fistral Beach – Gwynver is where it’s at! Providing some of the best surfing conditions in Cornwall, Gwynver attracts experienced locals with its ever present large waves. This beach, located near Land’s End, is said to get its name from Guinevere, wife of the legendary Cornish King Arthur. The beach is located at the base of steep granite cliffs and accessed by a steep path from above. This means that the beach is never too crowded.