Cornwall Beach Holidays

Luckily for us, nowhere else in the UK can rival Cornwall for both quality and quantity of beaches. The beautiful golden sand and turquoise waters of Cornwall beaches are some of the finest and cleanest in Europe, regularly playing host to the Blue Flag beach awards – meaning they are highly rated for water quality, safety and environmental management. From family friendly stretches of sand to surfing hotspots, look no further than Cornwall for your idyllic Cornwall beach holiday. Here are some of our favourite beaches:

Porthmeor Beach

Perhaps the most popular of St Ives beaches is Porthmeor, which is nestled directly in front of Tate St Ives and is just a stone’s throw from the town centre. Whether you’re after a relaxing day sunbathing or an adrenaline filled surfing lesson, Porthmeor has it all – and why not round off the day with a trip to the restaurant or café on the Cornwall beachside?

Porthminster Beach

A favourite for swimmers, this award-winning Cornwall beach boasts an exotic atmosphere with swaying palm trees and clear, calm waters. Just a short walk from the centre, it has incredible views across to Godrevy Lighthouse – inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s famous novel ‘To the Lighthouse’. For lunch, head down to Porthminster Beach Café – it serves up amazing local food and has won various awards, including the Best Coastal Restaurant award in The Times.

Harbour Beach

For something slightly different, head to the town’s harbour for this Cornwall beach. An ideal safe spot for swimming and building sandcastles, this beach is full of hustle and bustle – with plenty of ice creams and pasties on the beachfront. The town is still a working port, and from the beach you can spy local fisherman catching fresh seafood. Be sure to check out the town’s Lifeboat Station, which is at the harbour and open to visitors during the summer.

Porthgwidden Beach

Near to the ‘Island’ in St Ives, this sandy cove is very popular with families for its gentle tide and sheltered sun trap potential. Soft underfoot sand, twinkling water and protection from winds are just some of the reasons Porthgwidden beach is decidedly on this list! If you’re lucky, you can sometimes spot all manners of sea life – including tuna fish and even seals!

Carbis Bay

Just one mile east of St Ives, this Cornwall beach is an ideal spot for families with young children due to it rarely having any surf. For its one mile stretch you will find golden sands, sub-tropical plants and glistening waters – reminiscent of somewhere much further south! A short walk on the east side of the beach will take you to Porth Kidney Sands – home to an RSPB bird sanctuary. We also manage a host of properties in the Carbis Bay area – it’s definitely worth a trip.