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Accessible beaches in Cornwall coastline

Easier Cornwall beach access

ACCESSIBLE BEACHES IN CORNWALL

Compare practical access details for North and South Cornwall beaches with easier approaches.

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Compare easier beach approaches

Easy access means different things at different beaches. A level route can still end in soft sand or shingle, and facilities or equipment can change. These cards distinguish the approach, parking, gradient, toilets, beach wheelchairs and pram suitability using details already published in our beach guides.

4 easy-access guides

Accessible and easy-access beaches in North Cornwall

Fistral Beach in North Cornwall

Easier-access beach in North Cornwall

Fistral Beach

The beachfront Fistral car park gives the shortest approach to the sand. Belmont Road and Dane Road add about a five-minute walk, and loose sand remains difficult for most prams and wheelchairs.

Step-free access
Ramps provide step-free access, beach wheelchairs can be hired in advance, and several cafés and restaurants overlook the sand.
Parking and distance
The privately run Fistral Beach car park sits directly behind the sand and uses number-plate cameras.
Beach wheelchairs
Ramps provide step-free access, beach wheelchairs can be hired in advance, and several cafés and restaurants overlook the sand.
Prams and buggies
The beachfront Fistral car park gives the shortest approach to the sand. Belmont Road and Dane Road add about a five-minute walk, and loose sand remains difficult for most prams and wheelchairs.
Harlyn Bay in North Cornwall

Easier-access beach in North Cornwall

Harlyn Bay

Reasonably so. The car park sits directly beside the beach, so the walk in is short, and the sand shelves gently once you are on it. Loose sand is still slow going on wheels, and the overflow field opposite adds a road crossing.

Step-free access
The car park is next to the beach and a slipway provides access to the sand.
Parking and distance
A privately run car park sits beside the beach with an overflow field opposite.
Prams and buggies
Reasonably so. The car park sits directly beside the beach, so the walk in is short, and the sand shelves gently once you are on it. Loose sand is still slow going on wheels, and the overflow field opposite adds a road crossing.
Mawgan Porth in North Cornwall

Easier-access beach in North Cornwall

Mawgan Porth

The approach is short, with two car parks behind the beach and both within a couple of minutes of the sand. The stream crosses the beach and the sand is soft, so a buggy is harder work once you are down there.

Parking and distance
Two privately run car parks sit behind the beach, one behind the Merrymoor Inn and one nearer the cafe.
Accessible toilets
Mawgan Porth has public toilets, including an accessible toilet, near the car park.
Beach wheelchairs
RNLI lifeguards patrol seasonally, and a beach wheelchair is available from Bettys News surf shop from Easter to November.
Prams and buggies
The approach is short, with two car parks behind the beach and both within a couple of minutes of the sand. The stream crosses the beach and the sand is soft, so a buggy is harder work once you are down there.
Polzeath in North Cornwall

Easier-access beach in North Cornwall

Polzeath

Yes, unusually so. The Cornwall Council car park is on the sand itself at the southern end, so there is barely any approach. It closes on the highest spring tides, and the Sea View and New Polzeath car parks above the beach are a steeper walk down.

Step-free access
Several cafés and shops sit beside the beach, with level access and disabled parking available.
Parking and distance
Cornwall Council's Polzeath Beach car park is on the sand at the southern end.
Prams and buggies
Yes, unusually so. The Cornwall Council car park is on the sand itself at the southern end, so there is barely any approach. It closes on the highest spring tides, and the Sea View and New Polzeath car parks above the beach are a steeper walk down.

4 easy-access guides

Accessible and easy-access beaches in South Cornwall

Maenporth in South Cornwall

Easier-access beach in South Cornwall

Maenporth

The car park sits directly behind the beach, with a level approach to the edge of the sand. Loose sand may still be difficult for prams and wheelchairs.

Step-free access
Maenporth has public toilets behind the beach, level access from the car park, and a seasonal café and restaurant nearby.
Parking and distance
A fee-paying car park directly behind the beach, with level access onto the sand, managed by the Maenporth Estate.
Prams and buggies
The car park sits directly behind the beach, with a level approach to the edge of the sand. Loose sand may still be difficult for prams and wheelchairs.
Poldhu Cove in South Cornwall

Easier-access beach in South Cornwall

Poldhu Cove

The walk from the National Trust car park is on a gentle path, making it more manageable than many Lizard coves, though the dune approach and soft sand are still hard work on wheels.

Parking and distance
A National Trust car park roughly 300 yards from the beach; free for members, pay-and-display for everyone else.
Gradient
The walk from the National Trust car park is on a gentle path, making it more manageable than many Lizard coves, though the dune approach and soft sand are still hard work on wheels.
Prams and buggies
The walk from the National Trust car park is on a gentle path, making it more manageable than many Lizard coves, though the dune approach and soft sand are still hard work on wheels.
Praa Sands in South Cornwall

Easier-access beach in South Cornwall

Praa Sands

The car parks sit directly behind the beach with level access onto the sand, though the soft sand itself is hard work on wheels.

Step-free access
The car parks sit directly behind the beach with level access onto the sand, though the soft sand itself is hard work on wheels.
Parking and distance
Large privately operated pay-and-display car parks run directly behind the beach, with hundreds of spaces and overnight campervan provision.
Prams and buggies
The car parks sit directly behind the beach with level access onto the sand, though the soft sand itself is hard work on wheels.
Swanpool Beach in South Cornwall

Easier-access beach in South Cornwall

Swanpool Beach

Yes, the car park sits right across from the beach with an easy, level approach onto the sand.

Parking and distance
A large pay-and-display car park directly across the road from the beach, open daily, taking cash or the JustPark app.
Prams and buggies
Yes, the car park sits right across from the beach with an easy, level approach onto the sand.