Before you set off
Today's snapshot
Polkerris is at its best from mid to low tide, when the most sand is exposed inside the curved harbour wall. The wall can reduce the swell reaching the cove, although visitors should still check the conditions before swimming or paddling.
Plan your visit
Getting there
A small car park sits under five minutes' walk from the beach, with an overflow field sometimes opening in summer. Spaces are limited, so arrive early on a sunny day.
- Parking: A small car park close to the beach, less than a five-minute walk. An overflow field car park sometimes opens nearby in summer, five to ten minutes' walk away.
- Dog rules: Dogs are not allowed from Easter Day to 1 October. In 2026, the restriction runs from 5 April through 30 September. Dogs are welcome from 1 October until the day before Easter Sunday.
- Lifeguards: There is no lifeguard cover at Polkerris at any time of year.
- The harbour: The curved stone harbour wall was built in 1775 by the Rashleigh family for the pilchard fishing trade, and its ruined curing cellars can still be seen in the village.
Get in the water
Hire & lessons
Kayaks are available straight from the beach, no booking required in season.
Polkerris Beach Kayak Hire
On-the-beach kayak hire, seven days a week through July and August, with buoyancy aids and a safety briefing included.
After the beach
Eat, drink & stay
A historic waterfront pub sits right on the sand.
The Rashleigh Inn
A historic waterfront pub named after the estate family who built the harbour, serving fresh local food with sea views.
Local perspective
Local notes
Polkerris is a small cove whose harbour wall reduces some of the swell from the open coast. In settled conditions, the shallows inside the wall can suit young children who are closely supervised.
Daphne du Maurier lived nearby at Menabilly and later Kilmarth, directly above the beach, and the coast path here is sometimes called the du Maurier trail. Her novel The House on the Strand is set around this stretch of coast.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is Polkerris beach dog friendly?
Dogs are not allowed from Easter Day to 1 October. In 2026, the restriction runs from 5 April through 30 September. Dogs are welcome from 1 October until the day before Easter Sunday.
What's the best tide for Polkerris?
Mid to low tide, when the most sand is exposed inside the harbour wall.
Are there lifeguards at Polkerris?
No, there is no lifeguard cover at Polkerris at any time of year.
Where do you park for Polkerris beach?
A small car park less than five minutes' walk from the beach, with an overflow field sometimes opening in summer.
Is it safe to swim at Polkerris today?
Check the Environment Agency Swimfo profile and Safer Seas & Rivers Service before swimming.
Is Polkerris pram or buggy friendly?
The walk from the main car park is short and mostly level, making it manageable, though the beach itself is sand and shingle.
What facilities are available at Polkerris?
Polkerris has public toilets near the café, closing at dusk, along with a beachfront pub, café, restaurant, and watersports hire.
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