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Family-friendly beaches in Cornwall coastline

Practical Cornwall family beaches

FAMILY-FRIENDLY BEACHES IN CORNWALL

Compare family beach-day essentials across North and South Cornwall before taking the coast road.

Plan the practical details

Family beach days with fewer surprises

These beaches combine toilets, food nearby, a straightforward place to park, seasonal RNLI patrols and an approach that is manageable for many families. That does not guarantee suitable sea conditions - check the tide, weather, flags and current patrol dates before anyone enters the water.

8 family beach guides

Family-friendly beaches in North Cornwall

Bude in North Cornwall

Practical family beach in North Cornwall

Bude

Summerleaze car park sits directly behind the beach and sea pool, giving a short, mostly level approach to the waterfront. The soft sand itself remains hard work for prams and wheelchairs.

Parking
Cornwall Council's large Summerleaze car park is right behind the beach and takes card and contactless payment. Check the signs on arrival for current charges.
Access
Summerleaze car park sits directly behind the beach and sea pool, giving a short, mostly level approach to the waterfront. The soft sand itself remains hard work for prams and wheelchairs.
Toilets
Summerleaze has public toilets in the car park, which sits directly behind the beach.
Food nearby
Life's a Beach - A family-run cafe and restaurant on Summerleaze with a view straight down the beach.
Seasonal lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol Summerleaze through a long season from the Easter holidays into late October, and Bude also has an RNLI lifeboat station on the beach.
Fistral Beach in North Cornwall

Practical family 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.

Parking
The privately run Fistral Beach car park sits directly behind the sand and uses number-plate cameras. Cornwall Council's Belmont Road and Dane Road car parks are a short walk away.
Access
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.
Toilets
Fistral has public toilets with accessible and baby-changing facilities, outdoor showers, and changing facilities in the beach complex.
Food nearby
Fistral Beach Hotel & Spa - An adults-only hotel above the beach, with the Dune restaurant and a spa.
Seasonal lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol daily through a long season, typically from early April to early November. Swim between the red and yellow flags.
Harlyn Bay in North Cornwall

Practical family 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.

Parking
A privately run car park sits beside the beach with an overflow field opposite. Number-plate cameras are in use, so pay for your full stay.
Access
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.
Toilets
Harlyn Bay has public toilets a short walk from the beach car park, seasonal food outlets, and RNLI lifeguard patrols from Easter through the October half-term.
Food nearby
The Harlyn - The village pub and inn behind the bay, with food, local beer and rooms.
Seasonal lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol daily through the main season, roughly early May to late September, with weekend and half-term cover either side.
Mawgan Porth in North Cornwall

Practical family 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
Two privately run car parks sit behind the beach, one behind the Merrymoor Inn and one nearer the cafe. Charges are shown on site.
Access
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.
Toilets
Mawgan Porth has public toilets, including an accessible toilet, near the car park.
Food nearby
The Merrymoor Inn - A family-run inn a few steps from the sand, with bar food and rooms above the bay.
Seasonal lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol daily through the main season, roughly early May to late September, with weekend and half-term cover either side.
Perranporth in North Cornwall

Practical family beach in North Cornwall

Perranporth

The Promenade car park on Beach Road gives the shortest approach to the sand. Wheal Leisure involves a longer, hillier walk through the town, and loose sand remains difficult for most prams and wheelchairs.

Parking
Cornwall Council's Wheal Leisure car park is the main long-stay option. The privately run Promenade car park on Beach Road is closest to the beach and is actively enforced.
Access
The Promenade car park on Beach Road gives the shortest approach to the sand. Wheal Leisure involves a longer, hillier walk through the town, and loose sand remains difficult for most prams and wheelchairs.
Toilets
Perranporth has public toilets, including accessible facilities, near the main car park, along with outdoor showers near the beach entrance.
Food nearby
The Watering Hole - A bar built on the beach itself, open all year with food and live music.
Seasonal lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol daily through a long season, typically from early spring into late autumn, with extra cover at the Perran Sands end in busy weeks.
Polzeath in North Cornwall

Practical family 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.

Parking
Cornwall Council's Polzeath Beach car park is on the sand at the southern end. The Sea View car park on Dunders Hill and the New Polzeath car park are privately run alternatives.
Access
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.
Toilets
Polzeath has public toilets, including accessible facilities, near the beach car park and outdoor showers close to the sand.
Food nearby
Surfside Polzeath - A beachside bar and restaurant with a terrace, barbecue food and live music.
Seasonal lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol daily from around mid May to the end of September, with weekend cover through the spring and October half term.
Porthtowan in North Cornwall

Practical family beach in North Cornwall

Porthtowan

The Beach Road car park sits directly behind the sand, so the approach is short. The final surface is soft sand, which is hard work for most prams and wheelchairs.

Parking
Cornwall Council's Beach Road car park is directly behind the beach. Charges apply through the main season and it is usually free in winter.
Access
The Beach Road car park sits directly behind the sand, so the approach is short. The final surface is soft sand, which is hard work for most prams and wheelchairs.
Toilets
Porthtowan has public toilets, including accessible facilities, in the main car park and seasonal outdoor showers during the lifeguard season.
Food nearby
Schooners - A beachside bar and restaurant at Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes, a short drive south.
Seasonal lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol daily through the main season from early May to the end of September, with weekend cover in spring and October.
Watergate Bay in North Cornwall

Practical family beach in North Cornwall

Watergate Bay

The walk down is short, because both car parks sit at the top of the beach ramp on the coast road. The ramp is the easiest way onto the sand, though it is a slope, and the bay narrows at the top of the tide, so plan the walk on a dropping tide.

Parking
A private car park sits closest to the beach ramp, with a Cornwall Council car park just along the road. Both fill quickly on summer weekends.
Access
The walk down is short, because both car parks sit at the top of the beach ramp on the coast road. The ramp is the easiest way onto the sand, though it is a slope, and the bay narrows at the top of the tide, so plan the walk on a dropping tide.
Toilets
Watergate Bay has public toilets with accessible and baby-changing facilities, indoor shower rooms, and outdoor showers near the beach entrance; charges and seasonal opening hours apply.
Food nearby
The Beach Hut - A relaxed all-day restaurant on the beach, open to everyone and dog friendly.
Seasonal lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol daily through the main season, roughly early May to the end of September, with weekend cover around Easter and October half term.

3 family beach guides

Family-friendly beaches in South Cornwall

Poldhu Cove in South Cornwall

Practical family 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
A National Trust car park roughly 300 yards from the beach; free for members, pay-and-display for everyone else. Extra parking is sometimes available, free, near the Marconi Centre.
Access
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.
Toilets
Poldhu Cove has seasonal public toilets, including accessible facilities, at the beach entrance from April to October.
Food nearby
Poldhu Beach Café - A beach café open almost year-round for breakfast, lunches, coffee, cakes and pizza nights, with sea views and free Wi-Fi.
Seasonal lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol seasonally, typically from mid-May to late September, daily 10am to 6pm. Swim between the red and yellow flags.
Porthcurno in South Cornwall

Practical family beach in South Cornwall

Porthcurno

The walk from the car park is on a gentle valley path rather than steps, so it is more manageable than many coves nearby, though the soft sand itself is still hard work on wheels.

Parking
A pay-and-display car park in the Porthcurno valley, about 200 to 250 metres from the sand, with toilets alongside. It gets busy in peak season, so arrive early.
Access
The walk from the car park is on a gentle valley path rather than steps, so it is more manageable than many coves nearby, though the soft sand itself is still hard work on wheels.
Toilets
Porthcurno has public toilets beside the car park, around 200 metres from the beach.
Food nearby
Porthcurno Beach Café - A family-run, licensed café by the beach, serving breakfasts, lunches and cream teas on a sun terrace overlooking the sand.
Seasonal lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol seasonally, typically from mid-May to the end of September, 10am to 6pm. Swim between the red and yellow flags when they are on duty.
Praa Sands in South Cornwall

Practical family 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.

Parking
Large privately operated pay-and-display car parks run directly behind the beach, with hundreds of spaces and overnight campervan provision.
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.
Toilets
Praa Sands has public toilets near the main slipway and beachfront cafés close to the sand.
Food nearby
The Welloe - A restaurant overlooking the beach with homemade pizzas, local seafood and vegan and gluten-free options.
Seasonal lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol daily from around Easter to the end of September, with weekend cover in late April and October.