South Cornwall family beach days

FAMILY-FRIENDLY BEACHES IN SOUTH CORNWALL

Compare three sandy coves with practical facilities and regular summer lifeguard patrols.

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.

3 family beach guides

Family-friendly beaches 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.
Full beach guide: Check facilities, tide advice and current patrol dates

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.
Full beach guide: Check facilities, tide advice and current patrol dates

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.
Full beach guide: Check facilities, tide advice and current patrol dates