Padstow’s Local Beaches

Thanks to its north-facing position, Hawkers Cove is generally sheltered from the wind and swell. Less than two miles along the coast path from Padstow, its powder-white sands boast amazing views across the Camel Estuary. The only facilities are a car park and a tea garden (weather dependent), so pack a picnic and a towel. Dogs are permitted year-round and it’s a lovely walk from the town – and onwards along the coast path to Stepper Point.

Facilities: Car park
Lifeguards: No
Dogs: Allowed all year
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hawker’s+Cove,+Padstow/
Latest tide times: Hawkers Cove Tide Times

On the other side of the estuary sits Daymer Bay – a beautiful curved beach popular with watersports enthusiasts and dog walkers (it’s dog-friendly all year). On a calm day, it’s a great place to visit with little ones, as the waves tend to be a lot smaller than the exposed north coast beaches. Although there is parking at the beach, from Padstow it’s best to visit Daymer Bay via the Padstow to Rock ferry – it’s about 20-minutes walk along the shore from the ferry slip. There are shops and cafés in Rock and a small beach shop at Daymer itself.

Facilities: Car park, toilets, beach café/shop
Lifeguards: No
Dogs: Allowed all year
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Daymer+Bay+Car+Park./
Latest tide times: Daymer Bay Tide Times

Only five minutes by car from Padstow, Trevone is one of the most convenient local beaches from town. It’s a gorgeous sandy cove with a rocky hem – perfect for family days at the beach and rock pooling. It’s also home to tidal pool for safe swimming, a shoreside sauna, and a watersports hub for kayaking and paddleboarding adventures. There is a café in the beach car park, where you’ll often find live music sessions on summer evenings.

Facilities: Car park, toilets, café, shop
Lifeguards: 10am-6pm, mid May until the end of Sept
Dogs: Allowed all year, except 10am-6pm during the summer months
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Trevone+Bay/
Latest tide times: Trevone Tide Times

Harlyn beach is a wide, wave-lashed bay that attracts a mix of families, dog walkers and surfers. Its lifeguard patrolled from May to September, making it an excellent choice for ocean-bound adventures. Harlyn is one of the best places to learn to surf near Padstow, and there’s an excellent surf school based at the beach – although it can get very crowded when the waves are good. If you prefer to watch, there’s a large café with tables overlooking the waves.

Facilities: Car park, toilets, café
Lifeguards: 10am-6pm, early May until the end of Sept, plus Easter and Oct half term
Dogs: Allowed all year
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Harlyn+Bay+Beach/
Latest tide times: Harlyn Tide Times

This is another stunning beach with golden sand, rolling dunes and dramatic coastal vistas to the Trevose Head lighthouse. As one of Cornwall’s best surfing beaches, Constantine attracts wave riders of all types. But on calmer days it’s a beautiful spot for picnics, paddling and sea-glass hunting. The northern end of the beach is known as Booby’s Bay and has some fantastic rock pools to explore at low tide. The takeaway café in the village does excellent snacks and hot drinks, and there’s a coffee and ice cream van beside the beach.

Facilities: Limited car parking, takeaway café, shop nearby
Lifeguards: 10am-6pm, early May until the end of Sept, plus Easter and Oct half term
Dogs: Allowed all year
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Constantine+Bay+Carpark/
Latest tide information: Constantine Bay Tide Times

Just a short walk from Constantine, Treyarnon Bay is a sandy cove that’s popular for classic family beach days, playing in the waves and dipping in the tidal pool. It’s a lovely spot for a picnic or evening barbecue when the sun sets over the sea. Food and drinks are available at the sea-view café in the youth hostel, which also hosts a series of live music sessions throughout summer. There’s also a beachside shack offering snacks, drinks and ice creams.

Facilities: Car park, toilets, café, snack shack
Lifeguards: 10am-6pm, early May until the end of Sept
Dogs: Allowed all year
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Treyarnon+Bay/
Latest tide times: Treyarnon Tide Times

Laidback Porthcothan is one of North Cornwall’s scenic treasures. This rugged Cornish cove has dramatic rock formations, caves and rock pools to explore. At high tide, the sea floods up the narrow beach, making it a great playground for swimmers and watersports enthusiasts. The beach store is a brilliant one-stop shop for essential beach supplies, fresh pastries, pasties and ice creams.

Facilities: Car park, toilets, shop
Lifeguards: 10am-6pm, mid May until the end of Sept
Dogs: Allowed all year
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Porthcothan+Beach/
Latest tide times: Porthcothan Tide Times

Mawgan Porth is another wild, sandy beach backed by sand dunes and hemmed by dramatic cliffs. It can get very busy at the head of the beach on warm sunny days, but there’s always space if you are prepared to walk further down towards to the shoreline. The waves here can be excellent and it’s a good place to learn to surf with the local surf school, KingSurf. There are plenty of food choices at Mawgan Porth including pasties, sandwiches, pizzas and fish and chips.

Facilities: Car park, toilets, showers, shops, café, takeaways, pub
Lifeguards: 10am-6pm, early May until the end of Sept, plus Easter and Oct half term
Dogs: Allowed all year
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mawgan+Porth/
Latest tide times: Mawgan Porth Tide Times

Trendy Watergate Bay is one of the area’s most consistent and most popular surf beaches. It’s a two-mile-long sandy beach backed by high cliffs. Space on the sand can get tight at high tide, but there’s loads of room when the sea goes out. It’s well worth a stroll to the ends of the beach, where there are beautiful rock pools, caves and arches to be explored. Surfboards can be hired here and there’s also a surf school for learning the basics of wave-riding. You won’t go hungry at Watergate Bay, as there are numerous restaurants and takeaways huddled beside the shore.

Facilities: Car park, toilets, restaurants, takeaways, pub
Lifeguards: 10am-6pm, early May until the end of Sept, plus Easter and Oct half term
Dogs: Allowed all year
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Watergate+Beach/
Latest tide times: Watergate Bay Tide Times

A little further north from Padstow is the exclusive beach resort of Polzeath. Although it’s a long drive around the estuary from Padstow, it’s worth a visit to this spectacular Cornish beach – especially if you like surfing. The waves here are usually quite gentle for learning, and you can hire boards and take a surf lesson with several beachside operators. There’s plenty of car parking space, plus a variety of cafés and restaurants for a lunchtime treat.

Facilities: Car park, toilets, restaurants, café, shops
Lifeguards: 10am-6pm, early May until the end of Sept, plus Easter and Oct half term
Dogs: Allowed all year, except 10am-6pm during the summer months
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Polzeath+Beach+Car+Park/
Latest tide times: Polzeath Tide Times