Blue Flag Beaches 2023
Polzeath – Wadebridge
The popularity of Polzeath Beach is on the rise, thanks to its beautiful sandy beach, laid-back beach town feel and ideal surfing conditions. The beach itself stretches around half a mile wide at low tide but shrinks to just a small patch of sand in front of the village at high tide. With all the facilities and water quality you would expect from a Blue Flag beach, Polzeath is great for families as well as surfers. Another great feature is that parking is available on the beach – perfect for easy access no matter where you are in the area.
Polzeath Beach
Porthmeor – St Ives
Porthmeor is a well-known beach in Cornwall and is often considered one of the best in the area. The beach consists of a long stretch of golden sand, with plenty of places to relax and take in the stunning views. There are also many artists’ studios and the Tate Gallery located nearby, making Porthmeor an ideal place to spend a summer day. In addition to its beautiful surroundings, Porthmeor is also well equipped with facilities for visitors including a beachside café, surf school and lifeguard service.
Porthmeor Beach
Carbis Bay – St Ives
Carbis Bay is a beautiful sandy beach located less than a mile from St Ives. It has good facilities making it a favourite with families and is also fairly sheltered from the wind and waves thanks to its location near large cliffs. In times gone by, the beach was known by various names including Barripper, Porthrepta, and Carrack Garden Cove. Back in those days, the beach was mainly used by fishermen to launch their boats. Despite its sheltered aspect, Carbis Bay has been home to several shipwrecks over the years- three of them in one night in 1893. At low tide, it’s possible to see the remains of the Cintra at the centre of the beach.
Carbis Bay Beach
Gyllyngvase – Falmouth
Gyllyngvase Beach is perfect for families with children as there are plenty of facilities close by, including beach showers and toilets that are open all year round. There is also a cafe onsite serving food hot and cold. In the summer months, there is lifeguard cover, so swimming is safe.
Gyllyngvase Beach
Widemouth Bay – Bude
Widemouth Bay Beach is a wide and open sand area stretching nearly 2 miles. It’s a great spot for swimming, sunbathing and windsurfing, but it can also be quite breezy on days when the waves are high, so take shelter in the dunes! In addition to cafés and toilets, there are lifeguards during the summer months. But if you fancy a swim, please observe the flags as they are there for a reason!
Widemouth Bay Beach
Porthtowan – Redruth
Porthtowan is another great beach on Cornwall’s North Coast that grows as the tide goes out. At low tide, the beach stretches nearly 1.5 miles to include Chapel Porth beach and cliffs below Wheal Coates engine house. Set in a valley, high cliffs provide some shelter from cross-shore breezes as well as offering some great vistas up the coast. As a frequent winner of the Blue Flag award, Porthtowan Beach has all the qualities and amenities one would expect. It also has a seasonal lifeguard service making it a great all-round family beach.
Porthtowan Beach
Portreath – Redruth
Portreath is a popular family beach that is a mostly sand (with a little shingle below the shoreline) beach set in a steep valley. It’s perfect for bodyboarding and surfing, and the town centre is only a short walk away. The beach has a small stream running down to the sea. There is also a recently built surf lifesaving club just steps from the beach, giving it added appeal for surfers, bodyboarders and swimmers.
Portreath Beach
Crooklets – Bude
The small beach of Crooklets is a popular family beach with plenty of facilities that can get a little busy during the summer months. It is adjacent to Summerleaze and Northcott Mouth beaches, forming a larger bay at low tide. The sandy beach is bordered by Wrangle Point to the north and separated from Summerleaze beach to the south by a rocky outcrop.
Crooklets Beach
Trevone Bay – Padstow
Trevone Beach is a popular spot for both surfers and families. The main beach, a sandy inlet, is actually much wider than it is deep, with gentle slopes on either side. There are also some great rock pools located nearby on the rocky outcroppings. The beach is patrolled by RNLI lifeguards during the summer months. NB: there can be a strong rip current on the right side of the beach at times.
Trevone Bay