BEST 8 BEACHES IN Cornwall & Dorset

8 Of my favourite beaches to discover in Cornwall & Dorset, UK – My Complete Guide

Cornwall is the extreme south-western peninsula of England, it’s one of the most beautiful places to visit in the country. To have the chance and enjoy every corner of the peninsula, you will need a car, would be hard to go around without it. Cornwall is one of the UK’s favourite summer destinations, I love this part of the country, it remind me a lot of some part of Australia, it has dramatic coastlines, beautiful huge sandy beaches, pretty harbour villages and you can walk for hours along the coastal paths. Don’t forget that Cornwall has some of the most beautiful beaches of the country, the colour of the water is fantastic if you think that you are in the north of Europe. Check out below my favourite beaches!

1. Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps

Located in North Cornwall it’s an absolute must-see spot, the views are fantastic. The full walk will take you around 1.5-2 hours, the landscape over Bedruthan Steps is awesome. There are 149 steps down to the beach. Try to go when the tide is low, there is a large stretch of sandy beach, beautiful clear water, and lots to explore.
Just 30 minutes south of Bedruthan Steps, there is another fantastic walk to do, starting from Poly Joke Beach to Holywell Bay Beach, absolutely wonderful beaches to visit and along the path the landscape is fantastic.

2. Portheras Cove

A hidden gem, still not very well known by tourists. Portheras Cove is one of my top suggestions of places to visit in West Cornwall. It’s set between Pendeen and Morvah, on the coastline between Lands End and St Ives.
A real ‘locals’ beach, it’s not the easiest beach to find, the cove is sandy and located at the end of a small valley and if you are lucky seals are a common sight here.
We parked just next the white lighthouse of Pendeen, for then following the road to a lower small car park. From here there is a gate that opens on to the cliffs and you need to take the path on the right, it’s a fantastic scenic walk down to this beach, you will stop often as the view of the cove is unbelievable.
The colour of the water is so bright, it’s really a perfect place for a relaxing day in a beautiful location.

3. Pedn Vounder Beach

One of my favourite beaches in Cornwall and one of the most picturesque. This glorious beach, surrounded by steep cliffs, with its crystal clear turquoise waters and white sand, is the eastern end of the bay that is Porthcurno Cove. It is not easy to get to because you have to go down a rugged cliff path to get to the sand. The grass car park is 10 minute walk away in Treen or it can be reached at low tide from Porthcurno Beach.

4. Porthcothan Bay Beach

Beautifully positioned between Newquay and Padstow sits Porthcothan Beach, a north west facing cove which is backed by lush grassy dunes. It’s a popular beach for families because of the expanse of open space and the sandy beach that opens out at low tide to connect up with small coves to the north and south. This section of the South West Coast Path is particularly spectacular, offering panoramic views from north to south, it is relatively short walk around to Bedruthan Steps, one of Cornwall’s most impressive sights.

5. Durdle Door

Durdle Door is one of Dorset’s most photographed and iconic landmarks. It is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and is an extremely popular on sunny days in the South of UK. It is a natural arch, formed from a layer of hard limestone standing almost vertically out of the sea. Durdle Door is a must-see for any trip to this region, walking the South West Coast Path offers spectacular views across the Jurassic Coast.

6. Holywell Bay Beach

The large, open and sandy beach at Holywell Bay is located around 6 miles west of Newquay, on the north Cornwall coast. Holywell Bay is a popular destination for surfers and swimmers. One of Holywell Bay’s most distinctive features are the twin rocks just of the coast. These two huge rocks are known as Gull Rocks or Carter’s Rocks. This beautiful beach has access from the car park from which is a short walk away.

7. Towan Beach

Towan Beach is at the heart of Newquay, a small but very photographic beach. Towan’s most iconic feature, ‘the Island’s, one of Cornwall’s most famous landmarks. Surrounded by water when the tide is in, this tiny island is connected to the mainland by a 90ft high suspension footbridge that dates back to 1902 and is home to what has got to be one of the most impressive beach houses.

8. Lulworth Cove

This quiet corner of Dorset may surprise you, Lulworth Cove is a stunning natural cove located next to the village of West Lulworth. The Cove is still used by working fishermen. The natural shape of Lulworth Cove provides excellent shelter for the small fishing boats which are moored here. If you have a small inflatable boat or a kayak, it is generally very safe to use in the Cove. The beach is also dog friendly all year so your whole family can enjoy a day out here.