Discover Rame Peninsula

Whitsand Bay runs for 3 miles from Rame Head in the east to Portwrinkle in the west. We have listed the beaches separately: Portwrinkle & Finnygook Beach, Long Sands (Tregantle Cliff) Beach, Sharrow Point (Grotto Beach) Beach, Freathy Beach and Tregonhawke Beach The South West Coast Path runs the length of the bay. A UK Ministry of Defence firing range exists between Fort Tregantle at the western end of the bay and Trethill Cliffs near Portwrinkle and this area is closed during firing range operations. Popular surfing and diving location.  

Antony is an early 18th-century mansion set in parkland and fine gardens.

Long Sands or Tregantle Cliff beach is a section in the long stretch of sand and rocks of Whitsand Bay. When the tide is out you have a very large beach but at high tide then only a small area of sand. The beach sits within a “Danger Area” below Tregantle Fort and when the red flags are flying this signifies that they’re using the firing ranges above the cliffs and the beach is closed to the public. Lifeguards are at the beach daily during July, August, September and then during May and June weekends and bank holidays. The currents can be strong and it is advised only to swim when the lifeguards are on patrol. You have a small car park and lay-by by the fort or people park on the road opposite. You then have a short walk through the MoD property down to the beach. No facilities at the beach although nearby Freathy beach has a cafe.

Cawsand and Kingsand are two small villages within Cawsand Bay. They have sand and shingle beaches sheltered by Rame Head Peninsula offering views over Plymouth Sound. There are also rock pools to explore and slipways for easy access to the sea. The villages have a history with much involvement in smuggling and fishing. Remains of old pilchard cellars from the late 16th century can be seen on the shoreline just beyond Kingsand. These ‘Pilchard Palaces’ were for the storing and processing of this most prized fish. Facilities at the beach include slipways, toilets and shops.

Sharrow Point beach is also known as Grotto Beach and is a good sandy beach with rock pools. The beach is really divided into smaller coves due to small outcrops of rocks which makes it a necessity to keep an eye on the tides as at high tide areas can be cut off. The name Grotto comes from the National Trust property which preserves a small cave excavated by hand in 1874 by a hermit called Lugger, the cave is fenced off to the public. Lugger inscribed verses on the ceiling to relieve his boredom. The beach has lifeguards daily from the start of May to the end of September. The currents are very strong and it is recommended to only swim when lifeguards are on patrol. You have a small car park on the coast road and then a walk involving some steep steps down to the beach. You can also access Freathy beach from the car park.

Tregonhawke Beach is the largest of the beaches within Whitsand Bay, with a length ogfaround 2.5km (1.5 miles). The beach is a sandy beach with rocks and at low tide you have a massive expanse of sand but when the tide is high then the beach all but disappears. You also need to be careful as high tide can cut off some areas of the beach. The beach has lifeguards from the start of May to the end of September and due to the strong currents it is recommended to only go swimming when the beach is patrolled. You have no facilities other than the car park.

Portwrinkle and Finnygook (East) beaches are two sandy/pebble beaches with rock pools. Popular with surfers and bodyboarders. Facilities include car parks and toilets.

Kingsand Bay is situated on the Rame Peninsula and has two beaches. Kingsand Beach is a mixture of sand and shingle located along The Cleave and Girt Beach is mainly shingle, but with some sand and lies along Market Street. Boundary changes have meant that over the years Kingsand has moved between Devon and Cornwall. Facilities include parking, shops and food.

Beautifully located in the South East Corner of Cornwall, Whitsand Bay Fort offers Luxury Lodge accommodation, touring and camping and is a prestigious, coastal wedding and event venue. The fort’s facilities include the historic Vaults Restaurant, Beaches Shop and Café, Indoor heated swimming pool and Hidden Heritage visitors centre. All facilities are open to non residents.

Freathy beach is a sandy south facing sun trap just below the village of Freathy at the mid-point of Whitsand Bay. Lifeguards present daily during July, August and September and the beach has a small cafe. Car parking is available at Sharrow Point nearby and in lay-bys along the coast road.  

Mount Edgcumbe House is the former home of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe, first built in the 1500s. Set in Grade I Cornish Gardens within 865 acres Country Park.