Find The Nearest Beach The Lizard
Planning a trip to the The Lizard coast and looking for where the nearest beach is, our beach lists will help you discover the nearest beach to me. Then for each beach, we will answer questions around location, rural or town, sandy or pebble, rockpools, tide times, weather forecast, dog restrictions, bathing water quality, closest beach cafes and provide general information on the beach and its facilities.
When on a beach page use our tools to search nearby The Lizard seaside towns and the surrounding coast for things to see and do or places to stay and eat.
If you are looking for an award-winning beach then you can browse our Blue Flag lists or Seaside Award lists.
Finding the right beach in The Lizard is easy – simply explore the beach links below, to find the closest hit the jump to my location compass or use the search bar to plan where your next The Lizard beach visit should be.
- Gillan Harbour lies about half mile south of the Helford River. The stretch of coast has three small beaches with a mixture of sand and shingle. There are good walks west along the river bank towards Manaccan or northwest to Helford Village. About half a mile east of Gillan lies the rocky Mên-aver Beach with walks available east to Lestowder Cliff leading to Nare Point. No facilities and the beach is used by visiting boats and those walking along the coast. We have no dog information for Gillan Harbour beach.
- Gunwalloe beach is a sandy (fine shingle) family beach with a stream running through the beach, ideal for paddling. National Trust car park above the beach along with a cafe. We have no dog information for Gunwalloe beach.
- Porthleven beach is next to the harbour and near the village centre. Porthleven beach is separated from the harbour by the granite pier which lies in front of the Porthleven institute and clock tower. When the tide is out it is possible to walk in an easterly direction along Porthleven beach for approximately three miles, past Loe Bar and Penrose Estate. Alternatively, you can walk along the coast path the coast path out of the village with the Porthleven beach below you. At high tide, the beach all but disappears. Excellent surfing location for intermediate to advanced surfers with a natural reef break. Best months is between September and December but you will always get a strong surfing community and on big days news will travel and may get packed. On a calm day a good location for SUP with choices of the protected harbour and the beach front. The beach is a short walk along the harbour to the village centre where you have parking, shops and a selection of cafe and pubs.
- Loe Bar beach is actually made up of 2 parts; The Loe, which is the largest natural freshwater lake in Cornwall and the Bar, a half mile shingle/flint bank that separates the Loe from the sea. The uniqueness makes this a Designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The sea at this part of the coast is not suitable for swimming, as it shelves off very deeply close to the shoreline, the beach is also prone to freak waves and strong currents. Parking and facilities at Porthleven.
- Kennack Sands a sandy beach with rock pools. At high tide the beach is split into two but at low tide is is a very large beach. East facing beach popular with surfers of all abilities. Facilities include car park, toilets, cafe, beach shop.
- Godrevy and Leggan Coves are two beaches separated by Leggan Point. To access Leggan Cove you will need low tide to go around the point from Godrevy. The beach is sandy although does have some shingle and rocky parts. Backed by grass covered shingle banks this is a nice location and rarely busy. No facilities, with the nearest (limited) parking in the village of Rosenithon. Dogs allowed.
- Polnare Cove is a remote sand/rocky beach situated around the corner from the Nare Point headland below the MOD Observation Post. The path down leads from the old observation post on Nare Point. From this cove, you can explore the rock pools and formations of Nare Point. The beach has no facilities and only accessible by foot.
- Housel Bay is a small sandy cove that disappears at high tide. Visitors need to be careful not to be cut off as the tide comes in! The bay is reached by a walk along the coast path from Lizard Point (approx 20 minutes) and there is a steep climb down to the beach from the coast path. Facilities include parking, toilets, shops, cafe all at Lizard Point.
- Jangye Ryne beach is a small sandy beach on a very rocky stretch of coastline. Limited parking and toilets. We have no dog information for Jangye Ryne beach.
- Gew Graze beach also known as Soapy Cove after the adjacent soap stone quarry. The beach is stony at high tide but as the tide goes out you then have some great sand interspersed by smooth rocks. This is a classic example of a remote and beautiful Cornish cove, great to get away from everything. No facilities at the beach with access only from the coast path after a long walk from either Kynance Cove or Mullion Cove.
- Portbeer Cove is a small sandy and rocky cove, although the sand disappears at high tide. The beach sits to the side of Chynhalls Point and is a popular beach for snorkelling. There are no facilities, best access is to park at Coverack and take a walk along the coastal path. Dogs allowed.
- Polpeor Cove a south facing small coarse dark grey sandy beach situated at Lizard Point itself. The cove is dominated by the Old Lizard Lifeboat Station. Due to its location the beach is not suitable for swimming. Cafe, pub, shop, parking and toilets are all at Lizard Point. We have no dog information for Polpeor Cove beach.
