Find the nearest Beaches in 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.
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- Church Cove beach is a west facing sandy beach with rock pools. The name comes from a small church set below the low cliffs at the northern end of the beach and this has an unusual bell tower standing about 3 metres to the side of the church and cut into the cliffside. Limited parking available. We have no dog information for Church Cove beach.
- 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.
- 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.
- Porthoustock beach is a pebble beach surrounded by old quarries. This is not so picturesque as other Cornish coves. The beach is popular launching beach for divers as Porthoustock’s proximity to The Manacles, a set of treacherous rocks by Manacle Point means that it has lots of shipwrecks. Limited facilities.
- 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.
- Porthallow beach is a sheltered pebble beach, once a thriving pilchard fishing village. The beach has plenty of rock pools at low tide. Facilities include car park, toilets, cafe and shop.
- 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.
- St Anthony-In-Meneage is a small beach located in a waterside hamlet within Gillan Creek. Popular for sailing and motor boats but limited facilities, just a car park and shop.
- Cadgwith Cove is an old world Cornish fishing village with two beach areas. One beach is the home of the village small fleet of crabbing boats winched up on the beach. The second beach is the swimming beach, a small shingle beach with rocks to climb and explore. The boat beach is easily accessible whilst the swimming beach is down some steep steps. The village had a lifeboat, starting in 1867 with a rowing boat and finishing with the Guide of Dunkirk in 1963. A little to the south along the coast path is the Devil’s Frying Pan, a 200 foot deep hole in the cliffs formed many years ago when a cave collapsed.
- Polurrian Cove a large south west facing beach with sand and fine shingle. Popular with families in summer due to its proximity to Mullion and several caravan and camping sites. This part of the coast has excellent cliff walks north along Angrouse Cliff towards Poldhu Cove and south towards Mullion Cove. Facilities include a cafe, with parking a 10 minute walk away in Mullion village.
- 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.
- Poldhu Cove a fine beach in a sandy cove that has sand dunes. Lovely coastal walks and excellent views. The Poldhu Wireless Station (remains can still be seen) was where Marconi sent the first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901. Beach car park and cafe.
