Porthcurno Beach (Cornwall)

Information
Porthcurno Beach is a beautiful white sand, southeast facing beach in the western corner of the very lovely Porthcurno Bay. The beach has some protection by the cliffs on either side but the beach has a deep shelf into the sea at high tide that adults would find a challenge and so care must be taken with children.
Facilities at the beach include car park, toilets, cafe and lifeguard patrols during the summer, with access to the beach along a hard path through the trees from the car park.
This is a popular location as we would also suggest a visit to the Minack Theatre in the cliffs to the west and if you have time to the east Pedn Vounder Beach and the famous Logan Rock. This popularity does mean the car park can get very busy as a number of visitors use it to visit the theatre and museum rather than spending the day on the beach.
Porthcurno beach has seasonal dog restrictions, check signs on the beach.
Why not check other beaches nearby as we have 50 beaches around Penwith Peninsula, 215 beaches in Cornwall, or check our list of Cornwall Dog Friendly Beaches.
Video:
Beach Water Quality
Water samples are taken at regular intervals during the bathing season and at the end of the season the water quality is classified as:
- Excellent: the highest classification meaning the water is cleanest
- Good: generally good water quality
- Sufficient: meets minimum standards
- Poor: You are advised not to swim. The beach will stay open and an action plan should be in place to improve the water quality.
Tides
7 Day Weather Forecast
Our weather forecast for Penwith Peninsula in Cornwall is split into two widgets. The first shows a timeline containing temperature, wind, sunrise/sunset and chance of rain, whilst the second shows the forecast for the week ahead including severe weather alerts when available.
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In this 'you may also like' section we attempt to answer what else can I do? Here you have a list by order of being the closest some more beaches, things to see and do, places to eat and upcoming events.
- St Ives Food and Drink Festival
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  The festival runs for three days at Porthminster beach in St Ives. Activities include:fantastic demonstrations from nationally renowned celebrity chefs artisan traders with high quality food and drink music performances children’s play area water sports activities
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- Porthcurno Beach (Cornwall)
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  Favorite
  Porthcurno Beach is a beautiful white sand, southeast facing beach in the western corner of the very lovely Porthcurno Bay. The beach has some protection by the cliffs on either side but the beach has a deep shelf into the sea at high tide that adults would find a challenge and so care must be taken with children. Facilities at the beach include car park, toilets, cafe and lifeguard patrols during the summer, with access to the beach along a hard path through the trees from the car park. This is a popular location as we would also suggest a visit to the Minack Theatre in the cliffs to the west and if you have time to the east Pedn Vounder Beach and the famous Logan Rock. This popularity does mean the car park can get very busy as a number of visitors use it to visit the theatre and museum rather than spending the day on the beach.
- The Cafe at Porthcurno Beach
  0.13 km
  
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  Favorite
  The Cafe at Porthcurno Beach is a family owned cafe and shop located on the beautiful Porthcurno beach. The cafe offers a selection of breakfast – coffee – lunch – afternoon teas and the shop stocks everything you will need for a family beach trip.
- Minack Theatre
  0.24 km
  
  1 Review
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  The Minack Theatre is Cornwall’s world famous open-air theatre. The Minack Open Air Theatre was originally constructed in the 1930s by Rowena Cade, who lived on the site. The theatre today has a Rowena Cade Exhibition that tells the tale of how she built the theatre with her own hands and from May to September you can see drama, musicals and opera in this most dramatic of setting. This is not just a theatre but a location and experience that should not be missed.
- Porthcurno Telegraph Museum
  0.55 km
  
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  The Telegraph Museum tells the story of how submarine cables from Porthcurno beach connected all corners of the world. The Telegraph Museum along with a large collection also includes the only complete working telegraph station left in the world. Visitors can explore:Eastern House, home to the World’s biggest telegraph station from the turn of the 20th Century. Grade II listed Cable House where the global network of cables came ashore. Secret World War Two tunnels, built to protect this critical communications hub from attack. The museum is open daily from Easter until the end of October and at various other times throughout the winter.
- Pedn Vounder Beach
  0.6 km
  
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  Pedn Vounder beach is sandy with the cliffs of Treryn Dinas. The eastern headland of the beach is the location of Logan’s Rock, a rectangular block of granite which can be rocked back and forth by one person. At high tide, the beach disappears. As the name suggests ‘pedn’ (head, end) and ‘vounder’ (road) this is a beach with no facilities. The beach is not easy to get to as it is not close to any car parks and the final stage of descent from the cliff path requires some climbing down steep rocks at the western end.
- Porthchapel Beach
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  Porthchapel beach is sandy that requires a half-mile walk through a wooded valley. There are no facilities and car park is a field by St. Levan Church.
- Logans Rock
  1 km
  
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  The Logan Rock is an example of a logan or rocking stone. The rock is an eighty ton granite boulder perched on the edge of the cliffs. Finely balanced due to the actions of weathering, and prior to its restoration in 1824 it could be rocked by applying only a little pressure. The name Logan Rock is also applied to the surrounding tip of the headland, as well as the logan stone itself. Cripp’s Cove lies to the east beneath the rock. The headland is also an Iron Age promontory fort called Treryn Dinas, defended by three ramparts. A number of islands are located around the edge of Logan Rock including Great Goular, Horrace, and Seghy.
- Penberth Cove Beach
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  Penberth Cove is a small fishing village with pebble beach. The village still supports a small fishing fleet and you will see these pulled up onto the beach. You do have space for a few cars but most people will see Penberth Cove whilst walking the spectacular cliff paths that passes through the Cove.
- Porthgwarra Beach
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  Porthgwarra beach is a secluded small beach located within a small fishing village. Time your visit correctly as only a small beach available at low tide with an array of interesting rock pools and caves. One cave runs through part of the cliff; there is a rope to hang on to as it’s slippery. Facilities include parking in the village and the beach has toilets and shop.
- Porth Loe Beach
  2.32 km
  
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  Porth Loe beach has no sand and is formed only of boulders. No facilities and very hard to get to. We have no dog information for Porth Loe beach.
- Nanjizal Beach
  3.3 km
  
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  Nanjizal beach is sand with boulders and caves. The beach never gets busy as it has no facilities and hard to reach, with access being by foot along the coast path.
- St Loy Beach
  3.72 km
  
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  Favorite
  St Loy beach has no sand the area is covered with rounded granite boulders and trees above the cove. No facilities. We have no dog information for St Loy beach.
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Where can I stay ...
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What do others think ...
1 Review on “Porthcurno Beach (Cornwall)”
- Anonymous
  
  3 years ago
  Perfect after a Minack visit
  Good beach and protected by the high cliffs. The sea steeps very quickly and was a problem for smaller children and we were quite nervous.
  The road access was a pain as we got stuck on narrow lanes between tractors and buses.
  Overall a great stop off when combined with a trip to Minack Theatre but not sure if I would just visit the beach.
  Reply ↓
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