Praa Sands Beach

Praa Sands is a mile-long (1.5km) south-west facing stretch of sand, dunes with rock outcrops at either end. It is a family beach with plenty of space, good surfing, and swimming.

For surfers, the beach has a better swell than its more sheltered neighbours, but this is a well-known surfing beach and can be busy on a good day in the area patrolled by the lifeguards.

Apart from the surfing, this is an excellent no-frills family beach with excellent sand and rock pools.

The far east end of the beach under the cliffs is Hendra Beach, and although it has a name in its own right, it is part of the large stretch of Praa Sands beach, although there are no facilities or lifeguard cover at the eastern end.

As you head eastwards down the beach, you can spot the famous Praa Sands Tree that was once above the beach but is now due to erosion on the beach itself.

Praa Sands has seasonal dog restrictions, not allowing dogs from 1st July to 31st August between 10 am – 6 pm.

Facilities include car parks, cafe/restaurant, shops, slipway, toilets, campsite and caravan park. Lifeguards present in summer on the west end of the beach and all year round on weekends and school holidays.

If you are looking for something more energetic and surfing is not your thing, Praa Sands is a great location to access more beaches and coves from the southwest coast path. Here are our best two easy options:

• Kenneggy Sands is a large dog-friendly beach to the west, an easy walk from Praa Sands around Hoe Point.
• Rinsey Cove can be found to the east, sitting under Rinsey Head and the old mining engine house used as a location in the Poldark series. From the cliffs, you have a chance of spotting some seals, dolphins, or basking sharks.