Porthpean beach, a sheltered sandy beach with rock pools popular with families that can get busy. Safe for swimming, sailing and windsurfing. No jet-skiing allowed.
Facilities include toilets, small car park and slipway (sailing boats).
Porthpean beach does not allow dogs Easter to October.
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.
Our weather forecast for St Austell in Cornwall
Weather forecast from Yr, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK
Tides
Our tide forecast for Porthpean Beach in Cornwall.
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.
Polstreath beach is fine sand and split in two by a stack, the smaller beach is known as Little Polstreath. The beach offers good swimming and a quieter alternative to Mevagissey around the corner. Hard to get to for the elderly and those with young children as the climb back up from the beach is quite steep. No facilities, nearest Read more…
Dodman Point is a 400-foot (120 m) high headland that was once an Iron Age promontory fort. At its seaward end is a large granite cross, erected to help protect shipping from this headland. It is mentioned in the shanty Spanish Ladies. Below the large stone cross, there is a way down to the bottom of the small cliffs and Read more…
Portholland beach, a large sandy beach joining the two hamlets of East and West Portholland. Portholland has two separate coves at high tide, but at low tide they are linked by a sandy beach and some rock pools. Facilities include limited parking, slipway, shop and toilets. Read more…
Duporth Beach is a private sandy beach just outside Charlestown. Parking and facilities available at Charlestown and then a walk to the beach or you can get access from the Duporth holiday complex. Read more…
Caerhays Castle was designed by John Nash at the start of the 19th century, there are the Gardens and parkland with the magnificent camellias and rhododendrons for which the estate is world famous and the National Magnolia Collection which has a home here. Read more…
Carlyon Bay is actually three beaches in one, to the west is Crinnis beach, in the middle is Shorthorn beach and to the east is Polgaver beach. This is a popular coast location backed by cliffs just outside of St Austell on Cornwall’s south coast. The beach has temporary toilets, pop-up eateries and car parking although the car park can get Read more…
Porthluney Cove a sheltered sandy beach part of Caerhays Castle estate. The beach backs onto the castle and gardens. Facilities include toilets, car park and shop. Read more…
Portmellon beach is in a small cove with a sand and shingle beach at low tide. Facilities include pub, slipway and pimited parking nearby, more car parks in Mevagissey (20 minute walk). Read more…
Little Perhaver beach also known as Gorran Haven beach is a sandy beach on the most eastern point of the Roseland Peninsula, sheltered from the prevailing west winds by Dodman Point. Quieter than its neighbour Mevagissey, Gorran has a nice a stone harbour and quite safe bathing which makes it popular with families with easy access. The area has some Read more…
Charlestown is an unspoilt example of a late Georgian working port, still being used today. It offers two beaches on either side of the harbour. The harbour dates back to between 1791 and 1801 when Charles Rashleigh a member of the local landowning family, built it in response to the growth of the local mining industry. Originally built to export copper Read more…
The Lost Gardens of Heligan are one of the most popular botanical gardens in the UK. The style of the gardens is typical of the nineteenth century Gardenesque style, with areas of different character and in different design styles. The gardens were created and enhanced by members of the Tremayne family, over a period from the mid-18th century up to Read more…
Vault beach, also known as Bow beach, a wide sand/shingle beach backed by heather covered cliffs. The cliffs at Dodmans Point rise to 110m. No facilities at Vault, nearest at Gorran Haven. Read more…