Porthoustock Beach (Cornwall)
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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.
Porthoustock Beach is dog friendly and allows dogs all year.
Why not check other beaches nearby as we have no beaches around The Lizard, 215 beaches in Cornwall, or check our list of Cornwall Dog Friendly Beaches.
- Beach Water QualityWater 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 The Lizard 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Coverack has a beautiful seaside location and is another attractive Lizard village that grew up round smuggling and fishing. Protected by a tiny harbour wall built of local materials hundreds of years ago, and moors enclose the opposite side. Everything within the village. We have no dog information for Coverack beach.
- 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.
- 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.
- Downas Cove is a sand and stoney cove backed by grass topped cliffs. Not much beach at high tide but as the tide goes out you get some great sand and rock pools. This beach and some of the other nearby coves are popular for snorkelling. No facilities only accessed from the coastal path. Dogs allowed.
- Lankidden Cove is typical of the small coves around The Lizard, with fine sand broken up by smooth boulders and backed by high cliffs. No facilities and to access this beach you will have roughly a 1 mile walk from Kennack Sands. We have no dog information for Lankidden Cove beach.
- 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.
- Carleon Cove is a rocky cove approached down a long incline with cobbles along part of its length, then a bridge over a very pretty stream. Now deserted, Carleon Cove used to operate a pilchard fishery until the mid 19th century. The pilchard cellar buildings were later extended to accommodate a steam engine, used to power machinery for cutting and polishing serpentine, and a stream was deepened to allow flat-bottomed barges to ferry the products out to ships. Park at the National Trust Poltesco and walk down to the cove. We have no dog information for Carleon Cove beach.
- Bonython Estate Gardens is located on the Lizard Peninsula miodway between The Lizard and Helston. The estate includes the walled garden, the potager garden, two magnificent lakes, the hot garden, the valley garden and also a plant shop and refreshments. The gardens are open during the summer Mon-Fri excluding bank holidays.
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