The Top Beaches for Kids in Cornwall
Published: Friday 9th Aug 2019
A dreamy year-round destination, Cornwall invites families to share cherished moments on sandy shores throughout the year. From expertly-crafted sandcastle fortresses ringed by protective moats to energetic games of cricket followed by cooling dunks in the sea to picnics of thickly cut sandwiches and homemade lemonade from the cool box, Cornwall’s beaches provide the perfect arena for holiday bliss.
With so many beaches and coves all around the county to choose from for family-friendly fun, it can be a little hard to know where to start. Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of some of the top beaches for kids in Cornwall, so you can enjoy sand-between-toes adventures with your little ones:
Gyllyngvase
A short walk from Falmouth town centre, Gyllyngvase is one of the top beaches for kids in Cornwall. Overlooked by a great restaurant and activity hubs offering water-based adventures, there is plenty available to keep everyone happy, from tots to teens. Book your children onto a stand-up paddle boarding course and watch them experience the joy of conquering the perfect balancing technique or simply spread out blankets and gather everyone around for a hearty picnic under the sun.
Perranporth
A huge sandy beach, Perranporth is an excellent choice for families of all shapes and sizes. Only a hop, skip and a jump from shops and eateries and affording ample space for everyone to find a quiet corner on the sand, you are ideally sandwiched between coast and conveniences. Take your little one by the hand and enjoy a paddle in the stream that cuts across the beach and let older children explore the fascinating caves and sea pool. Perranporth beach also welcomes fur-babies year-round.
Poldhu
Tucked into a sandy crook of the Lizard Peninsula, Poldhu is a great option for families with youngsters in tow. Served by an award-winning beach café with a menu of simple hot food and cold drinks and snacks, as well as an excellent surf school run by local man Dan Joel, children will be in their element making themselves at home with buckets and spades. For mini beach-goers, there is a shallow stream embedded in the middle of the beach that is wonderful for first-time paddlers.
Porthminster Beach
Truly paradisaical, St Ive’s Porthminster has to be one of the best beaches in Cornwall for children. A haven for all, from little nippers to Peter Pans, it rewards visitors with white sand, impossibly blue seas and a smattering of restaurants and cafés, as well as St Ive’s wider assortment of bistros and boutiques just a short walk away. Douse the kids in sun cream and look forward to hours playing frisbee, making sand angels and cooling off in the heavenly waters before flopping back on your towel and whole-heartedly embracing the holiday vibe.
Praa Sands
A long sliver of powdery soft sand, Praa Sands is a strong contender for the best beach for kids in Cornwall. With shops offering board and equipment hire, vendors selling deliciously thick ice creams topping crunchy, chocolate-dipped cones and a restaurant and bar overlooking the glistening waters, you can relish all the primal appeal of a day by the sea whilst still enjoying great access to high quality, child-friendly amenities.
Summerleaze Beach
One of Bude’s beautiful beaches, Summerleaze Beach is particularly popular amongst families with children for its superb sea pool. Part-natural, part-manmade, the sea pool is refreshed with each tide and provides safe swimming conditions for little fish and bathers still gaining confidence in the water. A handy advantage, the beach is also only a short stroll from Bude town centre so you can regroup and refuel in one of the great restaurants waiting to welcome you in later on.
Treyarnon Bay
Just around the corner from the surfing hotspot of Constantine Bay, Treyarnon Bay flaunts a gorgeous expanse of soft sand that gently slopes towards the sea. Backed by dunes and etched with rocky nooks and crannies, it’s the ideal adventure playground for little kids and big kids at heart. As well as Constantine Bay village, St Merryn is only a couple of miles away and Padstow is 4 miles away, both hosting a wide variety of shops and restaurants where your kids will be sure to find a sweet treat or souvenir.
