With thanks to Tom Bastin on Flickr
Just over a mile from the beautiful fishing village of Padstow, and lesser known than the beaches at Constantine and Treyarnon, Porthcothan Bay is certainly one of Cornwall’s hidden gems. The beach offers a wide expanse of white sand on which the children can burn off that excess energy, while for the calmer ones amongst you, there are plenty of fascinating caves and rock formations to explore. Be sure to take your crabbing rod too as the rockpools are abundant with sea life and also make a great spot for paddling. While Porthcothan isn’t the best beach for surfing, it’s perfect for a calm dip in the sea, so why not take your trunks and swim to Trescore Islands? There may well be a few seals too!
Lifeguarded between May and September, Porthcothan is dog-friendly throughout the year and there is a little shop just around the corner for essentials, as well as conveniently situated toilets. From Padstow, head towards the B3276 for about 10 minutes, and there is plenty if parking to choose from closeby.
