on 15/04/2020
The Blue Flag is a world-renowned award that is awarded to beaches based on their cleanliness and safety for the people that use them and also to protect the environment.
There are 7 beaches in Cornwall that have been listed as Blue Flag beaches in 2020.
Just a 5-minute train ride along the coast from St Ives, Carbis Bay Beach is a golden sandy beach that at low tide, is about a mile long. It is popular amongst families, with its’ sheltered location offering calm waters for swimming. It is a privately-owned beach that can be accessed by the public. It has public toilets, a pay and display car park and you can rent beach equipment from the outdoor sports centre on the beach.
This Blue Flag beach is lifeguarded during peak season.
During peak season, dogs are banned on Carbis Bay Beach between 10am and 6pm during peak season (new restrictions for 2020).
Great Western Beach is one of four beaches in Newquay and is the only one in Newquay that has a Blue Flag status. It is popular with both surfers and families. The beach is fantastic for surfing and at low tide, you can explore the rockpools. You can walk to the connecting beaches, Tolcarne Beach and Lusty Glaze at low tide too, but do check the tide times prior to exploring the area, as you can get cut off by the tide.
The Blue Flag beach has access to toilets, cafés and you can hire beach equipment such as deck chairs and surfboards too. There is parking nearby at the train station in Newquay, which is pay and display.
Great Western Beach is lifeguarded during peak season.
Dogs are allowed on this Blue Flag beach all year round.
The Blue Flag awarded Gyllngvase Beach is located in Falmouth. Just a short drive or walk from the town centre, you will find the wide arc of golden sand and inviting turquoise waters of Gyllngvase Beach.
The beach has fantastic amenities. You can hire beach equipment, including stand up Paddleboards from Cornwall’s first dedicated centre operating from the beach, WESUP. The beach has access to public toilets, just 20 yards from the beach. There is also a pay and display carpark not far from the beach.
There is also the popular Gylly Beach Café, which looks over the beautiful beach. It is open all year round and it prides itself for its use of fresh, local ingredients and its delicious contemporary menu. Adjacent to the café, there is a small building that is open during the warmer months that sells takeaway goodies, including ice creams and refreshing drinks.
Gyllngvase Beach is lifeguarded during peak season.
Gyllngvase Beach has a seasonal dog ban in place during peak season, between 10am and 6pm (new restrictions for 2020).
Porthmeor Beach is one of St Ives’ finest beaches, with its Blue Flag status, golden sand and fantastic facilities. Its location takes full force of the Atlantic Ocean, making it a great destination for those looking to learn to surf, which you can do so with the surf school located on the beach. The beach is also overlooked by the famous Tate St Ives gallery.
Porthmeor Beach has a brilliant beachside café, a pay and display car park above the beach and access to public toilets by the car park.
This beach is lifeguarded during peak season.
Porthmeor Beach has a seasonal dog ban in place during peak season, between 10am and 6pm.
Porthtowan Beach is located on the north coast of Cornwall and is a beach that at low tide, stretches out to nearly 1.5 miles. Set within a valley, this beach is great for exploring the high cliffs either side, as well as being popular amongst surfers.
As well as being renowned for its’ Blue Flag status, the beach has a popular beachside bar, the “Blue Bar”, which serves good local food and drink. It is also a fantastic location for sunset watching! There are some small seasonal shops next to the Blue Bar and there is a short walk into the village for other local amenities. The beach has a nearby pay and display car park with public toilets in the car park too. From the car park, there is easy disabled access to the beach.
Porthtowan Beach is lifeguarded during peak season.
There is a seasonal dog ban in place during peak season, between 10am and 6pm (new restrictions for 2020).
Trevone Bay in Padstow is a sandy beach that is surrounded by cliffs and has good marine wildlife. It is popular amongst surfers, with the cove producing fantastic waves at low to mid tide. The waters to the right of the beach can produce powerful rip currents, so do be careful to not venture too close and always stay within the flags put in place by the lifeguards.
The beach backs onto the village of Trevone, so there is access to amenities that aren’t far from the beach itself. On the beach, there is a café, a shop and public toilets. There are two large pay and display car parks either side of the beach.
There is a seasonal dog ban in place during peak season, between 10am and 6pm (new restrictions for 2020).
The beach is lifeguarded during peak season.
The golden sands of Widemouth Bay stretch across 2 miles of wide beach. Its’ west-facing location makes it popular amongst surfers, as it takes the full force of the Atlantic Ocean, creating some fantastic waves. There are also some great rockpools to explore at this beach at low tide.
There is free parking at both the north and south end of Widemouth Bay. The beach has access to public toilets with showers, beach cafés and also surf hire facilities.
Dogs are allowed all year round at Black Rock. At Widemouth Bay, there is a seasonal dog ban in place between 10am and 6pm during peak season.
