Pack your blanket and wicker basket as we’re going on a picnic! We pick 5 of the most family-friendly Cornish beaches to spend the afternoon lunching, paddling, sandcastle building and more.
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of but you’d still like to enjoy its beauty, you can do so from afar with a picnic on Gwithian Beach. Just across St Ives bay and a stone’s throw from Godrevy lighthouse, the beach is perfect for spending the afternoon snacking on sandwiches and watching the surfers catch some waves. There’s ample parking so you won’t have too far to carry your wicker basket, and there are sand dunes and lots of rock pools to explore.
With two miles of golden sands to discover, you can rest assured that nobody is going to plonk their picnic blanket down too close to yours. There are lots of activities going on at the beach to help you work up an appetite; from kite surfing and body boarding, to kayaking and more. Afterwards, dry off and spend the rest of the afternoon grazing with a picnic and enjoying the scenery.
Despite its renowned reputation for being busy, the further you move down Perranporth beach, it becomes less of a patchwork quilt of picnic blankets and much more tranquil. So don’t miss out on the turquoise sea and sandy beaches – perfect for building sandcastles! After an afternoon spent picnicking, you can walk off the calories with a two mile jolly along the coastal path to (so long as the tide is out of course).
With its soft white sands, gentle tides and sheltered location, Carbis Bay is a very popular yet peaceful beach along the Cornish coast. There are picture-perfect views over to nearby St Ives and Gwithian Beach, and when the tide is out you can reach (just make sure you have plenty of time to get back before the tide comes in). Beat the post-lunch slump with the steep walk up the hill from the beach – the scenery is well-worth the huff and puff!
For a family-friendly afternoon, Harlyn Bay is a hidden gem found along the North coast of Cornwall and only a short drive from the popular seaside town of . It is dog-friendly throughout the year, so you can bring your four-legged friends along to the picnic. Find a nice spot for your deck chairs, put up the windbreak and enjoy lunch whilst the children play in the freshwater stream and rock pools of Harlyn Bay.
If you're on the hunt for some of Cornwall's best beaches then look no further. We've got it covered . Or if you're looking for a pretty seaside town,take a look at our list of the .
