Porthgwidden Beach, St Ives - Best In Cornwall

Porthgwidden is the smallest and best sheltered of the well-known beaches in St Ives, a small bay of soft golden sand between the headland known as the Island and the harbour. It sits at the edge of one of the most visited towns in Cornwall, yet it is the quietest of the town’s beaches. The shelter makes it a suntrap, and that is a big part of why families like it.

Rocky outcrops on either side of the beach are good for snorkelling, and the rock pools are popular with young explorers at low tide. There are colourful two storey beach huts here, available for hire, which give families, visitors and locals a base for the day.

Porthgwidden is very popular with families in the summer.

There is no lifeguard cover on this beach, but it is overlooked by the St Ives National Coastwatch Station, which is manned by volunteers every day of the year. The beach is normally safe for swimming unless the wind is easterly, so check the wind direction before you go in.

Dogs are welcome on the beach except during July and August, when a ban applies between 10am and 6pm.

The postcode is TR26 1PL. The Island car park sits just behind the beach, but it fills up early in summer, so unless you are there at first light it is worth planning another way in. St Ives has several pay and display car parks within walking distance, and the beach is a short walk from the harbour.