St Merryn acts as the hub for seven incredible beaches, but the village itself is inland. This means “parking in St Merryn” really means choosing which of the bays you want to visit. The difference between a stress-free day and a traffic jam often comes down to picking the right bay.
For families and easy access, Harlyn and Treyarnon are your safest bets. For surfing, Constantine is world-class but notoriously difficult for parking.
Our Top Picks
Save time by heading straight to the car park that matches your plans.
- Best for Families & Space: Harlyn Bay Car Park. A huge car park (plus overflow field) right next to a sheltered, family-friendly beach.
- Best for Porthcothan (South): Porthcothan Bay Car Park. A reliable Council-run car park nestled in the dunes.
- Best for Surfing (With a warning): Constantine Bay Car Park. Incredible surf, but the car park is tiny. Arrive before 9:30 AM or be prepared to walk from Treyarnon.
The Large Beach Car Parks
These locations offer the most capacity and are generally safe bets even on busy days.
Harlyn Bay
Postcode: PL28 8PD
Capacity: Large (Field + Hardstanding)
Best For: Families, paddleboarding, and walking to Mother Ivey’s Bay (which has no parking).
Warning: This car park is run by a private company (Alliance Parking) with strict ANPR cameras. Do not enter unless you intend to pay, and ensure you enter your registration correctly.
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Treyarnon Bay
Postcode: PL28 8JR
Capacity: ~150 spaces
Best For: Rock pooling and sunsets. The car park is practically on the beach. There is a shop on-site and it connects easily to Constantine Bay via the coastal path.
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Porthcothan Bay
Postcode: PL28 8LP
Capacity: ~170 spaces
Best For: The southern end of the “Seven Bays”. This is a Cornwall Council car park, making it a reliable choice if you have the ‘JustPark’ app. It is located just across the road from the dunes.
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Limited & Difficult Parking
These bays are stunning but suffer from severe lack of space. Have a “Plan B” ready.
Constantine Bay
Postcode: PL28 8SH
Capacity: Very Small (~40 spaces)
Best For: Surfing. There is a small car park at the bottom of the lane, and sometimes a seasonal field opens on the right-hand side. It fills up almost immediately.
Tip: If full, park at Treyarnon Bay and walk the 10 minutes across the flat headland.
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Trevone Bay
Postcode: PL28 8QX
Capacity: Moderate (Split sites)
Best For: The “Padstow end” of the bays. There is a main beach car park and an overflow (Porthmissen). Like Harlyn, these are strictly monitored by cameras, so read the signs carefully.
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No Parking Bays (Mother Ivey’s & Booby’s)
Mother Ivey’s Bay: There is no public parking here. Access is via the coastal path from Harlyn Bay (approx 20 mins walk).
Booby’s Bay: No direct parking. Park at Constantine or Treyarnon and walk north across the golf course coastal path.
Guides
The best places to park in St Merryn
The best things to do in St Merryn
The best places to stay in St Merryn
