Porthmeor Beach, St Ives

A huge unspoilt beach with lovely clean sand and invigorating clear water, it offers vibrant bodyboarding waves, great views, rock pools, plus the town centre only a few moments away. Some say this great family beach is St Ives’ premier stretch of sand; they may well be right. Here’s everything you need to know…

ST IVES WEATHER

Beach Overview

On the Atlantic side of St Ives beneath Tate St Ives, Porthmeor is a broad, west‑facing sweep of golden sand with clean lines and big‑sky sunsets. At low tide the beach widens for games and rockpooling around the granite outcrops; at high tide waves rebound against the sea wall and the cove takes on a punchier, dramatic feel. It’s the town’s surfy heartbeat — lively on swell, blissfully calm on early, light‑wind mornings.

Lifeguards & safety

RNLI lifeguards patrol in season, flagging the safest place to swim.

Porthmeor Beach Lifeguard Patrol Dates 2025
Patrol times 10am – 6pm

• Daily 05 April – 02 November

Surf & Watersports 

Porthmeor Beach is widely recognised as the best surf spot in St Ives. Porthmeor boasts peaky, fun waves when banks align. Intermediates love clean, mid‑tide sessions; beginners are best on smaller days or with a local lesson. Bodyboarders will find quick sections on a pushing tide. SUP and kayaking are best kept for calm mornings — launch well away from the flagged swim zone and give the headlands space.

Tide tips: Mid to low tide brings the most room and kinder paddle‑outs; by high tide the beach narrows and dumpers can thump—great for watching, less forgiving to ride. At very low water you’ll uncover broader rockpools and reefy shelves at either end—don’t try to round The Island on the sand; return via the promenade or paths.

Dog Rules

Porthmeor follows St Ives’ seasonal dog restrictions, from 15 May to 30 September, 10-6pm. Outside those times dogs are welcome; when allowed, please keep them under close control around families and wildlife and tidy up to keep the beach pristine.

Facilities & Accessibility

Everything you need is close to hand: public toilets and seasonal showers, a seafront café Porthmeor Beach Cafe and beach kiosks. Access is via sloping paths and ramps from the town; soft sand and steeper sections near high‑tide banks make parts of the shore less suitable for some wheelchairs. Parking in St Ives is limited — use town car parks (e.g., Barnoon, St Ives Station) and walk down, or arrive by train and stroll from the station along the seafront.

Coast Path & Nearby Walks

From the west end, join the South West Coast Path to Clodgy Point for wildflower‑dotted headlands and huge ocean views. For a gentler circuit, amble via town towards The Island and Porthgwidden, or continue along the seafront to Porthminster — all with plentiful café stops and viewpoints. Golden‑hour laps above the bay are a St Ives essential.

Places to Eat Nearby

Right on the sand, Porthmeor Beach Café is beloved for tapas‑style plates and sundowner benches. Steps away, St Ives’ lanes bristle with cafés, bakeries and pubs for everything from pasties to seafood suppers with harbour views.

Rainy‑Day Options

Swap sandy toes for culture at Tate St Ives overlooking the beach, or explore the Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden in town. Between squalls, the viewpoints over Clodgy Point deliver moody seascapes without committing to a full beach session.