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Blue-Flag Beach
Lifeguarded Beach
Family-friendly Beach
Disabled Access
Beach with Cafe
Watersport beach
Accessible Beach
Parking
Toilet Facilities
This is the second-largest St Ives beach with glorious views out to Hayle and Godrevy Lighthouse, so maybe take Virginia Woolf’s book with you to read there in the Cornish sunshine, imagining her childhood summers here.
Inspiring Porthminster is just a short walk from the centre of St Ives, situated within a beautiful bay with an expansive crescent of sand at low tide and a worthy Blue Flag status beach.
Lovely, clean (and perfect if your accommodation is in St Ives) this is a fine family beach, attracting bodyboarders, swimmers and kayakers in its clear waters. There is a gentle slope to the sea’s turquoise waters, for easy paddling or gentle swimming.
Sand chairs are also provided by Cornwall Mobility and are available from the cafe which help to make the beach wheelchair accessible.
Beaches tend to attract those who sit and those who walk. This one suits both perfectly. Paddling, walking, or lying on the golden sand, this is a perfect spot to soak up the sun or maybe take a walk round to the harbour beach. In low season, it feels like a private beach. In summer, you could be abroad, given the generally mild climate in St Ives.
The waves are gentler here than at neighbouring Porthmeor. If not staying in St Ives, catch the train from St Erth, a 10-minute trip, to avoid parking in summer. Next to a pay and display car park and the station, it could not be easier to get to. The gulls are quite canny here though, so be careful if you are carrying food.
Here you'll find local tips on making the most out of your visit... from where to eat and drink to checking out attractions that are close by.
Categories: West Cornwall Beaches
