Whitsand Bay

The magical super-clean, south-facing sandy beach is accented by sheer high cliffs and wildly dramatic scenery. Unreal views and clear seas make this spectacular. It is also generally quiet enough to feel like it is your own private beach. Here’s everything you need to know…

PORTWRINKLE WEATHER

Beach Overview

Running for three spectacular miles from Rame Head to Portwrinkle, Whitsand Bay is all wild horizons, soft sand and towering cliffs. At low tide the coves knit together into a vast strand for bracing walks and sand‑castle kingdoms; at high tide the sea presses to the foot of the cliffs and many access points meet shingle or disappear entirely. It’s a place of drama and space — sunrise swims on glassy mornings, wave‑watching on lively days, and big‑sky sunsets to finish. Here’s the list of main beaches that make up Whitsand Bay:

• Polhawn Cove (beneath Rame Head, eastern end)
• Tregantle Beach (Long Sands)
• Sharrow Beach
• Freathy Beach
• Tregonhawke Beach
• Finnygook Beach (Portwrinkle side)
• Hoodny Cove (by Portwrinkle harbour, western end)

Lifeguards & Safety

RNLI lifeguards patrol selected sections of Whitsand Bay in seasons, with Tregonhawke Beach being the most regularly patrolled.

Whatever stretch of the beach you are on always swim between the red‑and‑yellow flags where present, and keep surf craft to the black‑and‑white zones. This coast is exposed: expect strong rip currents, shifting sandbars and a steep shore at higher tides with a powerful shorebreak. Paths can be long and very steep — plan your energy for the return climb and check tides to avoid being cut off beneath the cliffs.

Whitsand Bay (Tregonhawke Beach) Lifeguard Patrol Dates 2025
Patrol times 10am – 6pm

• 05 April – 21 April (Easter School Holidays)
•  26 April – 27 April (Weekends Only)
• 03 May – 28 September (Daily)
•  04 October – 19 October (Weekends Only)
•  25 October – 02 November (October Half Term)

Surf & Watersports 

Whitsand picks up plenty of swell and offers classic beach‑break peaks across multiple coves. Intermediates love clean mid‑tide sessions; beginners are best on smaller days or with a lesson at a patrolled section. Bodyboarders will find quick, fun walls on a pushing tide. SUP and kayaking are for calm days only—launch well away from flagged swim areas and keep a wide berth from headlands and reefs.

For consistent surf head to the long open stretches at Tregantle (Long Sands) and Tregonhawke/Sharrow — they pick up swell well and usually bank up best around mid-low tide. Finnygook (Portwrinkle) can fire on the right sandbanks but is more fickle and pinches at high. Always watch for strong rips and, in season, aim for RNLI-patrolled sections.

Tide tips: Mid to low tide brings the widest sands and kinder paddle‑outs. By high tide the beach narrows to banks of shingle with dumping waves — great for watching, less forgiving to ride. Give yourself generous time to return before the tide pins routes against the cliffs.

Dog Rules

Whitsand Bay is dog‑friendly year‑round. It’s a favourite for long beach walks, so please keep dogs under close control around families and wildlife, and tidy up to keep these sands pristine.

Facilities & Accessibility

Facilities are scattered. Expect clifftop parking at access points such as Tregonhawke, Sharrow, Freathy and Tregantle, with public toilets at a handful of locations (seasonal). Access paths are often long, steep and stepped, and sections of upper shore are pebbly/uneven — this coastline is not well‑suited to wheelchairs or buggies. Beach cafés and kiosks pop up above some coves in season; bring what you need and pack it out.

Coast Path & Nearby Walks

The South West Coast Path rides the clifftops for huge, uninterrupted views. From Rame Head you can amble to Kingsand/Cawsand for harbour charm, or stride west towards Portwrinkle over military lookouts and golden headlands. Short out‑and‑backs to viewpoints give storm‑watch drama without the full descent to the sand.

Places to Eat Nearby

Cliff Top Café at Tregonhawke/Sharrow handle coffees, cakes and simple lunches with panoramic sea views. For broader choice, nearby Kingsand & Cawsand brim with pubs and cafés, while Portwrinkle and Downderry/Seaton add seafront options within a short drive.