Beaches at their best!

The beaches of West Cornwall are amongst the most beautiful in Europe and are noted for their clean and sparkling sea water and their outstanding beach facilities.

Major beaches such as Porthmeor and Porthminster at St Ives, Sennen beach near Land's End, and Marazion beach have been regular BLUE FLAG and SEASIDE award winners for cleanliness and for top quality facilities. In 2006 Carbis Bay beach has also been awarded a BLUE FLAG and SEASIDE award.

There are beaches in the area to suit everyone's needs. At all the main beaches you can laze on silky soft sand and swim in crystal clear seas that match the best that the Mediterranean, and even the Caribbean, can offer. For families and very young children, the easily accessible Marazion Beach, Porthminster at St Ives, and Carbis Bay Beaches are ideal.

If you are looking for exciting water sports then you can ride the Atlantic swells with surfboard and bodyboard on Porthmeor at St Ives, and Gwenver at Sennen, beaches that are recognised world-wide as top surf venues.

For windsurfing, Marazion and Hayle have international reputations and even the newer action sports, such as kite surfing are "taking off" in a big way in West Cornwall.

The Lifesaving Service is operated by the local authority, Penwith District Council, and is proud to have one of the biggest team of lifeguards in Britain and all the main beaches have excellent cover during daytime in the summer. It is always recommended you check that the beach you intend to go to has lifeguard cover.

Beautiful Penwith