Gwithian Beaches

Gwithian sits at the northern end of St Ives Bay, where a near-unbroken three-mile run of golden sand and dune - known collectively as The Towans - curves from the mouth of the Hayle Estuary up to the dramatic headland at Godrevy. This guide covers the five named beaches along that stretch: the wild, National Trust-owned headland at Godrevy, the flagship beach at Gwithian itself, and the quieter dune-backed sections at Upton Towans, Mexico Towans and Hayle Towans closer to the town of Hayle.

In 2024, the Times and Sunday Times named this stretch of coast the Best Beach in the UK in their annual Best UK Beaches Guide, singling out Godrevy's iconic lighthouse and the sweeping Atlantic views across the bay. Behind the sand, the dunes hold their own layered history and ecology: a Bronze Age field system at Gwithian, a Cornwall Wildlife Trust nature reserve and the concrete remains of a Victorian explosives works at Upton Towans, and the traces of Hayle's former coal-fired power station at the southern end. None of the five beaches currently holds Blue Flag or Seaside Award status, but together they're regularly ranked among the best beaches in the country.

Each beach below has its own dedicated page with a full visitor guide - parking, facilities, disabled access information, a precise map, nearby things to do and places to stay - researched and kept up to date. Use the buttons above or the list below to jump to any beach.