Perranporth Beaches

Perranporth sits on Cornwall's north coast between Newquay and St Agnes, and this guide covers the eight beaches strung along that stretch of coastline - from the huge dune-backed expanse of Holywell Bay in the north, through Perranporth's own famous two-mile sweep of sand and the string of smaller coves around St Agnes, to Porthtowan, Portreath and the remote Basset's Cove in the south. This is Cornwall's mining coast as much as its surfing coast: nearly every beach here sits beneath cliffs and valleys still marked by the engine houses, chimneys and mine workings of a copper and tin industry that shaped the landscape long before tourism did.

Porthtowan holds Blue Flag award status for 2026, and Portreath holds a 2026 Seaside Award - two of Cornwall's most recognised marks of beach quality, both within this one folder. Perranporth itself, though it holds neither award, remains one of the county's largest and most popular beaches, backed by the vast Penhale Sands dune system and the historic St Piran's Oratory. Around St Agnes, Trevaunance Cove, Chapel Porth and the little-visited Trevellas Porth offer three very different, more compact alternatives, while Basset's Cove at the southern end is one of the most remote, undeveloped stretches of sand on this coast.

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.