Are there any beaches on Cornwall where the sea is particularly dangerous ?

[LovelyYellowLabrador]

And best avoided

Thinking of going to kyxannce cove
Porth curno
St ives
Carbis bay

Excise any typos

The only place we got wiped out by a wave quite far in was Fistral! We were rockpooling, tide was very far out, the sand beneath our feet wasn't very wet and it came in and swept my 6 year old off get feet and nearly me too. We couldn't believe it, there were no other waves like it after either.

Penvounder beach is a near vertical climb down rocks on the last bit and in recent years got very dangerous due to the crowd congestion on the edge of the rock !
Need two free hands to climb down safely too, so can’t be carrying a child or beach ware etc

Hi OP. I grew up in West Cornwall so know the area well.

Porthcurno is an extremely dangerous beach. We went last year and were lucky with the tides so were able to go in the sea at extreme low tide. I wouldn’t bother with the tide further up the shelf. Pedn Vounder is a steep climb down and disappears entirely at high tide.

St Ives beaches: Porthminster is probably ‘safer’ than Porthmeor, but Porthmeor is well lifeguarded so is ok. Porthgwidden can be less safe too and doesn’t usually have lifeguards.

Carbis Bay is a fairly safe beach but may not have lifeguards as it is privately owned. Also do not plan to park at the beach or buy any food as it is a total rip off.

Porthkidney (between CB and Lelant) is less safe and can be prone to currents. No facilities.

The Hayle beaches can be nice, and have lifeguards. But are wide and face the surf. Ditto Sennen.

Crantock in Newquay can be dangerous because of the currents (depending on the tide). There’s also quick sand in places. Avoid the Gannel and west Pentire, they are popular places to get in trouble!

Wherever you go just look out for life guards and tide times.

Trebarwith can also be dangerous but it’s mostly idiots on the cliffs.

I know Cornwall very well. Honestly, any beach can be dangerous and unless you are extremely confident in your sea swimming ability go to a life guarded beach to swim and stay between the red & yellow flags.

Having said that I pretty much agree with most already said. Porthcurno has deceptive dangerous currents and catches people out every year. Likewise Pedn Vounder which is right next to it. If you want safe Porthminster in St Ives in a good bet.

@LovelyYellowLabrador

And best avoided

Thinking of going to kyxannce cove
Porth curno
St ives
Carbis bay

Excise any typos

Facebook for the local wild swimming groups and adventure groups. You’ll find a few. I’m in one for south Devon but a few ladies venture to Cornwall etc.

Ask there they’ll be straight with you. Some will tell you approx times groups are swimming and where they’ll meet so you’re not solo if that’s what you want to do and will share how access is. Some groups are happy to have people join who are staying on the beach.
What you’ll need is always reminded too (thinking of my local one) but they’re a good bunch and don’t want to see anyone hurt or lost.

They’ll still tell you how beach access is though if you don’t want to swim.

Oh and always always alway buy the tide times book for the area, not every beach will tell you the tides before you get onto it. Big tourists spots usually do. Tides can come in faster than you expect. Keep the tide times book on you. Phone signals and memory can be patchy.

(Sorry, fed up of seeing news reports of people caught out by tides when they could spent a couple of quid on a tide book and having the coast guard rescue them

You shouldn't even go close to the water at Loe bar, you could be dragged out in a blink. Strong currents and deep shelves. It's more a dog walky place though and gravel rather than sand. There have been fatalities of people swimming there.

List of Cornish beaches with lifeguards.

But I have friends who live in North Cornwall who wouldn't go to Constantine.

Agree with what’s been said - just to add though about Hayle Beach - it’s lovely and long and flat - at low tide there are little pools in the sand as the tide goes out such a long way BUT there is a nasty rip near the estuary mouth. There are lifeguards there though!

Marazion is usually pretty safe and lovely views of mount bay (on south coast).

Portreath on north coast is also pretty good - and has lifeguards. I don’t think there are particularly dangerous rips etc although it can be rough as it’s got the full force of the Atlantic. Good for body boarding though!

Wow thanks so much for this good advice
Decided following your advice to scrap going to porthcurno
Mainly because we are short on time and don’t want to go to a beach where realistically you can’t go in
I will be aiming to see st ives Carbis bay and Newquay
Thaks so much

Polly Joke (Porthjoke?) is usually safe, to the west of West Pentire.

Not Cornwall, but remember this?

www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/3858434.wootton-bassett-dad-tells-inquest-of-algarve-drowning-tragedy/

Just keep
Peddling that is a really harrowing account
That really make it feel real

Those poor people may the rest n peace for trying tosave others

@LovelyYellowLabrador

Wow thanks so much for this good advice Decided following your advice to scrap going to porthcurno Mainly because we are short on time and don’t want to go to a beach where realistically you can’t go in I will be aiming to see st ives Carbis bay and Newquay Thaks so much

Depending on the age of your kids, porthcurno is good if it's a day not suitable for swimming - the Telegraph museum is really interesting and there are iirc nice cliff top walls, look at the Minack theatre (go to a performance if possible too!).

@LovelyYellowLabrador

Just keep Peddling that is a really harrowing account That really make it feel real

The kids were in the same school as my kids. It rocked the whole community. And they were all good swimmers.