There are so many great beaches in Cornwall that sometimes it becomes hard to decide where to go, especially if you are looking for a beach to explore with babies or toddlers. That is why we have pulled together a list of beaches that are accessible, offer easy parking, have toilets/baby changing facilities nearby, and a cafe or shop to buy some drinks or snacks. What is more, all of these beaches are covered with golden sand suitable for building sandcastles.
Polzeath beach – Polzeath
Polzeath beach, one of eight beaches in Cornwall that have received the Blue Flag Award, is a super friendly beach. It has a large expanse of golden sand: at low tide, the soft sand extends for a ¼ mile in either direction – ideal conditions for building sandcastles. Also, there are plenty of rock pools to discover at the beach, so children are always entertained. What is more, Polzeath beach attracts such amazing creatures as dolphins and common seals. Children love watching them!
Polzeath beach is easily accessible: it has a level access from the car park. Swimming on the beach is safe, as there is a lifeguard cover from Easter until 30 September. Nevertheless, when it comes to swimming, Polzeath’s little sister beach known as New Polzeath becomes a better option. It is less competitive and is considered to be a favored location for swimming away from the surfboards popular on Polzeath beach.
There is the Waterfront Cafe Bar situated right on the beach, so during the main holiday season, you can always get some refreshments or snacks. What is more, there are numerous shops and cafes nearby, ar the village street. The best thing is that you can always enjoy some drink in one of cafes or pubs situated nearby the beach when high tides come and the beach gets almost covered.
Porth beach – Newquay
Porth beach is a lovely beach situated on the outskirts of Newquay to enjoy with little ones. This sandy paradise is sheltered by beautiful headlands, providing its visitors with charming views. Thanks to the level access situated at the left entrance, the beach is easily accessible, so you can even allow your kid to allow a ride on a bike.
What is more, the beach is safe for swimming, both for adults and buggies. Safe bathing is guaranteed both by shallow steam on the beach and lifeguard cover provided from May to September. Also, the beach offers a plenty of rockpools and caves to explore. If you get hungry, there are some lovely cafes to enjoy some snacks and refreshments. There is even a pub where you can treat yourself with fresh Cornish seafood and enjoy a sunset with a glass of beer or wine.
Summerleaze beach – Bude
Summerleaze beach, situated just about 5 minutes walk from the center of Bude, is a perfect place to enjoy with children. The beach is an absolutely unique place: there are great sand dunes to explore right next to the car park, there is an access to the river where you can always see a plenty of lovely boats, there is an impressive breakwater that shelters this sandy paradise, as well as there are some charming beach huts available for daily or weekly rent. All these make Summerleaze beach on of the best beaches in Cornwall to enjoy with children.
Thanks to the lifeguard cover provided over the Easter weekend and from 1st May until 30th September, the beach is safe for swimming. There is a great bonus for little ones nestled at the foot of the cliffs: part man-made and part natural rock pool with salt waters cleaned by daily tides. Since 1930, the pool is very popular among buggy brigade.
Beach facilities include level access with a flat viewing area, RNLI boat station and shop, toilets, changing areas, showers, windbreak hire, sandy play area and beach cafe.
East Looe beach – Looe
East Looe beach, a lovely bucket and spade style beach is one of the greatest beaches offered by the tranquil south-east coast of Cornwall. The beach is easily accessible, and for this reason, it is very popular both among holidaymakers and those who want to enjoy beach rest with little ones. The beach offers a lot of sand great for building sand castles, safe swimming, lots of cafes to enjoy ice cream and vibrant town with cafes, restaurants, and shops just behind the beach. There is also substantial sea defenses – a great place to enjoy charming views and watch the world go by.
Thanks to the perfect location of the beach, it can offer a lot of entertainments, including some unique ones such as boat trips to the beautiful Looe island and trips on a glass bottom boat from where you can observe the marvels of local marine life. What is more, buggies will be happy to enjoy crabbing nearby harbor walls of the unusually shaped Banjo Pier situated next to the beach, while adults can watch some fishing boats.
Gyllyngvase beach – Falmouth
Gyllyngvase beach, one of the most popular beaches in Cornwall and one of eight beaches in the county with a Blue Flag Award, is situated just 10 minutes walk from the center of Falmouth. White sands of the beach with numerous rockpools to explore make Gyllyngvase a great place to enjoy with little ones. Low tides make it possible to watch such sea creatures as shrimps, crabs, and squat lobsters.
The beach is clean and safe. There is a lifeguard cover provided from Easter to the end of September. Gylly has a flat access and some facilities that make it a perfect spot for families with children, including parking and toilet situated just about 20 yards away from the beach. There is also a famous Gylly Beach Cafe that offers fantastic views from a terrace and no less fantastic food.