Five Stunning Spots for Wild Swimming in Cornwall
One of the things I love about Cornwall is that you can almost always swim safely somewhere. The trick is to know a good range of spots for wild swimming in Cornwall, and to learn about the conditions that make them good, or not so good, on a given day. From my house, I can be on the north coast in ten minutes, and on the south coast in twenty. That gives me plenty of options without having to go too far afield.
Some of these locations for wild swimming in Cornwall are a little on the adventurous side with steep cliff paths and steps to navigate. You’ll want to do your own research before visiting. I’ll give some tips for researching locations at the end of this post.
There are beautiful walks and picnicking potential at all the places on this list. I’ve also suggested other nearby places you might like to visit.
Grebe Beach
If I had to pick one swim spot for the rest of my life, it might be the Helford. If I had to narrow it down even more, I’d pick Grebe.
The magic of sunrise at the river mouth, the gradual sunset chill, or seeing myriad stars appear in a velvet sky. There’s never a bad time to be here.
Parking
Park at Bosveal. It’s a National Trust car park, so it’s free for members (take your card with you to scan at the machine). For non-members parking is £4 for the day, or £2 for 2 hours at the time of writing. The National Trust website has up-to-date parking charges.
It gets busy in the warmer months, so arrive early to be sure of finding a space. There’s an information board and map at the grassy end of the car park.
Access
Walk down through the wooded area and take the steps down to the road. Turn right and walk a short distance until you see the beach path on your left. It’s a clear, obvious path that forms a hairpin bend with the road.
The path is quite steep and can be slippery with mud at times. At the bottom is quite a big step down from the path to the beach – this varies as the beach changes.
The Beach
There’s only a sliver of beach at high tide, so it’s best to check tide times before you visit.
There’s a mixture of sand and smooth pebbles underfoot.
The water’s usually calm, perfect for swimming, and shallow enough for children to play safely at the water’s edge.
Other Spots Nearby
Durgan is a five-minute walk away – carry on along the road past the Grebe turning, and it’s the next beach you come to. You can also access Durgan Beach through the National Trust property of Glendurgan.
Or, after going through the first part of the woods from the car park, walk across the road and go through Candy’s Gate. You’ll find a beautiful 15-minute walk through a wooded area, across fields, and down to Porth Saxon. It’s often a little quieter here than at Grebe. Still good for swimming and picnicking though.
The Helford River is a great destination for wild swimming in Cornwall. Both sides feature beautiful walks punctuated by tiny beaches. It’s definitely somewhere worth exploring.
Porthtowan Mermaid Pool
I’ve got a soft spot for this one because I learned to swim here. The mermaid pool isn’t visible from the beach, but the flow of people on a sunny day soon shows you where it is.
On rainy winter days, you can sometimes get the pool to yourself. That’s a magic moment worth trying for. A dip here with the sea crashing beyond the pool wall and rain splashing around you is a special kind of perfect.
Parking
Porthtowan offers two options for parking. As you drive into the village, on the right-hand side there’s a village hall with a small car park and an honesty box. It’s often full, but always worth a look on the way past, especially if you’re in a smaller vehicle.
There’s also a big, pay-and-display car park near the beach. Like most beach car parks, it gets busy from Easter right through the summer. Early morning and late afternoon are usually okay though. You’ll need cash for the car park, there’s no mobile signal, so no way to pay without coins.
Access
It’s a short walk from the car park to the beach, along a quiet road. The road and pavement are often covered with sand. There’s a concrete slipway down to the beach. The level of sand changes all the time – at the time of writing there’s quite a step between the path and the sand.
The Pool
To get to the pool, start by having a good look at Google Maps. Set it to the satellite view and you’ll find it easy to spot the pool on the right-hand side of the beach as you face the sea. Don’t believe other online articles that say you can access the pool from the cliffs. That path crumbled away long ago, and it’s dangerous to even try.
Check the tide times – the nature of tidal pools is that they’re only accessible at certain times. For this one, access is usually okay for around two hours on each side of low tide. There are lifeguards at Porthtowan during the holiday season – check the RNLI site for specific dates. They’re always happy to offer advice, so ask if you’re unsure.
I like to go before low tide, giving me plenty of time to get across the rocks, swim, and get back again safely.
When you’re facing the sea, the pool is off to the right over the rocks. Go prepared for a bit of a scramble. Wear sturdy footwear and have a hands-free way to carry your kit.
You can get to the pool from the side, which involves a bit of rock-hopping, but there’s no significant climbing involved. Or, you can go to the front of the pool (the edge facing the sea) and climb up from there. It’s easier to see the pool this way because the straight, man-made wall is obvious. It’s a short climb but can be challenging, particularly if, like me, you’re not very tall.
The beach is popular with surfers and dog walkers year-round and with families during summer. There are rocks and rock pools to explore. There are regular rockfalls, so take care around the edges of the beach and pay attention to signage.
Other Spots Nearby
Chapel Porth, home of the Hedgehog ice cream, is a two-mile walk along the coastal path. The walk from Porthtowan is glorious, and the cafe makes a welcome stop before the return trip. It’s sometimes possible to walk along the beach to get to Chapel Porth, but seek the advice of lifeguards on the day, though. It’s never worth the risk of getting cut off by the tide. I try to time it so I can go one way on the sand, and the other way over the cliffs – both beautiful experiences in their own ways.
Lantic Bay
Lantic Bay, Polruan, is a beautiful swim spot if you’re up for a steep climb. It’s about a 20-minute walk from the car park, but the idyllic sandy beach and clear waters are a worthy reward.
Parking
Use the National Trust car park to the east of Polruan. It’s free for members, but take your membership card to scan at the machine. The National Trust page for Lantic Bay has details of current charges for non-members.
Access
From the car park, the route is clearly marked. The path crosses fields to start with and then descends steeply to the beach. The final section has steep steps. It’s not suitable for wheelchair users or pushchairs.
The Beach
There are no facilities here, so bring everything you need for your trip. Most of the beach is a fine smooth shingle, lovely to walk on, but not so great for sandcastles. There are no lifeguards here.
Check the tide times before you go. Lantic Bay is actually two beaches that merge into one at low tide, but there’s a risk of getting cut off as the tide comes in. The beach has a steep shelf, so the water gets deep quickly. It’s also common to find rip currents here, so make sure you know how to spot them and what to do if you get caught in one.
The water is generally clear and calm. If you’re up for a little bit of adventure and a steep climb, this is a beautiful beach for wild swimming in Cornwall.
Other Spots Nearby
While you’re here, why not make a day of it and check out Readymoney Cove near Fowey? Alternatively, you can take the coastal path from Lantic Bay to Lantivet Beach. Lantivet Beach is only accessible at low tide, but it’s worth a visit if the timing is right. You’ll find plenty of rockpools here, and it’s generally safe to swim on the incoming tide. Like Lantic Bay, there are no lifeguards at either of these beaches.
Goldiggins Quarry
If you’re craving a change from the seaside, try a freshwater swim at Goldiggins Quarry on Bodmin Moor. With so many beautiful coastal spots available, freshwater options for wild swimming in Cornwall can often be overlooked, but this is one you won’t want to miss.
Parking
Use the free car park near The Hurlers, in the village of Minions.
Access
Goldiggins is about a 20-minute walk from the car park. The path takes you across the moor, past The Hurlers stone circle. After about 15 minutes take the left fork, and keep going. The quarry seems to appear out of nowhere. One minute you’re looking at a scattering of rocks, and the next you’re faced with a beautiful swim spot.
The Quarry
The quarry is often busy with a mixture of swimmers and hikers. During sunny weekends and school holidays, you’ll see braver people than me hurling themselves in from great heights. You can also walk down to the edge and swim from there, which is my preferred option. As with all bodies of water, there may be submerged rocks or other dangers, so definitely don’t jump in until you’ve checked it’s safe to do so.
The pool is fed by an underground spring, the water biting cold and crystal clear.
Other Spots Nearby
When you’re walking to Goldiggins, you’ll see the Cheesewring up on Stowes Hill. It’s well worth a visit for the views, and, combined with Goldiggins it’s a great circular walk. The village of Minions has a tea room with excellent ice cream.
Portreath Tidal Pool
There’s something special about the tidal pools you find around the Cornish coast. Some are natural and ever-changing, and some, like this one and the one at Porthtowan, are man-made. There are several tiny pools cut into the rocks on both sides of the beach at Portreath, known as Lady Bassett’s Baths. The main attraction, though, is the larger tidal pool tucked against the harbour wall.
Parking
You might be lucky enough to find free parking on the road, particularly early in the morning. Do check signage for restrictions though. There’s also a large pay-on-exit car park right on the seafront which takes cards as well as cash.
Access
Access to the beach is down steps from the car park.
To get to the pool, which is accessible around low tide, follow the harbour wall down towards the sea. The rocks are often slippery with seaweed, and there are many small pools along the way. You need to be steady on your feet, and it’s sensible to have both hands free. Stay close to the harbour wall, keep walking, and soon you’ll see the pool. There’s a ladder attached to the harbour wall and steps on the opposite side of the pool.
The Beach
Portreath Beach is a popular year-round surf spot. It’s also busy with families during the summer months. It’s a mainly sandy beach, with lifeguards in the main tourist season.
Other Spots Nearby
We’ve already talked about the Mermaid Pool at Porthtowan, just around the coast. Gwithian and Godrevy are in the other direction. They’re both long sandy beaches with rock pools at low tide.
At Godrevy, consider walking around the point to Mutton Cove. If you look down at the cove from above, you can often see grey seals basking on the beach.
Researching Spots for Wild Swimming in Cornwall
It’s always a good idea to do your own research before visiting a new swim spot. Here are a few things I like to do when planning a trip:
- Look up the beach on Google Maps. Flip between satellite mode and the standard map so that you can see any paths you’ll need to take, and also get an idea of how the beach looks. It’s often easier to spot tidal pools using the satellite view.
- Check tide times and sea conditions. I like the Magic Seaweed app for this. For tidal pools, you’ll need to go around low tide. Any time you visit a beach you need to be aware of whether the tide is coming in or out. It’s easy to get cut off by the tide when exploring. I also keep an old-fashioned tide timetable booklet with me. They’re inexpensive, and I like to have one in the car, one at home, and one in my swim bag.
- Check the weather forecast. I also like to use the Windy app to look at how the wind is likely to affect my trip.
- Use the Safer Seas app to check for sewage in your proposed location. Particularly after heavy rainfall, sewage is often discharged into the sea. The app doesn’t have every beach on it, but it gives a fair picture of what the sea is likely to be like. Armed with that information you can make an educated decision about whether to swim.
- Use common sense. As well as sensible research before leaving, make sure you exercise common sense during your trip. The coast changes constantly as it’s battered by weather and waves. Paths that were safe a few years ago might crumble into nothingness now. Use your judgement to help you stay safe on the day.
It’s impossible to sum up all the wild swimming potential of Cornwall in a single post. I’ve tried to include a range of places here in different parts of Cornwall. For every wild swimming spot that’s made this list, there are ten more I could have included.
For swimmers who also enjoy walking, I highly recommend the book Wild Swimming Walks Cornwall. It’s full of suggestions for places to visit.
Where’s your favourite place to swim in Cornwall? Let us know in the comments.
Liz Barrett is a freelance writer from Cornwall. She helps holiday cottage owners attract more bookings with regular, fresh, location-specific content. Get in touch to find out more.