Safe, spacious, surfy and fun in the sun. That pretty much sums up one of Cornwall’s most famous beaches. Harlyn Bay has something for everyone.
The beach at Harlyn Bay sits on Cornwall’s north coast, a few miles away from Padstow, not too far from Newquay and just outside the little village of Harlyn. Many call it the best family beach in the county due to its versatility and its sheer amount of space. It’s super-clean on these golden-yellow sands and the views across the wide crescent bay are stunning. For the kids, there are rock pools aplenty and it’s all backed by sand dunes.
Safety is a key feature at Harlyn Bay. There are hardly any rip currents out in the water so that means that swimmers of all ages can enjoy a dip and young surfers can enjoy some superb waves. In fact, there are a few surf schools that help novices so this is a really good place to start out if you want to get into the sport. Adding to that safety factor is the excellent lifeguard cover throughout the summer.
There are also decent facilities for food and drink next to the beach, as well as toilets. Plus, once you’re done in those waves, there are some fab walks around the Trevose Head area that the bay sits on. Dogs are also welcome on the sands all year round. And here’s an interesting fact: there are remains of an iron age cemetery that was discovered over 100 years ago below the beach. So yeah, history, safe waters, space, rockpools and beautiful sands: Harlyn Bay really is a beach for everyone.