It’s all about family time at Kennack Sands, which sits on the more sheltered eastern side of Cornwall’s Lizard peninsula near the little village of Kuggar. This beach, which is blessed with a wide expanse of soft golden sand that gently slopes into the sea, is perfect for mums, dads and kids as it’s safe, spacious and served by a good few facilities.
Kennack Sands, which is pretty close to Lizard Point and being on the peninsula is also only a short distance from Porthleven, Helston and Falmouth, is home to a team of lifeguards over the summer but, even at times of the year when they are not watching over you, the waters here are pretty safe for a dip. The beach becomes split at high tide by a rocky outcrop known as the Caerverracks, which sits under a hill called Carn Kennack. The two stretches that are formed are imaginatively titled Kennack Sands East and Kennack Sands West.
Kennack Sands East is open to dogs all-year-round, although Kennack Sands West has a seasonal dog ban in place in July and August. Both beaches are super-friendly to kids, though. At low tide, when the sands join up, loads of rock pools make an appearance and they are are just great for exploring. A little further out to sea is also good for a spot of snorkelling.
Due to its sheltered position, Kennack Sands can become a popular spot with seasoned surfers when everywhere else in the area is blown out. However, most of the time, it’s actually a better patch of sea for novice surfers as the waves tend to be pretty mellow and make for a good spot to learn the art during the summer months.
Point of note: access to the beach from the large car park that’s past Kuggar village is down a narrow winding lane which can easily get jammed in the summer. A couple of large holiday parks lie just up the road from these sands so despite its remote location, Kennack does get busy during peak season. But if you like crowds, you can rest assured that this beach’s popularity is a seal of approval as it’s just perfect for families. There’s always a space to pitch the windbreak on the golden expanse of sands that’s well served by a couple of cafés and some clean toilets.
Another point of note: on the eastern beach, there are remains of a Second World War anti-tank wall, as well as some pillboxes on the hillside heading east up the nearby South West Coast Path. There’s also some history beneath the waves. Like much of the coastline around the Lizard peninsula, there are shipwrecks under the surface from days gone by. At low tide, remnants of old vessels can still be seen from the shore. That’s for the history buffs among you, just as the dunes and grasses behind the beach that create a unique habitat for wildlife and plants are for the nature buffs among you. Family, couple, novice surfer, nature lover or history buff: there’s something for everyone over at Kennack.