Many people’s beach fantasy consists of a stretch of soft golden sand next to crystal clear waters. Think the Caribbean or Fiji. But there’s no need to head to foreign climes to find this dreamy kind of beach if you’re in the UK. In fact, you can just head to Praa Sands, located near Porthleven and between Helston and Penzance on Cornwall’s south coast.
Praa Sands is over a mile long and stretches along the coastline in a curve backed by sand dunes, making it a popular summer spot for families as there’s plenty of room to find your own space. The beach also offers lots of interesting excursions for those looking to stretch their legs, such as the memorial to the Sunderland Flying boat crew who ditched their plane at the beach during the Second World War.
The beach also serves as a popular south coast surfing spot, particularly when the north coast is blown out. The waves at Praa can be powerful, so learners should take care in the surf or simply take the opportunity to watch the experts from the sand dunes.
Praa Sands is right next to a village that hosts a bunch of cool pubs and coffee shops, as well as stores selling beach paraphernalia that are worth a browse. So, Praa has all the ingredients for your beach fantasy day out… minus the palm trees perhaps!