Surfing and body boarding in England

The South West of England is the place to go if your want to get your feet wet.

Cornwall - North Coast

Holywell Bay, Newquay

A large sandy beach backed by sand dunes. Clean and safe with lifeguards patrolling in the summer months. A stream runs through the beach to the sea and there are caves nearby to explore. A perfect place for all the family.

Surf board hire is available to beach users.

Penhale Sands, Perranporth

Penhale Sands, together with Perran Sands and Perranporth Beach form a three mile stretch of golden sands. A large complex of sand dunes back the beaches and are fun to explore. Located in the dunes are the historic sites of St Pirans Cross and St Pirans Oratory. The beaches are popular with surfers and zoning is in place for water sports. Lifeguards are on duty between May and October.

Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes

Trevaunance Cove is a popular family beach with plenty to keep the kids entertained. The beach is sandy but is completely covered at high tide. The old harbour wall surrounds part of the beach with cliffs enclosing the other end. There is a series of caves to explore and at low tide you can walk to the neighbouring beach of Trevellas Porth. The cove is considered to be good for surfing.

Parking is plentiful and there is a café serving hot and cold snacks right next to the beach. Beach huts are available for hire and Lifeguards are on patrol from May to September.

Towans Beach, Hayle

This beach has great views across the bay and is ideal for sunbathing and beach games. Swimming is good but you should stay between the flags and avoid the estuary. There are also good walks across the dunes (The Towans) if you want to get away from the beach.

Beach facilities include toilets, cafes and lifeguard cover during the summer months.

Cornwall – South Coast

Marazion Beach, Nr Penzance

The beach is part of Mounts Bay, winner of Most Beautiful Bay Club. The beach is hard sand with a gentle sloping prospect making it ideal for families. Views to St Michaels Mount and the bay beyond are spectacular.

Seaton Beach, Nr Looe

The beach is located at the bottom of the River Seaton valley and is popular with swimmers and surfers It’s also close to the Seaton Valley Countryside Park for anyone who wants a good excuse to get out of the sun.

Beach facilities include toilets and refreshments.

Church Cove, Helston

A popular sandy cove, with plenty of rockpools. Easy, level access to the beach.

Maenporth, Falmouth

The beautiful scenery and shallow waters at Maenporth make it a perfect beach for all to enjoy. The low cliffs shelter the beach from the wind and the beach has all the usual facilities you would expect, Explore the rock pools and at low water the Ben Asdale, the famous shipwreck of Maenporth, is visible.

Portwrinkle Beach, Portwrinkle

A sandy/rocky beach situated just across the Tamar from Plymouth. Very popular with families despite the steep paths that lead down to it. There are numerous rock pools to explore and play in. The east side of the beach is good for surfing although it is recommended for use by experienced surfers.

Dorset

Hamworthy Park, Pool

Hamworthy Park is a traditional seaside park offering an oasis of peace and tranquillity from the busy town centre and wonderful, panoramic views over Poole Harbour and the Purbeck Hills. The beach slopes gently into the water providing safe bathing. There is a small Cafeteria that provides refreshments and ice cream during the summer months.

Swanage Central Beach, Swanage

This is an excellent family beach with gently sloping sands and safe sheltered swimming. Activities on the water include sailing, windsurfing and diving. Canoe and pedalo hire is also available.

Beach facilities include disabled access, toilets and refreshments.

Alum Chine Beach, Bournemouth

The beach is popular with families and has a children’s play area and a paddling pool. There are plenty of water activities including sailing, windsurfing and canoeing and the town centre and pier are not far away.

There’s good disabled access and beach facilities include toilets, cafes and lifeguard cover during the summer months.

Boscombe Pier Beach, Bournmouth

The historical pier and amusements make this beach ideal for the traditional day out by the sea. There is also a free kids club on the beach during summer and plenty of water activities including windsurfing, surfing, canoeing and paddleboats.

There is good disabled access and beach facilities include toilets, cafes, deck chair hire and lifeguard cover during the summer months. The beach is also just a short level walk from the town centre.

Bournemouth Pier Beach, Bournemouth

The beach is gently sloping and sandy, with no sudden shelving or rip currents. Visitors can partake in a wide range of traditional seafront activities and a land-train service links all areas of the seafront.

Bournemouth town centre, with ample shopping opportunities, is only a short level walk through the award winning central gardens.

Devon - North Coast

Croyde Bay Beach, Nr Braunton

Beach facilities include disabled access, toilets, refreshments and lifeguard cover during the summer months. There is also a convenient car park.

Saunton Sands Beach, Nr Barnstaple

The long sandy beach at Saunton has plenty of room for beach games and is the ideal place for a family day out. It’s also a popular location for water sports enthusiasts and the surfing is great for beginners.

Beach facilities include toilets, refreshments and lifeguards during the summer months.

Woolacombe Village Beach, Woolacombe

The vibrant beach is a favourite with families and has a broad expanse of golden sand and offers reasonably safe swimming. Activities on the water include surfing, windsurfing and canoeing and zoning is used to increase safety.

Beach facilities include disabled access, toilets, refreshments and lifeguard cover during the summer months.

Barricane Bay Beach, Nr Ilfracombe

A quiet sand and shingle beach, situated in an attractive rocky cove. There are lots of rock pools to explore at low tide and some of the shells on the beach have been washed up from the Caribbean on the Gulf Stream.

The only facility at the beach is a shop providing refreshments.

Hartland Quay Beach, Hartland Quay

Hartland Quay is set in a bay and has a small harbour. The beach is pebbly but there is plenty of sand at low tide. There are rock pools to explore and waterfalls cascade from the spectacular cliffs that back the beach.

Devon – South Coast

Wembury Beach, Plymstock

The beach at Wembury is surrounded by low cliffs and is set in a Marine Conservation Area. The beach is small and rocky when the tide is in but at low tide there are large areas of sand and lots of rock-pools to explore. The beach is popular with surfers and divers as well as families. A beach café, shop and parking is all close to the beach and there is also a Marine centre with plenty to see and lots of activities arranged to keep everyone happy.

Bigburyon Sea Beach, Nr Modbury

This South Hams beach has acres of golden sands at low tide, ideal for the family day out at the seaside. Shallow waters for paddling, rock pools for exploring, perfect for sandcastles, windsurfing, canoeing and boogie boarding.

Teignmouth Town Beach, Teignmouth

The beach is popular with families and its central location makes it ideal for the traditional day out by the sea. There is plenty to do and the beach has life-guards and first aid facilities.

Bantham Beach, Nr Kingsbridge

The sandy beach is very popular with families and has numerous rock pools and sand dunes to explore. It also benefits from good surf and is popular with both surfers and windsurfers.

Beach facilities are limited and the nearest toilets and café are about half a mile away in the village.

Beesands Beach, Nr Kingsbridge

A mile long shingle beach in very quiet rural location, backed by grassland and a freshwater lake. A sea wall protects the line of cottages and a pub that make up Beesands. The small village, with a public house and shop, lies behind a long shingle ridge.

Behind the beach and car park is the village green and freshwater Widdicombe Ley, both of which are important sites for wildlife.

Somerset

Porlack Weir Beach, Nr Minehad

A pebbly four-mile long beach comprised of a shingle ridge of considerable archaeological and geographical significance. There is fabulous marshland behind the beach, which is home to numerous birds. Popular for swimming, fishing, surfing and sailing, although care needs to be taken when swimming, and surfing should only be undertaken by experienced surfers.