About
Carne and Pendower are two sandy beaches side by side on the south coast of the Roseland peninsula, cared for by the National Trust and joined into one long strand at low tide, with rock pools to explore. Both have car parks and seasonal toilets. Nare Head, the headland to the east, hides a Cold War bunker that began as a Royal Observer Corps post, a Second World War decoy bunker and the ruin of Mallet's Cottage, a fisherman's home from around the 17th century. Inland lie Veryan Castle, an Iron Age earthwork known locally as Ringarounds, and Carne Beacon, a Bronze Age barrow where legend says King Gerent was buried in a golden boat. Reviewers praise the safe bathing and the views, and warn that the lane down to Carne is narrow and the car park steep. Dogs are welcome under close control, on a lead on the beaches in summer. The 4-mile Carne Beach to Nare Head circular walk starts from Carne car park.
Check today’s timesSee all times
- CoastlineDawn to dusk
Opening times may change at short notice.
The National Trust calendar shows the coastline open dawn to dusk every day through to the end of 2027; the car parks keep the same hours.
Seasonal toilets at both Carne and Pendower close at night and close for the winter from 3 November 2026; the accessible toilet at Carne is open all year.
A concession catering van trades at Carne in the warmer months only. Access to both beaches is uneven, with steps and ramps, and the coast paths have slopes and uneven ground.
Dogs are welcome across the whole site under close control; local byelaws require leads on the beaches in summer, and the Trust asks for a short lead on the headlands and coast path to protect wildlife. Do not leave dogs in the car, as the car park offers little shade.
Photo: Pendower Beach. Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pendower_Beach_(9152).jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
Dogs at the location: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs are welcome across the whole site under close control; local byelaws require them on a lead on the beaches in summer, and the Trust asks for a short lead to limit wildlife disturbance.
Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed. Dogs can walk the headlands, coast path and beaches all year on a short lead, with leads around the sheep and cattle grazing the Nare Head circular walk; free access, no ticket needed.
Leads: Close control at all times; short lead asked for; on a lead on the beaches in summer (byelaw) and around livestock on the circular walk.
Seasonal dog restrictions: Leads required on the beaches in summer under local byelaws; no dated ban is published by the Trust.
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Walking routes2 routes
Carne Beach to Nare Head circular walk(opens the full route on the National Trust site)
WalkmoderateDogs, with restrictions6.4 km
