Poldhu Cove

Poldhu Cove, whose name means 'black pool' in Cornish, is a sheltered sandy beach on the west coast of the Lizard about a mile north of Mullion, backed by dunes and reedbeds that have grown since parking on the beach was stopped in the 1970s. A stream trickles across the sand, rocks appear at low tide, and the cove is popular with surfers; lessons from former professional Dan Joel include a donation to the Trust's conservation work. On the cliff top at Poldhu Point, a monument and a volunteer-run museum mark Marconi's pioneering experiments here, including the first transatlantic radio signal. The South West Coast Path runs along the dunes. Reviewers single out the beach cafe and warn that the tide comes in fast. The car park is across the road, about 300 yards from the beach. A council dog ban covers the beach by day in July and August, but dogs can use the surrounding footpaths all year.