Porthcurno

About

Porthcurno, Cornish for 'cove of horns' after its strange cliff formations, is a soft white shell beach on a turquoise bay, backed by granite cliffs and crossed by a freshwater stream. Beneath the sand lies global history: from 1870 the cove was the British landing point for early submarine telegraph cables, and fibre-optic cables still come ashore. A gentle mile-long circular walk climbs past Second World War defences to views of the Minack open-air theatre, which Rowena Cade began building into the opposite cliff in the 1930s, with Logan Rock beyond. Offshore, look for birds, basking sharks and dolphins. Reviewers rave about the clear water and advise arriving early, as the car park fills quickly and the walk down is steep. The beach shelves steeply with strong currents and seasonal lifeguards only; toilets are at the car park. Dogs are welcome on the coast path all year but barred from the beach by day in July and August.

CoastWalking routesDog friendlyBeachPay car park (not National Trust)Toilets at car parkSeasonal lifeguardsDogs (seasonal beach ban)

Check today’s timesSee all times

Beach and coast pathSee opening notes

Opening times may change at short notice.

NT publishes no opening calendar for this open beach and coast.

Strong currents and a steeply shelving beach; RNLI lifeguard cover is seasonal only, and there is no lifeguard when no flags are flying. Risk of rockfall from the cliffs.

Access to the beach is by steep steps or a sandy slope with a rope handrail. Toilets are next to the car park; there are none at the beach.

PricingFreeFree for all visitors

Free entry for everyone

Entry

Free for everyone

Pricing details

Beach and coast path free for everyone. The car park is not National Trust and charges members and non-members; tariff not confirmed.

ParkingParking not known

The Trust's page does not say how parking is charged.

Parking details

Parking is in a large pay car park at the head of the valley that is not run by the National Trust, so members pay too. NT's trail page calls it a pay-and-display Cornwall Council car park (cash only); the current tariff and operator were not confirmed from an official source.

The map pin is the Porthcurno beach and museum car park (NT satnav TR19 6JX, entrance what3words waged.maps.predict). The beach is a steep walk of several minutes down the valley.