Coasting it

Everyone loves a good old trip to the seaside. Whether you're armed with a bucket or spade, your grandma's wind shield or the surfboard you were lusting over the whole winter; Cornwall seems to be the consummate strip of sand. We at Substance have coasted it to bring you the ultimate in nearest and dearest summer havens. So grab your trunks and bikinis and join us!

Praa Sands

Pronounced indigenously as “Prah Sands”, this picturesque destination heralds a reputation as being one of the most popular beach breaks on the South coast, delivering fast quality waves. Good news for surfers, although an array of other selling points enables this beach to cater for an amalgam of tastes.

The beach itself boasts fine sands, perfect for comfortable sun bathing experience with rock pools at both ends. Its long profile enables a spacious environment for the unadulterated chilled experience. The further down the beach, the quieter it will inevitably become. Its exposed nature, however acts as a strong incentive to keep at least the bare minimum on, and the more “explicit schnilligans” to a minimum in the day, but later on as you will discover, the night’s darkness will inspire new levels of play.

Overlooked by the Sandbar Café, sustenance can be sought quickly, whilst parking adjacent to the beach enables one to slip into the life’s a beach motif with no sweat spared. In addition, surf hire next to the beach can be taken full advantage of.

If you loathe the prospect of being a captive audience to restaurant prices, then bringing a picnic or barbeque will certainly be your saving grace here providing you don’t mind humouring a militant entourage of seagulls.

Once darkness has crept in, the draw of the notoriously spooky Pengersick Castle gets illusively stronger. Only a stone throw away, it certainly lives up to its reputation as being one of the most haunted establishments in Europe, with a rendez-vous with Lord Pengersick’s ghost almost guaranteed on every tour.

Chilling in the day, getting spooked in the evening and partying at night, for a trip of contrasts, Praa Sands should defiantly be in your sights. Turn left at Germoe Crossroads on the A394 Penzance road between Helston and Porthlevan, Praa Sands is well signposted.

Kynance Cove

Is by far one of the more picturesque Cornish beaches and has been coined to be one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in South Western England. The beach attracting up to a quarter of a million visitors a year is indicative of this.

Upon arrival, there is ample parking and after a short descent down the cliff paths, a spectacular view awaits. Kynance is home to fine white sand, and turquoise water.
The cove has many nooks and crannies in addition to a small network of secluded caves enabling tantalising options for some romantic escapades. Needless to say there is enough to keep one gainfully entertained escaping the flip side of reality. The incoming tide however, splits the more further, more desirable section of the beach so keep an eye on the tide times before sea stops play.

Chilling it up here certainly is a defining quality, and the café located on the bank side caters for a quintessentially English taste, if rustling up a barbeque or picnic doesn’t arouse the imagination.

Just a little way south along the coast path is the wonderful, but under rated Pentreath beach, that is a mixture of sand and pebbles. A popular Kynance has transformed into a quiet retreat, although the quality of the beach is certainly not compromised here, as competing for a place in the sand is never likely.

In order to sample the exotic delights Kynance has to offer, follow the A3083 from Helston to the Lizard and turn right shortly before entering the village onto the road sign posted Kynance Cove.

Arthur’s Beach

Arthur’s beach can be regarded to be one of Falmouth’s best kept secrets. Located off the coast path just past Pennance Point between Swanpool and Mayenporth, this secluded gem completely shuts itself off from civilization and exemplifies its “natural inclination” to new limits. It is after all, a nudist beach! Or at least, this was the consensus I drew having been visually confronted by a fully naked middle aged couple walking their dachshund, aside from several other desirable, and not so desirable examples.

This pebbly beach boasts a tranquil ambience and remains quiet, heralding a perfect spot to relax, picnic or barbeque away from the rigours of everyday life or even to get entangled with a loved one in one of the many nooks and crannies the beach exhibits. The options in this respect certainly stretch the imagination, although how you conduct yourself in this naturalist oasis is entirely at your discretion. Its enclosed profile surrounded by high cliffs however, does obscure sunlight for a large proportion of the day, whilst the conditions are not exactly desirable for surfing.

Finding this hot spot is half of the fun; its position at the bottom of a steep, sandy path can be troublesome for the untrained eye. When “Arthur’s Beach” scrawled in yellow paint on the cliff face catches your glimpse, your arrival will be confirmed. Once found, never forgotten.

Maenporth Beach, is but a stone throw away from Arthur’s Beach and lies roughly midway between downtown Falmouth and the Helford River. It heralds another enjoyable chapter for those looking for a less populated alternative to the usual suspects of Gyllanvaise and Swanpool. Although business certainly up in summer, the added bonus of wind surfing and diving tuition diversifies the experience here, whilst parking on the beach makes this a most desirable all rounder.

Porthleven

This retreat has proved itself as being yet another Mecca for the discerning, yet relatively proficient surfer. Neatly positioned adjacent to the historical village of Porthleven, the beach stretches all the way to the Looe Bar at lower tides and is great to visit both in winter as well as summer. Accessible by bus, the beach views are magnificent and its size enables much space for fun and larks without intrusion as the beach gets quieter the further along one goes. Thus, brining sustenance in the form of a picnic or barbeque would be beneficial if in pursuit of a less intrusive spot, these being the further points away from civilisation.

The beach’s proximity to the village opens up a host of extra options ranging from jet skiing, to windsurfing to fishing for those looking for a little extra. Despite strong currents dictating swimming can be dangerous in some areas, swimming by the sea wall is a safe haven away from the rigorous sea currents.

Porthleven is three miles away from Helston. At Helston, follow the A394 around to the outskirts of town, and bear left at the roundabout onto the B3304.