Chapel Porth Beach

I’ve travelled the world visiting tropical beaches in Fiji and NZ and nowhere comes close to Chapel Porth for pure dramatic scenery and surf.

I know a thing or two about amazing beaches having been born and raised in Pembrokeshire. This incredible, beautiful beach - with its caves, tin mine on the cliff above, beautiful blue ocean with great surf and a fantastic NT cafe - could almost convince me that the Cornish coast is the equal of Pembrokeshire. But not quite! Essential to time your visit at a low tide to get the full, wonderful experience.

Loved this tiny beach however I did get into difficulties in the water as its rough here but the lifeguards were amazing and there very quickly.  The national trust staff are lovely too.

I went for a walk with my dogs at low tide, the beautiful wild beach was wide and deserted. I watched as my dogs ran into a cave, when all of a sudden out of nowhere a massive wave came in and covered me up to my thighs, flowing into the cave and filling it, trapping my dogs inside and when I looked to my right the the sandy beach had disappeared. I had to rescue my dogs and get the hell out before we all got caught in the cave. I waded in up to my chest and carried my dogs. I still don’t know how this happened at low tide but the sea was rough that winter day and although it was supposed to be low tide, the sea almost took us. Do be very careful here.

Excellent in every respect. Small car park so limited numbers. No dogs after 10.00. Spectacular scenery. Discerning French beach cafe. Rock pools. Fantastic surf for the body boards. National trust so free car parking. Mega beach at low tide. Excitement in packing up as tide comes in. Lifeguards so safe. Walks if on the coast path for great views. Just doesn’t get better.

Yes 67 years ago I first discovered Chapel Porth Beach and I think this was before it was taken over by the National Trust.  I was 8 or 9 years old when my parents took me and my brother there on a holiday.  There was a kiosk selling Cornish Pasties and Ice Cream but I believe it burned down and was rebuilt. 
A hut at the car park entrance hired belly-boards for surfers for 6d a day (Six Old Pence).  I remember the life guards advising never to surf when the red flag was flying as the tide was ebbing and very dangerous.  Nobody was skilled enough to ride a stand-up surfboard then.  I remember belly-boarding in on an incoming tide catching a wave and when I came to a stop in about a metre depth the under-tow was frightening, it dragged me sideways standing up with my feet firmly in the sand and I shifted about 3 metres to my left.  So at the age of 9 I wasn’t really a strong swimmer but I can see how good strong skilled surfers love this beach.  Climb up to Wheal Coates and the views are spectacular.  Thanks to the NT who have kept it going it’s still a lovely spot.  Hardly anyone knew about it back in the 1950s so it seems we were there for the best bit!

Beach lovely.  BUT to be able to walk to Porth Towan in sand you will need really low low tide. Less than 1 metre.