The complete guide to visiting Holywell Bay, Cornwall
Holywell Bay is hands-down my favourite beach in Cornwall. Its wide beach and sand dunes give it a fun, windswept charm which I find enchanting – and, given its popularity, it seems that other visitors do too!
I have visited Holywell Bay on holiday every year since I was a little girl, and love every bit about this beach. Therefore, I’ve written this guide to help you plan your own visit.
Ratings
Accessibility: 3/5 • Safety: 5/5 • Enjoyment: 5/5 • Value: 3/5 • Overall: 4/5
Where is Holywell Bay?
You’ll find Holywell Bay on the north coast of Cornwall, the south-westernmost region of England.
Cornwall’s elongated shape has given it a rugged coastline full of stunning beaches. Therefore, it’s no surprise that it’s popular with holiday makers, dog walkers, families and surfers alike. There’s a lot to explore in this area.
The geography of Holywell Bay
Holywell Bay begins as a cove, flanked by a stream to the west and dunes to the east, which later opens up to a long beach for surfing. Families visiting for the day often camp by the stream as it’s a great place for children to play; the water is no higher than knee-deep at its deepest point and the currents are gentle, making it much safer than the sea. I have fond memories of playing in the little alcoves in the cliffs on the west side of the stream.
The dunes too are fun to explore, and you’ll occasionally see older kids riding down the sand on bodyboards. Just to note, the sand across the beach never feels that clean to me compared to similar locations, with wire sometimes found here, so tread with caution. It’s also possible that adders are present in the dunes (not that I’ve ever seen any!).
At the mouth of the stream, the cove opens up to a wide expanse of sand. This is the Atlantic coast, so expect big rolling waves perfect for surfing.
Caves to explore
Holywell Bay is best visited at low tide, where the beach extends outwards significantly and you can walk out to the west of the cove. Here, you’ll find caves ready to be explored.
The most fascinating of these caves is Holywell Cave, or St Cuthbert’s Cave, present far on the beach’s eastern side. Inside, you’ll find a “holy well”, in fact a natural spring which has produced tiered limestone deposits in all kinds of colours.
Last time I visited the cave, the entrance required scrambling over some few boulders, so it could be a challenge to identify – although you’ll feel quite proud of yourself when you do! You can climb up the deposits, and in fact there are step-like indents on the rock outside to provide easier access. There’s a little enclosed area at the top with a candle inside, which I find a bit spooky in the gloom of the cave.
I’d just make sure the tide won’t be coming in any time soon before entering any of the caves. Due to their isolation, it would be easy to get cut off as high tide approaches.
Islands and shipwrecks
It would be impossible to talk about Holywell Bay without talking about the Gull Rocks. This is a pair of cliffy islets which rise out of the sea opposite the west side of the bay and are probably the most recognisable feature of this beach.
I’ve always enjoyed seeing the Rocks rising out of the water. At low tide you can get pretty close and see a flagpole on the top of the left islet (I’ve always wondered who placed this up there!). The shorter rocks on the far right also kind of look like a cow… Can you see it?!
One other interesting thing to spot is a shipwreck towards the east of the bay. Apparently this is all that remains of the SS Francia, which was wrecked in 1917. You can only see it at low tide, sticking out of the shoreline – two posts and a short shallow body.
Do you recognise Holywell Bay?
Holywell Bay is quite a famous beach, as it’s used in plenty of films and TV programmes. So, if you think it’s familiar when you visit, it might just be!
Holywell Bay is most famous for being a film location in Poldark. However, it’s been used for multiple other shows, such as Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
Additionally, the past two times I’ve visited, they have been filming on the sand. I was here when House of the Dragon (the Game of Thrones spin-off TV series) was being filmed and have seen film crews here a couple of other times too. It’s always exciting to try to guess what they are filming, and to see if your suspicions can be confirmed by the car park attendants!
The amount of filming here does make it unique compared to other beaches in the area.
How does Holywell Bay rate as a destination?
As part of this blog, I give every place I visit a rating so that I (and now you!) can easily compare destinations and decide whether they’re worth a visit – those are the stars you see at the top of the page!
This is how Holywell Bay rated:
- Accessibility: 3/5 – like most places in Cornwall, Holywell Bay is only easy to get to if you have a car. The beach is a five minute walk away with sand and uneven grass sections, so wouldn’t be accessible to everyone.
- Safety: 5/5 stars – Holywell Bay is completely safe, with RNLI patrols present. Just be mindful of the time times when exploring caves at low tide, and make sure to swim in the patrolled areas of the beach.
- Enjoyment: 5/5 – have I mentioned this my favourite beach in Cornwall?!
- Value: 3/5 – Cornwall is expensive relative to the rest of the UK, and accommodation, food, drinks and car parking charges all add up in this part of the country. Holywell is no exception!
Overall score: 4/5
If you’ve already visited, let me know if you agree with these ratings! Just to note, the ratings are my personal opinion based on my visit, so you might have a completely different experience.
More: how I rank destinations using the Everywhere Ratings system
How to get to Holywell Bay
Holywell Bay is best accessed by car. It’s quite remote within the UK and, like many other Cornish beaches, is not easily accessible by public transport.
By public transport: you can get to Holywell Bay from Newquay and Truro using the 85 bus. Newquay and Truro also have railway stations.
By car: Head along the A30 (which connects Cornwall to the rest of England). I’d recommend parking at the National Trust car park along Holywell Road (£8 all day or free for members). As the National Trust maintains the beach and the surrounding wild land, the car parking fee is directly plugged back into the local area. From there, it’s five minutes walk along a sandy track to the beach. If the National Trust car park is full, you can also park in the Gull Rocks Bar & Cafe car park, which you’ll pass on the right side as you approach the NT car park.
By foot: You can access Holywell Bay using the South West Coast Path. The path heading in both directions offers panoramic views. If you walk from Perranporth, to the south of Holywell, you’ll pass through military land, close to a derelict training camp, around Penhale Point. Meanwhile, if you walk from Crantock, to the north, you’ll pass through protected wildlife meadows and another cove (Polly Joke – another one of my favourite Cornish beaches!), and, as you walk around Kelsey Head, you might even spot some seals. It’s a great way to explore the surrounding area.
Where to eat in Holywell Bay
There are two places serving food in Holywell village – Gull Rocks Bar & Cafe, and Treguth Inn. Gull Rocks Bar is right by the beach so gets a lot of passing trade from beachgoers – you can even see the dunes in their outside seating area! In my opinion there is a slightly unfriendly atmosphere inside, but I enjoyed sitting outside on the patio with a pint. Just to note, they only are open during the day.
The Treguth is located further into Holywell village, just off the main road. It has a traditional pub atmosphere, and I’ve enjoyed previous meals there. For a good dinner in Holywell I think this is your best bet! Make sure to reserve a table during peak season if you want to eat there as they were fully booked on my last visit.
During the peak summer months I have seen a food truck serving ice cream on the beach.
There are no shops in Holywell, so bring all drinks, snacks and picnic items with you! Fortunately, you can find free public toilets along Holywell Road, a minute’s walk from the car park.
Where to stay around Holywell Bay
Holywell Bay is within 15 minutes’ drive of other nearby holiday spots like Newquay and Perranporth, making it easy to visit regardless of where you’re staying in the area.
I particularly like Perranporth as a place to stay in the area as it has a range of pubs, cafes, restaurants and shops as well as its long beach. However, within the vicinity of Holywell you’ll find hotels, house rentals, holiday sites and campsites.
In Holywell itself, you have several good options, such as holiday cottages and campsites nearby. I’ve tried two of these and can recommend them both!
The first is Pennasville, a small holiday neighbourhood right by the sand dunes. If you’ve visited the beach already you’ll recognise it as those ugly grey terraces you walk past on the path to the beach; however, they’re much nicer and more comfortable inside, and you can’t beat the location!
The second is the Parkdean Holiday Park next to Holywell. I used to stay here as a kid and have very fond memories of the place. There’s a pool, an easy footpath to the beach along a stream, and entertainment in the evening. Whenever I smell palm trees (which were dotted by the pool) I’m reminded of this place.
What to do in Holywell Bay
Holywell Bay is a great place for all your typical beach activities. Here are my top suggestions on what to do:
- Try out surfing: there are decent waves, with the RNLI patrolling the beach throughout the summer. For beginners, a surf school runs lessons at the beach to introduce you to the sport;
- Race boats down the river: a favourite of my childhood, we had plastic boats which we would race down the stream. Who will win…?
- Explore the caves. The caves and coastline around Holywell are well worth exploring. Just be mindful of tide times and be careful around the cliffs!
- Walk out along the headland for dramatic views: head south along the coast path to Penhale Point for a close-up view of the Gull Rocks, or north towards Kelsey Head for some seal-spotting. Either way there are stunning views of the Cornish coastline.
Conclusion
Whatever your travel style is, there’s something for everyone at Holywell Bay – waves for surfers, a stream and sand dunes for family, caves for explorers and lots of space for dogs and their walkers. There’s no wonder it’s my favourite beach in Cornwall!
I hope this guide helps you to plan your own trip to Holywell Bay.
Do you have any questions about visiting for Holywell Bay? Let me know what you like most about it in the comments.
