The complete guide to visiting Perranporth, Cornwall
When I think of Cornwall’s many beaches, Perranporth, on its north coast, often comes to mind. It has many great features: a long sandy beach; waves perfect for surfing; and a town and coastline steeped in heritage.
I’ve stayed at Perranporth many times on holiday, and something about it makes me happy. I have no doubt that it has the same effect on many others. Indeed, to me it’s clear why this town and its beach is so popular with tourists.
In this article, I’ll give you more information about Perranporth and its beach, to help you plan your own visit.
About Perranporth
Perranporth is a town on Cornwall’s north coast, not far from Newquay. With a population of around 3000 people, it is fairly big for a Cornish coastal town.
And you can tell. Perranporth has a distinct resort town feel, with a lot of souvenir and beach shops aimed at tourists. Forgotten your flip flops? Perranporth’s high street has you covered!
Not only that, there are a range of amenities on offer which are suitable for both locals and tourists: a post office, surgery, pubs and restaurants, cafes, a butchers and minimarkets, to name a few.
However, without a doubt, tourists are drawn to Perranporth for its beach. Initially the beach opens up as a small bay extending from the town, where the Perranporth Brook meets the sea, the beach opens up to form a wide stretch of sand backed by cliffs and sand dunes.
In particular it’s notable for its long length. At low tide, Perranporth Beach connects to the neighbouring Perran Sands, forming a stretch extending more than 3 km long. It takes a while to walk to the other end, that’s for sure!
On the beach itself, there’s plenty of space for families to relax or play on the sand. It’s particularly great for dogs and their walkers, who can enjoy long walks and playtime with all the space they need.
A place for surfers
Like most beaches on this stretch of Cornwall’s north coast, Perranporth is known for its waves, which are great for surfing.
The RNLI patrol this beach, making it great as a playground for all surfing and bodyboarding abilities. Unfortunately, given Perranporth’s popularity, it can sometimes get a bit crowded between the flagged areas where the RNLI patrol. On the upside, there normally is also a second RNLI-patrolled stretch on Perran Sands, which, given the long walk to reach it, is likely to be quiet.
A positive for me (and many other beginners, I’m sure!) is that, given the business of the beach, you can always guarantee there will be someone less skilled than you in the water!
Perranporth, uniquely, is home to the World Belly Board Championships. Belly boarding is a sport, originating from Hawaii, whose spiritual home in Britain is Devon and Cornwall – similar to body boarding except the board is wooden and does not float. I’ve never actually (knowingly) seen anyone belly boarding, but I sure would like to try it!
Man-made caves
Like many other towns in Cornwall, Perranporth’s history lies in mining. The area around Perranporth has been used for extraction of metals like tin, copper and tungsten, and it’s certainly left its mark!
Perranporth’s name even derives from St Piran, the patron saint of tin miners, showing just how engrained mining is in its heritage.
Mining has also left its mark on the beach. On the west side of the bay you will see a series of man-made caves and tunnels, where mineral-rich veins were exploited during bouts of ancient mining. It’s an interesting sight for sure.
Events on the beach
It’s not only the World Belly Board Championships which happen on the beach. Things happen here all the time!
Perranporth has its own music festival, Tunes in the Dunes, which happens in May each year. The lineup is pretty good. We saw Craig David and Fatboy Slim here in 2021! If you’re in Cornwall at the time or fancy some music alongside the rest of your trip, it’s a good bet for a great time.
At other times of the year you’ll also find Bands in the Sands, a series of concerts held on the beach. There are often big names coming to perform here, so check it out if you’re around!
Perranporth is also home to the UK’s only bar directly on the beach, The Watering Hole. It’s a great place to grab a pint, sit outside and watch the many things going around you. Time it right and you can see surfboat rowing, groups swimming and jumping in the waves or some spectacular surfers. You can also eat here, but it’s a bit pricey and, given the threat of seagulls landing or sand sweeping into my food, I think I’ll pass!
Inspiration for Poldark
Perranporth is also notable for being where Winston Graham wrote the first of the Poldark novels in the 1940s. Although the town would have been quite different at that time, I can see how Perranporth and its sand dunes would’ve inspired him!
Nowadays, there’s a bench dedicated to Winston Graham on the dunes on the north side of the beach, as you join the South West Cost Path. Keep your eye out for it!
Perranporth, the town
The main attraction of Perranporth is the beach. I don’t really see anyone visiting there specifically to visit the town – I wouldn’t either.
However, Perranporth, the town, is the place to head to if you want all the required amenities on your doorstep. The presence of cafes, minimarkets, ice cream shops and pasty shops makes it super easy to keep yourself going on a day trip, whilst the addition of pubs and restaurants make it a good place to stop overnight too.
You’ll also find clothes, souvenirs and surf shops and a jeweller’s, making it a practical option if you’re keen to pick up trinkets to remember Cornwall by.
How does Perranporth rate as a destination?
As part of this blog, I give every place I visit a rating so that we can easily compare destinations and decide whether they’re worth a visit – those are the scores you see at the top of the page!
This is how Perranporth beach rated:
- Accessibility: 5/5 – Perranporth is one of the most accessible beaches I’ve visited in Cornwall. There’s step-free access to the beach, with a ramp onto the sand and bridges over the stream. Compared to other destinations in Cornwall it’s also easy to get to, with bus connections and Newquay Airport not too far away.
- Safety: 4/5 – Perranporth feels completely safe, with an RNLI-patrolled beach. I’ve only reduced the score as it would be fairly easy to get cut off on the west side of the beach.
- Enjoyment: 5/5 – I love Perranporth! Although there are nicer stretches of sand, you can’t beat the beach when nearby facilities and amenities are taken into account.
- Value: 3/5 – Perranporth, like many destinations in Cornwall, is expensive!
Overall score: 4.25/5
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.
Want to know where these ratings come from? Check out how I rank destinations using the Everywhere Ratings system
How to get to Perranporth
Owing to its remoteness, Cornwall is best explored by car, and Perranporth is no exception.
However, Perranporth can be accessed by bus from Truro and Newquay using the U1 and U1A buses, making it easier to access by public transport than other Cornish destinations. Truro and Newquay both have train stations, and Newquay Airport has domestic and international connections, making it fairly easy to reach Perranporth.
There are multiple car parks (all payable) in Perranporth. One is located right next to the beach and can get very busy, but is convenient and is also situated right next to the toilets, which is a major plus! You can also try the car park on Wheal Leisure, which is only a five minute walk to the beach and is normally not quite as busy.
One final option is to arrive via the coast path. The coastline around Perranporth is stunning, so if you enjoy hiking, walking between Perranporth and St Agnes (to the south-west) or Holywell (to the north-east) is a must-do. You can find parking and amenities at both St Agnes and Holywell which make the journey easier. Come from St Agnes to see evidence of former mining on the cliffside, or take the coast path to Holywell to explore the full length of Perran Sands and pass a derelict training camp.
Where to stay
Perranporth has plenty of options for accommodation, with hotels, campsites, holiday parks and holiday lets all available closeby.
When staying at Perranporth, I’ve always stayed at a holiday let and would recommend them for maximising comfort. However, they do normally require a week-long stay during peak season, so make sure you’re happy to stay in this area of Cornwall for the duration.
If caravans are more your thing, a Havens holiday park (Perran Sands) is further up the beach; it’s a longer walk into town but is right on the sand dunes, giving you great access to the expanse of sand extending north-east where things are quieter.
Perranporth is also close to other nearby towns and is easily accessible from nearby Newquay and the surrounding area, making it an easy day trip.
Where to eat
As a bigger Cornish town, you have quite a few options for what to eat. There are plenty of takeaways, pubs and restaurants to choose from.
There are several cafes and takeaways near the beach, which are great for daytime staples like fish and chips, pasties and ice cream.
The Tywarnhayle is our favourite pub in Perranporth and offers a quieter and more affordable option compared to the Watering Hole on the beach. The Tywarnhayle has a nice beer garden with beach huts for you to sit in, and the food is good.
Perranporth has a Wetherspoons (the Green Parrot). There is no luxury or Cornish feel here, but if you’re like us and avoid cooking whilst on holiday, this is a cheaper and still tasty option.
For a fancier option, try No. 4, a cafe and bistro near the beach. We enjoyed our food here – their chips are amazing!
There are plenty of other options to pick from to if you fancy a particular cuisine or a more local experience. Alternatively, if you decide to cook, you’ll find two Co-Ops in Perranporth, with larger supermarkets in Newquay and Truro.
What to do
Aside from surfing, paddling and shopping, many other pursuits are available. Over a whole holiday, who knows? Maybe you’ll be able to do them all!
- Swim in the sea pool. Or jump in the waves – it’s up to you!
- Get yourself to a festival. Given Perranporth hosts many events on the beach, take a look at what’s going on during your visit. Alternatively, why not time your trip to coincide with some live music?
- Explore Perranporth’s mining heritage. Take a trip to Perranzubuloe Museum to learn more about Perranporth’s history, admire the man-made caves (from afar) on the beach’s western side, or take a hike past many disused mines on the way to nearby St Agnes.
- Have a round of golf. Keen golfers may want to check out Perranporth Golf Club. The course has views of the ocean for an extra holiday vibe!
Can you swim at Perranporth beach?
It’s entirely possible to swim at Perranporth beach. However, the sea is normally quite wavey here, so don’t expect to be able to do lengths or actual proper swimming – jumping in the waves is as close as you’ll get!
However, there is another option at low tide. In the centre of Perranporth beach you’ll see a rock formation known as Chapel Rock, which has a flagpole on top. At low tide, if you walk to this, you’ll see a sea pool, which you can swim in. it’s not very big and the water is as cold as the sea, as you’d expect! Still, it’s your best bet for swimmable calm water at Perranporth.
Conclusion
Perranporth, on Cornwall’s north coast, is a great place to visit and stay. Its long, spacious beach is only complemented with the town, which provides additional amenities for visitors and locals alike.
Are you planning a trip to Perranporth? Let me know if you’ve got any questions in the comments!
More information
- If you’re interested in learning about World Championships, check out this blog post by Dick Pearce & Friends.
- Perranporth Tourist Information Centre’s website is a great source of practical information on how to visit, where to stay and eat, and what to do.
- Goat on the Road includes a great blog post that covers Perranporth.
