Portholland

The last couple of miles to Portholland are on a typically narrow and highsided Cornish lane, dropping down a dense wooded valley, making the little coastal hamlet seem very remote. You finally arrive at a tiny cove, which at low water only just has a bit of sand; otherwise you only get to stand on a high sea-wall with a steep boat ramp, and large boulders. But the group of houses and pub feel very beautifully secluded and peaceful here. Having got myself (and my camera equipment) soaked twice already this week, I take extra care to get to the water's edge, and on a clear day like today I'm rewarded with gently coloured skies at dusk...

Seaton

Not to be confused with Seaton in Devon, this one is just down the coast west of Downderry. I actually stopped by accident to visit this one yesterday, thinking for a moment it might be an extension of the latter. In fact, this Cornish Seaton is a kind of small valley set into the coast about seven miles east of Looe, an ideal spot for a mini holiday resort, which it seems to be. The cove beach is actually not very large, compared with the long stretch of coast that Downderry claims, but it is mostly sandy and so more suitable for kids to play on. The small river here moves quite fast as it enters the sea - it is interesting to watch how it fights against the incoming tide at one end of the beach, while at the other the more gently shelving sand becomes quickly engulfed. There are signs too that even at this end of the beach the cafe has ibeen fighting its own battle against the rising spring tides; a battle that the sea must win, in the end...

Downderry

Spring is here again, today. It is warm in the sun on the beach, and you can walk for miles and miles. Downderry is on the south coast almost on the border with Devon. Some of the slate is even tinged with the sort of red or pink that you get further along the coast towards Dawlish and beyond, but the long fringe of granite spines that reach into the sea seem very Cornish. It a strange beach - at first it is bordered by peoples' back gardens, complete with plastic gnomes, herons, goats and even eagles; but walking eastwards towards Devon you eventually get away from this, and find deserted greyish sandy beach backed by high cliffs. Not a brilliant day for photographs, but I do have some driftwood, not to mention a red slate rock....

Whipsiderry

You have to walk down a very long, steep and narrow set of steps to get to this little cove, which is the easternmost of Newquay's eight town beaches (I can't make them add up to nine!). With the tide fast coming in and the sun setting, it feels a little odd - claustrophobic, even. And my legs get absolutely drenched by the rising sea surging in unexpectedly. Mindful of the couple swept off the harbour wall in Mullion this week, I beat a discreet retreat up the steps. In the gathering gloom, an early hunting owl waves at me as I drive past...

Great Western

Great Western is one of the string of coves that make up Newquay's town beaches - it is next to Towan, and at low tide they join up. Today, near high water, Towan, Great Western and Tolcarne are all individual ly scalloped out from the high cliffs, separated from each other by the broad sheets of white white surf. The light is cold with the sun hiding soft behind clouds, and it feels wintry.

Interlude: the Holywell dunes

Holywell is blessed and cursed with a long approach from the nearest car park, past tall clumps of reeds along the small river that you can ford barefooted in summer, over a bridge and back along the river again and then over or around the dunes till you reach the sea proper. If you are unencumbered by impatient children and just pause a while, you are rewarded with seeing your stunningly beautiful surroundings...

Holywell

It comes as a bit of a shock to find, as today, Holywell almost at high tide. There is almost no beach left, and the surf is wild. The river that gently wends its way through the dunes turns its last corner and is completely overwhelmed by the sea surge. The light changes constantly, the sun still barely forcing its way through gaps in the rain clouds.

Towan

Towan beach on the north coast is right next to the harbour in Newquay, by the aquarium. Once down on the beach, you look back or along the coast and begin to appreciate how much of Cornwall is on a plateau. Here the coastline is a long high rock cliff acalloped into a series of coves, each one with its sandy beach. Here, everything is on your doorstep - surfers can park in a town car park and walk a few yards to the long string of beaches, with Newquay's high street full of surf shops, cafes and nightclubs just there when you finish. Now in winter, it also makes for a fantastic beach stroll...

Castle Beach

Today is like a warm spring day, even though the rain clouds fly quickly overhead and are never very far away. Castle Beach sits west of and just below Pendennis Castle in Falmouth, hence its name. It is not an attractive beach, just a bit of shingle and lots of granite outcrops at low water. At high tide there is no beach at all, just the high sea-wall, road and lots of small hotels overlooking Falmouth Bay. But when the tide is out, what a lovely stretch of rock-pools to explore! and If you want a more sandy beach to walk on, then Gyllyngvase beach is just a minute's stroll away.

Carne

Today there are gale force winds coming in off the north coast, and the rain clouds come and go in a hurry. One minute the sky is black and aqually; ten minutes later we have blue skies and bright sunshine.Carne is in the Roseland peninsula on the south coast, right next to Pendower. When the tide is out they are really just one long beach, but the roads to either one seems to go a completely different way through the Roseland... Anyway, these two beaches are really lovely - they feel secluded, private without being claustrophobic. there are just a few houses clustered nearby, with a hotel discreetly above each beach. Locals come and launch all sorts of small craft off the beach here at Carne - canoes today. On a cold clear Christmas, you might see family barbecues and people riding horses through the surf.

Gyllyngvase Beach

Falmouth’s town beach is lined with genteel hotels along the coast road, and there is a municipal feel about the place. There is even a small park here - a very traditional British seaside town feature? But it is a pleasant, open beach to be on with good rocky tide pools on both sides and lovely views of Falmouth Bay. Off to the left (outside the photo) Pendennis Point and St. Anthony’s lighthouse are very picturesque, while to the right (centre of photo) you look towards the mouth of Helford river and then further out to sea the Manacles, a group of rocks sits off-shore . And in summer the sailing boats dotted about the bay add the finishing touch...

Porthpean

Porthpean is one of the St. Austell beaches on the south coast. Porthpean feels like a municipal beach when you approach it - the concrete walls, walkway and access ramp that shore up the cliffs to the rear are useful for the dinghies and holidaymakers, but feel a little intrusive; but the view of the beach from above, and the walk along the beach itself, make up for this. Today, the winds and rain have died away, and the sea is calm again - as the sun sets everything is still, only the gentle sound of water finally touching the shoreline, like a rustling of leaves.

Trevaunance

Trevaunance at St. Agnes on the north coast is a smallish, and for the most part sandy beach, flanked on three sides by steep rocky cliffs. The best views of it are from the coastal path heading west towards Chapel Porth, from where you get a sense of the ruggedness of this coastline. Today the storms at sea have abated somewhat, the surf has calmed to more normal big waves, and the surfers are out in force here at St. Agnes. Unfortunately, it has also rained incessantly all day. Most of my photos are taken through a rain-splattered lens, despite my frequent but futile efforts with a lens cloth. The little light disappears from the rainy skies quite suddenly around 5:30 p.m.

Pendower

Pendower beach, in the Roseland on the south coast. Just before dusk. Today was such a contrast to yesterday’s stolen moments in the drizzle. Today was calm - the still that you seem to get along this stretch of coast as the sun goes down; you can just sit on a rock for ages, empty yourself of thought, and feel the gentle sighing of the surf when it can reach no further and is pulled back into the sea.
(This entry has been transferred from a previous site)

Portreath

A north coast beach, bounded by high cliffs on both sides. Wonderfully peaceful in winter even when the surfers are out. This was taken during a snatched lunch hour, munching a cornish pasty in the grey drizzly rain.

Watergate Bay

Not much beach showing this afternoon, but it shelves quite gently so when the tide is out it seems like miles to the water’s edge. This beach is favoured by Cornwall’s extreme sports enthusiasts and is now home to the TV chef Jamie Oliver’s “15” restaurant. Had lunch instead in the more casual (and cheaper) Beachhut is still an old favourite of mine.