Find Cornwall’s Hidden Gems
When it comes to the UK’s most beautiful beaches, Cornwall is probably the first place that springs to mind.
Did you know there are more than 400 beaches to be found along the unique and magical coastline that hugs the South West corner of the British Isles? We’ve heard all about the fishing harbours, the stunning stretches of sand and the surfing spots… but what else are they keeping from us?
We’ve created our tips for making your own adventures and finding hidden coves for yourself!
Do a Long Coast Path Hike
The South West Coast Path is where it’s at when it comes to finding hidden gems around Cornwall. When you’re looking for out-of-the-way, secret spots, you can’t expect to find them around the seaside towns and tourist beaches. Most of the best, quietest coves are scattered along the coast path, and require a fair bit of walking before you find them!
Scour Google Maps
Have a bit of fun and zoom in along the Cornish coastline on Google Maps, and follow it along to see if there are any sandy spots or dips in the cliffs that look like they’d be fun to explore. Most of the adventures always begin with a trawl through Google Maps!
Read books about Cornwall
Of course, there are some fantastic guidebooks out there we’d highly recommend the Wild Guide: Devon, Cornwall and the South West book.
Talk to the Locals
Believe it or not, us locals LOVE talking about Cornwall. Strike up conversations with people you meet along your walks, or in the pubs on the way. People are usually more than happy to help some keen explorers find the best spots!
Go and Explore those ‘gaps’ in the Hedges!
Secret beaches usually aren’t signposted along the coast path, so they sometimes require you to keep your eyes open for little gaps and semi-developed paths in the bushes. Stay curious and explore all those little off-shoots, and you might just find an absolute gem!
Use the iWalk Cornwall app
If you’re planning to find secret coves along the Cornish coast path, this is an excellent app to help guide you along your way. There are tonnes of maps loaded onto here, each with their own guides and information on what to expect and the difficulty too.
Be Prepared for a Difficult Hike
As people have been discovering with Pedn Vounder, sometimes the most beautiful beaches are inaccessible. We mean, there’s got to be a BIT of a challenge when it comes to these secret spots, or else everyone would go there all the time! Many of the secret coves require some climbing or at least a good level of fitness in general.
Be Safe & Tell People where you’re Going
Often because these beaches are out of the way, the phone signal will be quite poor, if available at all. It’s therefore incredibly important that you…
- a) go with a friend
- b) tell people where you’re going and when you expect to be back
So that if something does happen, you’re at least a little bit covered. Wear sensible footwear and don’t underestimate how slippy cliffs can get after rain and, how crumbly they can be when it’s been very dry, don’t forget about the tide as it can cut you off extremely quickly!
Be Respectful of Nudist Beaches
It’s quite common that these hidden spots will be officially nudist beaches, so please bear that in mind. We say this mainly so that you’re not surprised, but also so that you’re respectful when taking photos. It’s fine to take pictures of the beach, but never point a camera near people who are trying to enjoy their freedom in peace!
Give Yourself Time
If you’re in a rush to be home at a very specific time, you may miss a hidden pathway or find yourself torn away from a beautiful spot before you’re ready. We generally recommend doing your exploring when you have a whole afternoon and evening free so that you can take your time and be in the moment.
Go at Low Tide
Remember to take a look at the tide times and make sure you aim to go around low tide. This means that sandy coves will be exposed and give you more time to clamber down, take photos, get settled and go for a swim. Always remember to check if the tide is going in or out before you go, so that you’re not accidentally cut off when you’re wandering around the beach.
Check the Forecast
This sounds obvious but we don’t just mean so that you know it’ll be a ‘nice day’. Sea mist & fog is very common, and it can be really disappointing to spend time looking for a place only to find it’s shrouded in fog and you can’t see it clearly. You also want to check the surf forecast too, as if the waves are going to be huge and unruly, it may not be safe to access these types of places either.
