Porthtowan
Chapel Porth
St. Agnes
Perranporth
Perran Sands
Hollywell Bay
Gyllngvase
Falmouth - to be replaced
Carrick
The Carrick beaches curently entrusted to the RNLI to Lifeguard encompass Porthtowan, Chapel Porth, St Agnes, Perranporth, Perran Sands and Holywell Bay on the North Coast and Falmouth's Gyllngvase beach on the South Coast.
Visually, the North Coast tends to be craggier and rougher around the edges than the South Coast, with tempestuous seas and dramatic cliff drops, as opposed to the gentler waters and scenery of the south. However, all of the beaches vary in their landscape, heritage and what they have to offer, and whether it's rock pooling, extreme sports or a headland walk that you are after, there really is something for everyone.
Porthtowan
Starting at the most southern tip of the North Coast, Porthtowan is a well known spot among surfers and body boarders, and with regular swell and big waves it's a hot spot for kite surfing and kneeboarding too. A local surf school Kinglushies, (t: 01209 891083) and surf hire shop Triss Surfshop right by the beach mean even the least experienced beginners can have a go at surfing and bodyboarding.
Or if you're more interested in swimming, there's a natural pool to the right of the beach, which is great for those less confident in the ocean. Naturally heated by the sun throughout the summer and with the changing tides bringing fresh water daily, this little pool is a real gem.
It's not only water babies that will enjoy Porthtowan, there's loads to do on land too. Walk along the rugged cliff tops to take in the stunning views or play games on the beach. When the tide's out, Porthtowan is a huge area of flat sand, so there's plenty of scope for cricket, football or rounders, as well as rock pooling. In fact, wildlife is abundant here. Seals are frequently seen playing around these parts, and even dolphins and basking shark have been spotted from time to time.
Porthtowan is a popular beach all year round and there are plenty of options for food. Designated barbecuing areas on the beach mean you can cook your own meal, or alternatively there is the Blue Bar which serves great food all day (try their infamous blue burger or some of their fresh seafood specials and you won't be disappointed) and offers entertainment and live bands at the weekends. Grab a window booth before sunset and you'll be in the perfect position to watch the sun sinking into the sea with a cold beer. Just down the road, the Unicorn offers a more traditional pub environment with a children's play area outside and a large TV screen that shows significant sporting events inside.
Chapel Porth
To the north of Porthtowan is Chapel Porth and it's a gorgeous walk over the cliff tops. In the spring, the coastal path is strewn with wildflowers and there are dozens of species of birds and butterflies to spot. It is also possible to drive to Chapel Porth and the beach, which is a National Trust site, has its own car park and some toilets as well as a tiny café with great sandwiches and refreshments available.
At high tide, Chapel Porth appears to be a cute little cove, but when the tide is out it's a big, sprawling sandy beach with plenty of room for beach games. At spring low, it links up with Porthtowan, and it's possible to walk all the way between the two beaches on the sand.
A prominent feature of Chapel Porth is Wheal Coates, which is one of the most striking of all the long abandoned tin and copper mines, and can be found on the cliff side of Chapel Porth. This is most spectacular in the summer when seen against a backdrop of purple heather and blue sky, with the smell of gorse still strong in the air, but it is impressive all year round. Drop a handful of stones down the (safely grated) mine shaft and wait for the echo when it hits the ground, then you'll see how deep it really is.
If Wheal Coates triggers your interest in the old copper and tin mining industry you can follow the mining trail along the coastal path towards St Agnes, taking in the workings at Polberro and Wheal Kitty, and then going onto Blue Hills in Trevellas, which harbours the last remaining tin production centre in Cornwall.
St. Agnes
Although still rich in mining heritage, St. Agnes has moved on since its days as a mining village and now has a strong focus on art, as well as a buzzing town centre. Its two main galleries are the Saffron gallery and Over the Moon, which regularly showcase work from local artists. There are plenty of shops and bars here too and Schooners which overlooks St Agnes beach, is one of the best, offering delicious lunches and evening meals, with seafood, of course, being a speciality.
Perranporth
Made famous by the BBC's exciting Seaside Rescue series, Perranporth, isn't just a place for drama. It's also a classic bucket and sand beach, and rich with cultural value
Buried beneath the extensive sand dunes here is The Oratory of St Piran, the patron saint of tin mining, and arguably, of Cornwall as a whole. (St Piran is responsible for the black and white flag you see plastered all over the county.) The oratory was buried beneath the sand in 1981 in order to better preserve it for posterity, and all that remains visible of this ancient relic today is a memorial stone placed on top of the site. The beach was named after this Cornish hero and Perranporth translates into English as the beach of St Piran.
There are various places to get food and drink in Perranporth, but the best has to be the Watering Hole, a spirited bar and restaurant right on the beach. The Watering Hole sells snacks and meals all day long and is renowned for its generous selection of real ales and beers, as well as its barbecues in the summer. With live music every weekend, loads of outdoor seating and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, this place is great to visit whatever the weather.
Perran Sands
Walk along the sand northwards and you come to Perran Sands. It is hard to tell when Perranporth ends and Perran Sands begins as the two beaches are linked and naturally have a lot in common, but the most notable difference is the extensive sand dunes that serve as a back drop for Perran Sands. These are excellent for sandboarding if you have the right equipment but are just as much fun to roll and dive down if you don't. At low tide the area of sand between these two beaches is enormous, and when conditions are right this is the perfect place for land boarding and yachting. (Book a land yachting taster course at Perranporth for £75 at Days to Amaze.)
Hollywell Bay
Further along the coast is Holywell Bay, a dog friendly beach where it is fine to take your dog for a stroll even at the height of summer, though he will have to be kept on a lead. Best known for its dunes and nearby fun park, Holywell Bay also has a sea cave which can be explored at low tide, and a shallow river crossing its Southern end that is the ideal place to bring toddlers and small children for a paddle (once you've negotiated the surrounding sand dunes with the pushchair...)
Gyllngvase
And finally, Gyllngvase, which is the only beach of the RNLI Carrick district (at the time of writing) that is on the South Coast. Gylly, as it's affectionately known, is one of few beaches in Cornwall that has sand as well as reef, and on a bright day when the sea is calm and glassy, there's nothing better than taking a snorkel, mask and fins into the water to have a look at how much life there is around here. Or if it's too cold to get your feet wet, take a net and bucket and see what you can discover in the rock pools the sea leaves behind at low tide.
Big waves are rare here and so Gyllngvase is a favourite among families, sunbathers and swimmers rather than surfers. Of course, the rareness of rough seas makes their appearance when they do turn up all the more spectacular, and the beach café here offers the perfect place to warm up with a hot chocolate when the salty air has put sufficient colour in your cheeks.
Stylish and reasonably priced, Gyllyngvase beach café serves a wide range of cakes, coffees and wines as well as sea food and tapas. Often showcasing live music from local talent, this is the ideal place to meet after a lively day on the beach, whether rock pooling, swimming or snorkelling.
Falmouth
Gyllngvase beach is just one of the attractions of Falmouth, which is a small and lively seaside town, and there are literally dozens of restaurants, shops and bars scattered along the cobbled high street. South Side (t: 01326 212122) is a reasonably priced surf-style bar and restaurant with lunch time ciabattas available as well as fresh seafood specials, an excellent cocktail menu, and the best tortillas in town. Off the high street, at Events Square is The Shed, which has kitsch décor and a tapas style menu as well as outdoor tables for eating al fresco when the sky is blue.
But it's not only food on offer here, Falmouth has a rich cultural heritage too. Set high on the headland overlooking the sea, Pendennis Castle provides plenty of opportunity for uncovering history as well as beauty. Built nearly five hundred years ago, it once offered Henry VIII and his men protection from Parliamentarian forces, and now offers visitors tours of the secret installations leftover from this time, as well as access to the intriguing museum and discovery centre.
To discover Falmouth's nautical heritage, simply head to the National Maritime museum where an underwater viewing gallery and information on pirates, smugglers and wreckers will be enough to keep the whole family entertained. And all this within walking distance of the beach...