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Beaches & Coastline

Porthmeor Beach

Porthmeor, St Ives, Cornwall, UK, TR26 2BN
Porthmeor 01 DSC 1486 SmallPorthmeor At Sunset
  • Overview
  • More Info

Situated in the shadow of the iconic Tate St Ives building, Porthmeor is sandy, safe beach popular with surfers and swimmers alike in an ideal location just a stone’s throw from the centre of St Ives where you’ll find ancient pubs, trendy cafes and lots of art galleries the town is famous for. A perfect place for a beach picnic – you can easily get all you need from the town, the beach is busy in summer with families who enjoy the easy access and in winter the surf brigade from the town have all those rollers right on their doorstep. Porthmeor is one of only five  beaches in Cornwall that hold the prestigious Blue Flag Award 2013, given in recognition of water quality, safety, environmental management and education.

Porthmeor Beach among 9 beaches in Cornwall to achieve the internationally recognised Blue Flag award for 2023. Only 77 beaches around the UK were awarded this prestigious award. Porthminster Beach also won a Seaside Award.

Blue Flag is an international award managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education. It is only presented to well-managed beaches with excellent water quality, as defined in the EU Bathing Water Directive, and environmental education programmes.
Among the criteria beaches are assessed against are:
– Safety and services, such as first aid, lifeguards where necessary
– Environmental information, including displaying details about local eco systems
– Water quality – Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive and Seaside Award winners must meet the ‘sufficient’ standard.
– Environmental management, including litter and waste.

 

Facilities

  • RNLI lifeguards on duty – May to September
  • Amenities in the town centre close by
  • Restaurant & takeaway
  • Beach shop
  • St Ives Surf School
  • Pay and display parking nearby on Porthmeor carpark or the Island carpark
  • Disabled access

Parking

Car park overlooking the beach, but can get very busy. Try parking at St Erth or Lelant Saltings and enjoy the scenic branch line that runs right into St Ives and a short stroll down to the beach.

Dog-friendly

Dogs are welcome on this beach except between the first Sunday before Easter and 30 September when a seasonal dog ban is in place.

Also around

Newquay Zoo

Get close to over 1,000 of the world’s rarest and endangered animals at Newquay Zoo!

Beachcombers Hair & Beauty

The Beachcombers Hair & Beauty is a salon offering a range of services including cuts, colour and styling.

St Ives Harbour Hotel Spa

St Ives Harbour Hotel’s Spa is a place where, the minute you walk in, you enter a world of pampering, luxurious treatments and tranquility.