The Seven Bays Beach Guide - Seven Bays
for Seven Days
Explore North Cornwall’s most famous bit of coastline, all within a stone’s throw of Porthcothan Retreats along the Southwest Coast Path.
Day 1: Porthcothan Bay
Porthcothan Bay is a sheltered cove framed by dramatic cliffs and guarded by the striking sea stack of Will's Rock overlooked by Chick Rock. At low tide, the headlands reveal hidden treasures, including the Horse Pool, a deep natural tidal swimming hole, and Golden Burn, a quiet neighbouring cove tucked just next door.
Day 3: Mother Ivey’s Bay
Tucked onto the eastern side of Trevose Head, Mother Ivey’s Bay is a sheltered, turquoise-water haven of fine golden sand, named after a legendary 16th-century Cornish witch. Calm and secluded compared to its surf-heavy neighbors, the bay is framed by the rugged Merope Rocks and anchored by the striking modern Padstow Lifeboat Station perched on stilts over the sea.
Day 5: Booby’s Bay
Just north of Constantine Bay, Boobys Bay is a wild, rock-strewn haven beloved by experienced surfers for its powerful breaks. Virtually disappearing at high tide when the sea crashes directly against the rocky shore, the low tide reveals a sprawling expanse of sand, intricate rock pools, and the rusting, historic rib-cage of the SV Carl a German steamship wrecked on the reef in 1917.
Day 7: Trevone Bay
Just west of Padstow, Trevone Bay offers two beaches in one: a sandy golden cove favoured by swimmers and surfers, and Rocky Beach, a neighbouring expanse of shale and slate shelf famed for its deep natural sea pool and endless rock pools. High on the eastern headland sits the bay's most remarkable feature, The Round Hole a dramatic, 80-foot collapsed sea cave where the ocean surges far below.
Day 2: Treyarnon Bay
Treyarnon Bay is a hugely popular, west-facing cove famous for its fine golden sand and brilliant surfing waves. Surrounded by low-lying headlands, it’s best known for its deep, naturally enclosed rock pool carved into the rocky ledge. A favorite spot for wild swimming at low tide, along with endless smaller pools and gullies made for exploring.
Day 4: Constantine Bay
Swept by rolling Atlantic swells, Constantine Bay is a renowned surf hotspot featuring a vast crescent of soft pale sand backed by sprawling, marram-grass sand dunes. Merging seamlessly with neighboring Booby's Bay at low tide, this wild and windswept beach is famous for its top-class reef breaks, rocky tide pools, and views extending north toward Trevose Head.
Day 6: Harlyn Bay
Sheltered on the north side of Trevose Head, Harlyn Bay is a wide, crescent-shaped expanse of yellow sand and tide pools, widely regarded as one of Cornwall's safest family beaches. Because it faces north, its gentle waters offer ideal conditions for novice surfers and sea kayakers.
