Top accessible beaches in Cornwall

When did you last go to the beach? If you are planning to escape to the seaside, Cornwall is known throughout the UK as the ultimate beach destination whether you head to the rugged and rocky north coast, the tranquil south, or the far-off reaches of the west. 

Cornwall's beaches provide idyllic backdrops to a day out beside the sea, with cliffs towering high above and lapping waves to tickle your toes. Nothing beats it. 

Bring along your camera to snap photos of this picture-perfect coastline. If you enjoy seeking out the local flora and fauna, why not go crabbing or peer into rock pools filled with life on these iconic shores?

Below we have collated a range of accessible beaches including secret coves where dogs are welcome to explore by your side in every season, locations with beachfront bars and cafes for people-watching over a cuppa or a fruit smoothie, and popular seaside towns with amusements to entertain your whole family.

Take advantage of Cornwall's magnificent coastline during your holiday. If you're in a wheelchair or are working with another form of limited mobility, sandy or pebbly beaches can sometimes seem more trouble than they're worth - even just taking a pram to the beach can be tricky! Don't be put off as Cornwall has an extensive coastline with all kinds of beautiful spaces for everyone to enjoy. 

You'll discover a wide range of accessible beaches in Cornwall with fantastic facilities to suit everyone including ramps, promenades and even beach wheelchairs. Whether you’re a wheelchair user, less able on your feet, or have a little one you want to take to the beach in a pushchair with ease, our guide to the top accessible beaches in Cornwall will help direct you to some of the best accessible beaches near you.

Accessible cottages in Cornwall

Accessible beaches in North Cornwall

Duckpool Beach

Duckpool Beach in Bude has been described as one of the most attractive coves in the area and is approached through the peaceful woodland of Coombe Valley.

Although pebbly in places, when the tide is out a lovely stretch of sand is revealed – and with some rock pools for crabbing too! Enjoy the peace and quiet of this beautiful beach cared for by the National Trust.

Bude cottages

Fistral Beach

Arguably the most popular beach in Newquay, near Crantock, with great accessibility and world-renowned for its surf, Fistral Beach can be found a 5-minute drive from the town centre, in a beautiful west-facing position. 

There's also a beach wheelchair available for daily hire making it one of the most wheelchair-accessible beaches in Cornwall. 

Crantock cottages

Mawgan Porth

With easy access from the adjacent car park, this is a lovely beach for families, sheltered by cliffs on both sides and sand dunes to the north. 

It lies in the pretty village of St. Mawgan, with toilet facilities, beach shops and refreshments all in close proximity. Mawgan Porth is also a dog-friendly beach so you can bring along the four-legged members of the family too.

Mawgan Porth cottages

Towan Beach

A popular and often very busy beach in the centre of Newquay, Towan Beach is a lovely beach for both families and novice surfers. Dog-friendly all year round, you can enjoy the views from the sandy shore, or when the tide comes in and the beach is submerged, The Promenade has a delightful range of shops and restaurants you can nip into. 

In addition to disabled toilets, there are also designated car parking spaces in the nearby car park and a beach wheelchair available for daily hire making it another one of Cornwall's best beaches with wheelchair access. 

Newquay cottages

Accessible beaches in West Cornwall

Gyllyngvase Beach

Gyllyngvase Beach, known affectionately as ‘Gylly Beach’, is a lovely family-friendly beach in Falmouth with great accessibility and a nearby car park. 

This beauty spot is a fantastic disabled-friendly beach in Cornwall and has toilet facilities and an award-winning café right on the beach with spectacular sea views and easy access. 

Falmouth cottages

Portreath Beach

Set in a sheltered harbour on the north coast of Cornwall, Portreath, with its large expanse of golden sands, is a very popular beach for families and a delightful choice for an easy access beach in Cornwall. 

Portreath Harbour is part of the UNESCO's World Heritage Site 'Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape', and is also on a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There is good access to the beach from the large car park, toilet facilities, and a lovely selection of pubs in the town itself. 

Portreath cottages

Sennen Cove

Just a little over a mile from Land’s End, Sennen Cove is a popular family beach stretching in a crescent shape for just over a mile. There is easy access to the beach from the village and shops, toilets and cafes nearby for refreshments. 

Sennen cottages

Marazion Beach

Famed for its view and the causeway the leads out to St Michael's Mount at low tide, this is a lovely disability-friendly beach with views across the beautiful Cornish coastline to soak up from your chosen spot on the shore.

It's about a mile long, stretching from The Godolphin Arms one end to the Station House at the other, and it's sandy so a great choice for families who might like to build a sandcastle and enjoy a beach picnic on the soft sand. 

Marazion cottages

Accessible beaches in South Cornwall

East Looe Beach

A large, safe and sandy beach, this is the main beach at Looe, and a very popular beach for families. There are toilets by the beach and cafes, restaurants and shops just across the road. A car park is a flat 10-minute walk away. 

East Looe cottages

Hannafore Beach

Hannafore Beach, also in Looe, stretches from Hannafore Point along Marine Drive, and is predominantly a rocky beach with coarse sand and a maze of rock pools to fish in at low tide. Enjoy lovely views across to St George’s Island, once owned by two Cornish sisters at this wonderful disabled-access beach in Cornwall. The beach is dog friendly all year round and has great ease of accessibility, with an adjacent car park and nearby cafes.

West Looe cottages

Cawsand Beach

This peaceful, relatively remote beach can be found on the Rame Peninsula and has views across to Plymouth Sound. A slipway leads down to this accessible beach with a sand and shingle shoreline and there's a flat concrete area behind the beach where you can unwind and enjoy your surroundings. 

It's considered a safe place for swimming or a paddle and there are lots of rock pools around the edge to explore too. It's sheltered and in the peak summer season, a ferry connects Cawsand to Plymouth so you could pop into the city for the day if you're staying nearby. 

Cawsand cottages

Pentewan Beach

There is easy, level access to the beach from the car park and a slipway behind the beach with plenty of facilities. This beach is open to the public but owned by the holiday park set just behind it, meaning it's well cared for with plenty of facilities. 

Set between thriving St Austell and the village of Mevagissey, Pentewen Beach faces east into St Austell Bay, making it relatively sheltered. It's popular with families and lovely for swimming, and there's a large play park behind the beach too. 

Pentewan cottages

Polkerris Beach

Lying in the sheltered bay of Polkerris, 2 miles from Fowey, Polkerris Beach is a great Cornwall accessible beach and although relatively small, has toilets, a café, shop and a pub. It’s easily accessed via a slipway a short walk from the car park. 

Fowey cottages

Map of accessible beaches in Cornwall

We've summarised all these fantastic places to visit in our map of Cornwall's accessible beaches - take a look:

If you know of more easy-access beaches in Cornwall that we haven't included, let us know!

Holidays in Cornwall

Now, you've discovered several of the best beaches in Cornwall with disabled access, you'll need a fantastic accessible holiday cottage so you can begin planning your next trip. For more great ideas on where to stay during your visit to this exquisite region of the South West, have a look at our great range of accessible holiday cottages in Cornwall. You'll soon find an accessible cottage you'll love. 

Accessible cottages in Cornwall