12 of The Best Beaches Near Truro

July 07th, 2023

With almost 300 miles of coastline, there are plenty of must-see beaches to visit on your Cornish break. If you’re staying in Truro, you’re in a great central spot with good access to the county’s north and south coast – but this can mean you end up feeling spoiled for choice!

We’ve rounded up some of our favourite beaches that are a short drive away from our luxury holiday village in Cornwall to ensure you can make the most of Cornwall’s stunning shores.

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What are the Best Cornish Beaches Near Truro?

  • Perranporth Beach
  • Porthtowan Beach
  • Trevaunance Cove Beach
  • Gyllyngvase Beach
  • Chapel Porth Beach
  • Swanpool Beach
  • Crantock Beach
  • Carne Beach
  • Maenporth Beach
  • Porthcurnick Beach
  • Portreath Beach
  • Church Cove

Perranporth Beach

Perranporth Beach from a hilltop

As one of the best-known beaches across Cornwall, Perranporth beach has it all, and it’s easy to see why so many rave about it!

The huge expanse of sand and sea makes it ideal for all beach activities, so you’ll see everything from surfers catching waves to horses riding across the golden stretches. Framed by impressive sand dunes, there is also plenty for wildlife lovers to discover, with a plethora of beautiful butterflies and lizards to spot.

Perranporth is also famous for being the only beach in the UK to have a bar actually on it! Celebrate the sunny weather with a pint or two and catch a local band (and some famous faces) performing at this beautiful spot by the shore.

How far is Perranporth Beach from Truro: 9.6 miles.

Porthtowan Beach

An expanse of sane at Porthtowan Beach

Found within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Porthtowan’s golden coastline, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and crystal-clear waves, truly lives up to the accolade.

With plenty of sand and a play park at the top of the beach, Porthtowan is a favourite for families. It is also one of the top spots in Cornwall for surfers.

As a Blue Flag Award winner, you’ll find a host of great, well-managed beachside amenities, with the beachside Blue Bar being an ever-popular spot for enjoying a sip by the sea!

How far is Porthtowan Beach from Truro: 9.8 miles.

Trevaunance Cove Beach

Trevaunance Cove Beach

Located near the village of St Agnes, Trevaunance Cove Beach is another Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With a sandy cover sheltered by rugged cliffs and boasting crystalline waters, it’s not hard to see why this beach is a particularly popular spot, especially for families during the summer months.

The St Agnes Heritage Coast in northern Cornwall offers some particularly dramatic views, and this sheltered cove makes the perfect base to appreciate all that this portion of the coast is famous for. The beach and local villages are rich in history, with a heritage in 19th-century mining and roots that go much further back to a Bronze Age settlement.

With rock pools, good surf, a beach shop, cafe and pub (not to mention all the quaint local shops in the nearby village), Trevaunance Cove has everything you need for a great day at the beach.

How far is Trevaunance Cove Beach from Truro: 10.3 miles.

Gyllyngvase Beach

Beach flowers and the sands of Gyllyngvase Beach

Also one of the most popular beaches in the Falmouth area, Gyllyngvase is ideal for those who want a classic beach experience! The stretches of soft golden sands are ideal for relaxing on, and the waves are perfect for a whole host of water-based activities.

Why not hire a paddleboard and take to the waves before relaxing on a sandy strip for a seaside barbeque?

Gyllyngvase has also received a Blue Flag Award, highlighting it as an outstanding beach of cleanliness and safety.

How far is Gyllyngvase Beach from Truro: 11.5 miles.

Chapel Porth Beach

Wheal Coates mine overlooking Chapel Porth Beach

Owned by the National Trust, Chapel Porth is located on the northern coast, near the village of St Agnes. An expanse of golden sand meets the intense salty waves on this Cornish beach, making for fantastic surf.

When the tide is out, there are plenty of exposed rock pools and fascinating caves to explore – at low tide, you can also walk over to neighbouring Porthtowan beach. This area is great for coastal walks too, with the ruins of the Wheal Coates tin mine perched dramatically atop the cliffs.

Chapel Porth is perhaps most famous for its inventive ‘hedgehog ice cream’; a scoop of classic Cornish ice cream topped with clotted cream and sprinkled with crushed hazelnuts!

How far is Chapel Porth Beach from Truro: 11.5 miles

Swanpool Beach

Swanpool beach

Another peaceful little cove, Swanpool is just outside of Falmouth, making it a great place to visit if you’re heading off on a Falmouth day trip. The sand and shingle beach meets gentle, azure waves, surrounded by tranquil views.

The nearby water sports centre makes it a good spot for those wanting to try their hand at kayaking or sailing. And the outdoor Swanpool Beach cafe provides the ideal base to recharge after a day out in the sea.

Dogs are banned from this beach between July 1st and August 31st.

How far is Swanpool Beach from Truro: 11.8 miles.

Crantock Beach

If you’re heading up to Newquay, you’ll want to stop by Crantock Beach, which is a picture-perfect sandy beach with golden sands, rolling dunes and a grassy plateau that’s home to a plethora of wildlife.

best beaches for families to visit

Crantock marks where the Gannel estuary joins the sea and is a great family-friendly beach, with plenty of water-based activities to enjoy, along with rock pools and large expanses of sand perfect for sandcastles. It is all dog-friendly all year round.

This beach is owned by the National Trust and has various nearby facilities, including various cafes and pubs in the village, parking and toilets.

How far is Crantock Beach from Truro: 12.2 miles.

Carne Beach

The flat beach and calm waves at Carne Beach

Another National Trust beach, this popular beach sits on the gorgeous Roseland Peninsula, making it a great choice for those who enjoy a picturesque seaside stroll. As Carne is dog-friendly all year round, it’s the perfect beach for all the family!

As a particularly sunny spot, Carne beach is ideal for sunbathing, swimming and rock pooling. You can also cool down afterwards with a delicious Cornish ice cream from one of the vans that regularly frequent the beachfront.

How far is Carne Beach from Truro: 13 miles.

Maenporth Beach

Lush waters and green scenery at Maenporth Beach

A perfect beach for families, Maenporth beach gently slopes into a shallow shore that is ideal for kids who love to paddle.

The beach boasts some incredible scenery, with views out over the Bay to Pendennis Castle and St Anthony Head. The great water conditions make this another popular space for swimming and watersports.

How far is Maenporth Beach from Truro: 13.3 miles.

Porthcurnick Beach

Porthcurnick Beach

Just down the coast from Carne is Porthcurnick Beach, a wide sandy spot nestled between rock pools and sweeping cliffs. The surrounding coastal footpaths make for a great adventure and unbeatable views, leading you to the various stunning beaches along this stretch.

Dogs are welcome at this bay all year round and are sure to enjoy the splendid expanse of beach just as much as you. Once you’ve spent the day exploring and relishing the calm, turquoise waters, head to the beachside cafe, The Hidden Hut, for some characteristically good Cornish grub.

Days out with dogs in Truro

How far is Porthcurnick Beach from Truro: 14.2 miles.

Portreath Beach

Visitors on the white sands at Portreath Beach

With two surf shops sitting on the seafront, it’s pretty clear that Portreath is the place to go if you’re into catching waves.

The soft sand at the top of the beach is loved by families, making this a great location for all. There are also plenty of things along the front to keep everyone entertained all day long, with an amusement arcade, café, restaurant and takeaway.

The village is just a short walk away from the beach – there, you can find a tearoom and no less than three pubs, perfect for taking in the gorgeous seaside views with a pint!

How far is Portreath Beach from Truro: 14.7 miles.

Church Cove

Dramatic clifftop views at Church Cove

Although a little further away from Truro than our other mentions, Church Cove is well worth the visit. Also known as Gunwalloe, this little beach is renowned for the tiny church, St Wynwallow, that sits almost on the sand.

When making your way down the beach, you’ll find a collection of quaint seaside cottages and fishing boats to complete the serene picture.

More recently, the beach has become famous for its scenes in Poldark, where it became a filming location for ship-wreck and smuggling scenes in the show.

How far is Church Cove from Truro: 22.3 miles.

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Image Credit: Visit Cornwall