Plan your one-off swim
/So you’re visiting west Cornwall or you live fairly locally and you want to take on a specific swim. When to swim it and a few bits of info that might come in handy. Remember to always check the conditions and don’t attempt a swim, when you’re not comfortable or questioning the conditions… Here are a few of the biggies :
CARBIS BAY :
Parking in the beach car park winter or summer will require you to sell one of your kidneys! Best parking up the road at the church or Porthrepta car park and walk down the hill. It is a steep hill. If you have mobility issue it might not be the swim for you…although you could get a friend to drop you and pick you up next to the beach. Avoid a moderate to strong N / NE wind. Rarely gets swell but can get a wave in BIG conditions. Not much tidal pull but you can get caught out if you swim to the ‘point’ on an outgoing spring tide. Beach and car park get busy in the summer. Peak season you might have issue parking after 10am. Lifeguarded during the main summer months.
COVERACK :
Generally a very safe beach in all conditions, other than a moderate-to-strong easterly. Very rarely gets swell. Car park is near the beach and can get busy on weekends and through the main summer. Best parking before 10am or visiting in the evening. No lifeguards. The beach (can) get covered in small rocks, which can make it difficult to access if you’re not too steady on your feet / have balance issues. Always best avoiding the harbour entrance. The activities centre also do windsurfing lessons, so worth staying out of their way. Roskilly’s just around the corner,for a coffee, drink, ice cream and/or food.
HELFORD :
Good and fairly safe swimming off either Durgan Village or Grebe Beach. Both are fairly sheltered and safe but I’d still avoid an outgoing spring tide, stay fairly close to shore and watch out for boats. The car park can get fairly busy, so don’t leave parking until late morning! Bit of a walk down the hill but nothing too steep. You could also check out Trebah Gardens…as they have a private beach.
KYNANCE :
I’d be really careful swimming at Kynance. It can be a nice safe swim and it can also be quite a dangerous one. There are no lifeguards. I’d also avoid an outgoing current. Especially on a spring tide. On an incoming neap, you should be fine. I’d stay in the main bay and not get too adventurous. Swim with a friend(s). There is an overflow car park but I’d still get there before 10am in the summer months. Again, you could visit after 5pm when it calms down. A ‘bit of a walk’ seems to be a running theme with this blog post! Uneven, steep in parts and remote. Great swimming though! Avoid moderate + W/SW wind and swell.
LAMORNA :
Beautiful swimming. Seaweed has a tendency to get stuck in the cove from time to time. Car park can be an issue in summer…so before 10am or evenings. I’d again aim for an incoming tide and avid a moderate + S wind. No lifeguards.
MOUSEHOLE :
High tide dipping / shorter swim in the harbour. Just be sensible and avoid the odd boat moving…and you’ll need a high-ish tide. If you avoid an E/S wind of moderate strength you could swim outside of the harbour. I’d never advise swimming through a harbour mouth, so you can get to the beach on the south side of the harbour wall and swim off there… Parking can be nightmare-ish peak summer after 9.30-10am!
*Winter time especially you’d do well to check the SAS app for any pollution.
PENZANCE SEA FRONT / BATTERY ROCKS :
Lovely in a northerly wind, especially towards high tide. Avoid moderate to strong S/SE/SW winds. Parking in the generally area is good, although very busy on the sea front, in summer months. Only ever get swell in a storm and minimal tidal movement in the bay.
Always best towards high tide. Can get rocky, weedy and very shallow at low tide.
POLDHU COVE :
Lifeguarded through the summer but that’s because it can and does get swell. Swim on an incoming tide and between the flags. Parking at Poldhu and Church Cove (with a mile-ish walk across the coast path). Fairly easy access…just sand to negotiate. Avoid W / SW wind and swell.
PORTHCURNO :
I always think this is best on a low tide. It’s safer, shallower and the colour of the water is far more beautiful. Lifegaurded in the summer months. Parking can be nightmare-ish after 9.45am… Swim on an incoming tide. Avoid moderate-to-strong S / SW / SE winds…and swell.
PORTHALLOW / PORTHOUSTOCK :
Lovely and always fairly safe swims. Avoid easterly winds and very strong S / N wind. Always ample parking, regardless of season and time. Both rocky beaches, so avoid if you have mobility/balance issues. No lifeguards on either.
PORTHMINSTER :
So, so busy in the summer and winter. You can park at Carbis Bay or St Erth and get the train across. You could also walk from Carbis Bay in the summer. Too shallow to swim at low tide, so pick an incoming mid-high tide. Lifeguarded in the main summer seasons.
ST MICHAEL’S MOUNT / MARAZION :
Always best to swim in the morning or evening and avoid the boat traffic to the island. Boats operate from around 9.45am - 5pm. Parking needs to be done before 10am, on the weekends / peak summer, 10-11am midweek. Limited boat traffic on a Saturday. Never swim into the Mount’s harbour! Minimal tidal movement. If you want to swim around the island, don’t go by yourself and take a tow float. Avoid moderate-to-strong S / SW / SE wind.
