Swims for people with limited mobility
/I had an email about accessible swimming today and thought I’d write a blog post about it and highlight some of the more accessible swims near us. Please bear in mind however, that with granite cliffs, sand, country roads…there aren’t a huge amount of truly accessible swims.
In and around Penzance :
Penzance Harbour - swim at the back of the harbour, off Abbey Slip. Best avoid the main section of the harbour. Limited parking at Abbey Slip . There is a small section of road for blue badge holders…as well as the main council car park on the harbour. Slip drops into the harbour at mid-to-high tide.
Battery Rocks and the slipway to the west of the Jubilee Pool - Battery Rocks has a paved path running down to the entry point, entry via steps with hand rails. A good 300m walk, if you can park in close proximity. Blue Badge holders can park right next to the slipway and you can access the water within 2 hours of a high tide. Avoid moderate to strong southerly wind.
Jubilee Pool - not quite the sea but it’s salt water. Have hoists and accessible aquatic wheelchair. Car park is about 50m away from the lido but is small.
Around Penzance area :
Mousehole Harbour : can swim in the harbour at high tide. Make sure you check the SAS sewage alerts in the winter. You can park nice and close but either have to negotiate steps or a slipway on the steeper side. You can park nice and close to the south beach but I wouldn’t advise drive through the village! You could drive around the back of the village and approach from the rear side and park next to the south beach.
Lamorna - slightly further out of the way but you can park next to the beach…although avoid peak parking times in the summer! At mid-to-high tide, 40m walk into the water, via a rundown slipway and small section of sand.
Sennen Cove - you can park right next to the harbour. Again, near high tide, in calm conditions.
Long Rock - avoid low tide, as it’s a very flat beach and long walk. At high tide you can use the very reasonably priced car park and potentially walk 10-20m into the sea at high tide. You access the beach through a gently sloping slipway. Avoid moderate to strong southerly wind.
Marazion - if you park in either main car park across from the Mount, there are 2 slipways onto the beach and a short walk across the sand. Particularly true of the smaller short stay car park.
Praa Sands - best in calm conditions. Park in Maggie’s Patch car park. Short walk along an accessible road and then a short walk across the beach, at high tide. Longer at mid or low tide.
St Ives area swims :
Carbis Bay - you can park on the beach but the car park is likely to cost you £10-20 and you still have to walk across the sandy beach.
Porthgwidden Beach - if you can park in the ‘Island’ car park, you have a 50-100m walk to the beach and then a walk across a small beach.
The Lizard Peninsula :
Kennack Sands - Car park right on the beach. At high tide there’s a short walk across the beach. Lifeguarded during the summer.
Porthallow - park on the beach itself and a short 20m walk to the sea. The only issue being that it’s a pebble beach. So not an entirely straight forward walk.
Gillan Creek - park at the car park in St Anthony-in-Meneage. There is then a short 30m walk to the water, at high tide. If you swim at mid-to-low tide, you’ll have to negotiate a rocky beach.
Trevassack Lake - I’m cheating a little. Fully accessible site. Has all the equipment you could ask for. Limited opening hours, so do your research.
Falmouth area :
Maenporth Beach - parking on the back of the dunes. Walk across the beach. Be careful, although calm and shletered, you can get strong currents…particularly on spring tides. Avoid a moderate to strong easterly.
Swanpool - similar to Maenporth…just a slightly longer walk. Avoid a moderate to strong easterly.
Gyllyngvase Beach - can never get the spelling of this one right! Quite a flat beach but parking can be an issue. Road access right up to the back of the beach. Avoid a moderate to strong easterly.
Roseland Pen :
Porthcurnick Beach - If you avoid the car park and get there at a reasonable hour…there’s a road right down to the beach. You can turn around at the bottom of the road and get dropped off. Again, plan to swim at high tide. Avoid a moderate to strong easterly.
In & around north Cornwall :
Porthreath - you can park right on the beach but you’ll have to negotiate the sand. Lifeguarded beach in the summer months.
Newquay Harbour - if you can park in the very small car park, there an easy and short walk into the harbour around high tide.
Porth Beach - it’s unclear whether you can still park on the beach but if you drive down to the sea front, past Gwenna Tea Rooms you can park on double yellows during the winter months / blub badge holders. On a spring high tide there’s a short walk across the beach and into the sea.
