emilywillisblogCrantock beach is in Cornwall in the South West of England. Crantock beach has wonderful vistas and is a very memorable beach that is highly recommended to visit. There are a couple of great bars nearby for refreshment, as well as some long coastal walks nearby to be enjoyed, although Crantock beach is not recommended for swimming or water sports due to the sandbank.
Best walks at Crantock beach
Cornwall is packed full of beautiful beaches; Crantock may be one of my favourites. Hugged by the cove on both sides, it is fed by the River Gannel which runs arterial up the middle.
Crantock beach is pretty narrow and therefore not the best for walking necessarily as traversing it is pretty swift, however take the south west coast path in the direction of Polly Joke beach for a stunning longer walk where you can ditch the other tourists. From this vantage point, you will have a stunning view down of the bay and the river, with that quintessential turquoise blue ocean and multiple breaklines engulfing the surfers which has become iconic of Cornwall. This path weaves in and out of scrub which has grown high and the bowers of rhododendrons arch over the path and create tunnels which in places obscure your view of the coastline. You will come to a restaurant the clifftop by a road which makes some fine seafood pasta dishes and bellinis with fresh peach juice. The path also brings you to Polly Joke beach which is much quieter than Crantock owing to the fact it’s only accessible on foot via this walking route.
If you continue you will reach Holywell beach which is a beautiful bay where you can also buy ice cream. If you walk this path in the dark you won’t meet another soul and you will get some fabulous (and a little intimidating!) encounters with the sea rushing up to meet you as black waves crash on the rocks. Just be sure to take a torch as there’s no lighting.
Can you swim and surf at Crantock beach?
Although Crantock seems large when the tide is out and it feels like a considerable walk to get to the ocean, it can still get pretty packed with tourists, which can spoil the experience of swimming a bit. Nevertheless, like all beaches in Cornwall, it is a pleasure getting into the water which feels like cooled bath water due to the Gulf Stream current and has none of the bracing yourself or adorning wetsuits that you need when getting into the North Sea. The waves at Crantock are substantial but not overwhelming and you feel that you have enough time to float and swim a little in between bobbing the waves.
Safety at Crantock beach
A word of caution for swimming and water sports at Crantock beach. The river that feeds the bay creates a large sandbank. You need to be VERY careful entering the water on an incoming tide. The lifeguards retreat in their jeep to behind the sandbank meaning they are a considerable distance away from the people beyond the sandbank in the ocean, and with the height of the waves it’s doubtful if they would be able to see someone in distress. I had the misfortune to learn this the hard way when I was surfing in Crantock. We had been out for about 3 hours and I was suddenly feeling like lead in my legs. I turned to jump back on the board and paddle back, and suddenly saw that the water had raced in behind the sandbank and where I was surfing in water at waist height it suddenly gave way beyond the sandbank to very deep water with a strong current that was ripping along and sweeping you round the edge of the cove. There was also a strong wind. It made paddling inland very very difficult and had I not had the board, I doubt I would have had the strength to swim back, and I did have a few moments of panic when it felt as if I had not made any progress toward the shore.
Additionally, if you are not an experienced surfer pay heed – Crantock bay is not very wide and as a result surfers get concentrated in one area. If you are attempting to learn to surf in shallower waters more experienced surfers can come in riding the waves very fast. Sometimes you don’t see them coming when you’re facing the other way attempting to mount the board, and they don’t see you, due to the height of the waves, so make sure to avoid getting a board to your head!
How to get to Crantock beach
If you are staying in Crantock and are able it is best to walk down to the beach to avoid scrambling for parking and having to pay. This is because the carpark can get very full at peak times unless you get there early. It is a National Trust carpark, and you’ll need to download an app to pay by phone if you don’t have cash.
Is Crantock beach accessible?
You do have to walk a short distance along the edge of the dunes and the estuary to get to the beach from the car park, and this may impede those with mobility issues and families with pushchairs or a lot of bags.
Is Crantock beach family and dog friendly?
There are lots of activities to keep families occupied at Crantock beach. Paddleboards and surf boards can be hired from the hut on the beach and guided lessons can also be purchased.
Dogs are also allowed on the beach, even in high season.
Places to eat and drink at Crantock beach
The Beachcomber Cafe is situated on Crantock beach and is a lovely spot for gathering in the evenings for a drink. During the day it serves traditional Cornish food like pasties, as well as hot meals, and paninis, and ice cream. If you are looking for somewhere quieter and more intimate, walk up the winding roads towards Crantock where you can find village cafes and the Jam Jar pub which also serves snacks like bread with olive oil.
Things to do near Crantock
Crantock is a short drive from Fistral beach and Newquay which attract a lot of tourists. Fistral beach is famous for surfing and The Headland Hotel there is famous for storm watching and afternoon tea. Newquay is packed full of wonderful cafes and restaurants where you can sample some of Cornwall’s finest iconic foods like scones with cream and jam, and Cornish pasties. There are also a large number of gift shops and clothes shops here where you can pick up souvenirs and beachwear. Further afield (about a 40 minute drive) is the Lost Gardens of Heligan which is definitely worth a visit. Falling into ruin after the first world war when its workforce never returned from the trenches, the garden was revived in the 1990s and has become one of the largest horticultural restorations in Europe. The Eden Project is also around a 40 minute drive and is home to over a 1000 global plant species in its various microclimate biomes.