SELF-CATERING HOLIDAYS on a CORNISH BEACH Make Footprints in the Sand and Explore As Many of Cornwall’S Beaches As You Can…
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SELF-CATERING HOLIDAYS ON A CORNISH BEACH Make footprints in the sand and explore as many of Cornwall’s beaches as you can… BE AT HOME BY THE BEACH Beach Retreats boasts over 165 stylish self-catering properties, all within walking distance of the ocean and designed to go hand-in-hand with the coastal lifestyle. Wake up to the sound of the waves, plunge into beach life, brush the sand from your toes and get cosy by the log burner just footsteps from the sea. BE INSPIRED There are more than 400 beaches in Cornwall and 300 miles of coast path. With Beach Retreats scattered from the tip to the toe of the county, we’ve travelled to every nook and cranny of this coastal haven. Whether you’ve got days or weeks to explore, this is our insider information to ensure you fully immerse yourself in the saltwater lifestyle. EXPLORE On the Summer Solstice 2018, between sunrise and sunset, we broke the record for visiting the most Cornish beaches in one day. Starting at 5am in Cawsand and finishing at 9.30pm in Bude, we stepped foot on 47 beautiful beaches. All of our Beach Retreats are within a pebble’s skim of the South West Coast Path. So we wanted to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of this stunning trail, by raising awareness and money to help maintain it. We’re passionate about Cornwall’s beaches and we want everyone to come and enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery for years to come. So what are you waiting for – how many Cornish beaches can you discover this year? 2 3 SUMMER SOLSTICE 21 June 4 beaches 16.5 hours Cawsand - 5.00am Gwithian - .50pm Whitsand - 5.25am Godrevy - 4.00pm Looe - 5.55am Portreath - 4.15pm Charlestown - 6.45am Porthtowan - 4.1pm Porthpean - 6.55am Trevaunance Cove - 4.pm Pentewan - .15am Perranporth - 5.10pm Portmellon - .25am Holywell Bay - 5.0pm Gorran Haven - .40am Crantock - 5.55pm Porthluney Cove - .50am Fistral - 6.15pm Gyllyngvase - .05am ittle Fistral - 6.20pm Swanpool - .0am Towan - 6.0pm Maenporth - .40am Great Western - 6.40pm Cadgwith Cove - 10.40am Tolcarne - 6.50pm Kennack Sands - 10.50am Lusty Glaze - pm Kynance Cove - 11.20am Porth - .05pm Porthleven - 11.55am Watergate Bay - .10pm Praa Sands - 12.20pm Mawgan Porth - .20pm Mousehole - 1.10pm Porthcothan - .40pm Porthcurno - 1.5pm Trevone - .50pm Sennen - 1.50pm Rock - .15pm Porthmeor - 2.50pm Polzeath - .25pm St Ives Harbour Beach - .05pm Widemouth Bay - .25pm Porthgwidden - .20pm Crooklets - .0pm Carbis Bay - .5pm 47 beaches on the longest day... follow the pictures from sunrise to sunset Explore sub-tropical gardens tumbling to secret beaches. Stay in fishermen’s cottages at the edge of smugglers’ coves. SOUTH Step foot on the most southerly point of mainland Britain. Float along estuaries that have inspired literary giants. CORNWALL Wander through meadows and countryside nudging pearly sands. CAWSAND - 5.05am CAWSAND Hunt for starfish, crabs and critters in the rock pools of this sheltered little cove where smugglers once unloaded their goods. Watch sunrise from a smugglers’ cove, peering out to the first rays of daylight brushing the boats in Plymouth Sound. The beaches of Cornwall’s hidden corner are places of legend, beauty and contrast. Tucked into a nook on the wild Rame Peninsula, Kingsand and neighbouring Cawsand were once a hive of smuggling activity. On the other side of Rame Head, pad along Whitsand Bay’s vast golden sands and cove-hop to Looe, listening out for the ghost of smuggler Silas Finn, said to haunt the cliffs at Portwrinkle’s Finnygook Beach. 5:05am: Cawsand 5:25am: Whitsand Bay Make footprints along three miles of golden, dog-friendly sands backed by sheer cliffs. 5:55am: Looe Go crabbing or walk along the banjo pier at this traditional seaside resort, or cast away to Looe Island Nature Reserve. 10 WHITSAND - 5.25am Whitsand Bay Get cosy in one of our romantic cabins overlooking Whitsand Bay. Simon from Beach Retreats stayed in Brackenbank, a stylish chalet on the cliffs. “The coast road took us past a patchwork of beach shacks and cabins, amongst which we found our weekend retreat. Hidden from its neighbours, with panoramic ocean views and the ever-present sounds of the waves, it felt like we were on a boat out at sea. There’s a beautiful outdoor entertaining space with a barbecue, sun loungers and a sea-view shower. The Scandi-inspired living area invites you to get cosy by the wood burner, or you can sit up at the large dining table and watch the boats criss-crossing the water below. At low tide there’s a long stretch of sand accessible via a grassy path, and it’s well worth taking a walk to soak up the views from St Michael’s Chapel on Rame Head. It’s only a short car journey to the waterfront villages of Kingsand and Cawsand, and from the latter we highly recommend hopping on a boat cruise to Plymouth’s waterfront Barbican.” Like the sound of this? Then check out a few more of our cliff-top cabins at Whitsand Bay. Our portfolio includes cosy couple’s boltholes, classic beach hut style properties and luxury coastal pads flooded with sea views. LOOE - 5.55am Looe The second largest fishing port in Cornwall, Looe flaunts the vibe of a classic seaside holiday town. From fish and chips on the beach to a rail ale trip through the valley, there’s plenty to do beyond the maze of markets, boutiques and galleries huddled around the quayside. Five things we love to do in Looe... • Stroll along the Banjo Pier to watch the fishing boats bringing their catch into the harbour. • Grab buckets and nets and go crabbing off the harbour wall. • Take a boat trip to Looe Island, a marine nature reserve where you can come face-to-face with all sorts of sea-life including seals and dolphins. • Spot seabirds, smugglers’ coves and shipwrecks on a coastal ramble to Polperro, then hop on the bus back to Looe. • Hop aboard the Looe Valley Rail Ale Trail, to sample some of the county’s finest ales in a series of inns along one of the Great Scenic Railways of Devon and Cornwall. 14 CHARLESTOWN - 6.45am St Austell Bay As day breaks over the Cornish Riviera, it’s plain to see why this sparkling bay hemmed with sandy coves has become a world-famous filming location. The iconic tall ships, masts rising high from the historic Charlestown harbour, have become a familiar sight on our TV screens, starring in the BBC Poldark series, Hornblower and even Pirates of the Caribbean. Step into the seafaring history of the area at the Charlestown Shipwreck and Heritage Museum, or step foot along the coast path to a necklace of sand and shingle coves. 6:45am: Charlestown 6:55am: Porthpean Pack your swimwear, or at least dip your toes in the cobalt water flanked by cliffs where seabirds nest. 7:15am: Pentewan Hop aboard a kayak or paddleboard and cast away, or kickback on the shore with an award-winning burger from Hubbox. CHARLESTOWN Walk along the harbour wall of this late Georgian port, catch a glimpse of Captain Poldark himself, or meander along the beach and watch fishing boats come and go. 17 POLKERRIS BEACH On the eastern edge of St Austell Bay, Polkerris is another watersports hub, where windsurfing, stand up paddleboarding and sailing are on the activities menu. After a day on the water tuck into wood-fired pizzas and buckets of Fowey mussels atSam’s on the Beach. Take the plunge… The millpond waters of St Austell Bay make it the perfect place for plenty of watersports – from wild swimming to wakeboarding. And after all that splashing around in the sea, it’s fortunate that there are so many excellent eateries for fuelling up back on the beach. Here are some of our favourites… Charlestown Gently shelving sands make this a popular beach for swimmers – some even dare to leap off the harbour wall. Once you’ve shaken the saltwater from your hair, head to The Longstore for steak and seafood, locally sourced from the surrounding land and sea. Pentewan Sands Hire a kayak and paddle out into St Austell Bay, to see if you can spot any seals, seabirds or dolphins – you could even sling a line out to see if you can hook some mackerel. Then fuel up with an American-inspired feast at the beachside Hubbox, where award-winning burgers and New York style hot dogs head-up the menu. 19 PORTMELLON - 7.25am The Roseland Flanked by the wild Atlantic on one side and the serene Fal Estuary on the other, the Roseland Peninsula is a place where craggy headlands meet verdant farmland, and fishermen rub shoulders with A-list celebs in chic waterside inns. Ramble along a coastline peppered with secret coves, fishing villages and wooded creeks, and it’s plain to see why the area has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 7:25am: Portmellon Stroll from Mevagissey or Gorran Haven for a dip at this sand and shingle cove, or visit the waterside pub for a Cornish ale. 7:40am: Gorran Haven Families, kayakers and fishermen mingle at this pretty Cornish beach that’s a popular spot for a pasty or ice cream fix. 7:50am: Porthluney Cove Picnic on the golden sands of this striking cove backed by the magical Caerhays Castle and its exotic gardens. GORRAN HAVEN - 7.40am Make footprints… Walk: Gorran Haven to Portmellon Distance: 6 miles Take a circular walk from sublime beaches to cliff-top scenery and back through lush valley woodland to the water’s edge… • Start in the narrow, medieval streets of the fishing village of Gorran Haven.