Fishing at Bossiney Haven

Cove / rock markCornwall🐾 Dog-friendly all year★☆☆ family

A steep, scenic cove a mile east of Tintagel where kelp-lined rock ledges flank a small sand beach that vanishes completely at high water. Most sport comes from working lures and float-fished baits into the gullies either side rather than the sand itself.

📍 View on the map

What you can catch

Species	Season	Method
Bass	Apr–Nov	Lures or soft plastics worked through the gullies on the rising tide, or float-fished crab tight to the rock edges after dark.
Mackerel	Jun–Sep	Feathers or small spinners cast off the rock ledges as the tide floods in.
Pollack	Apr–Oct	Lures or soft plastics worked over the kelp on the drop, best at dusk.
Wrasse	May–Sep	Float-fished ragworm or crab fished tight against the kelp fringe.
Conger eel / bull huss	Sep–Feb	Mackerel flapper or squid bait fished hard on the bottom in the deeper gullies after dark.

Tactics

Fish the rock ledges either side of the cove rather than the sand, which is unproductive and disappears at high water anyway. Work lures or soft plastics through the kelp gullies on the flood for bass and pollack, switching to static bait after dark for conger and huss.

Best tide: 2 hours either side of high water · Best time: Dusk and after dark, especially in autumn

Dogs

Bossiney Haven (and neighbouring Benoath Cove) are among the roughly 136 Cornwall beaches with no seasonal dog restriction under Cornwall Council's beach dog PSPO — dogs are permitted all year with no time-of-day ban, unlike most Cornwall beaches which exclude dogs 10am–6pm (1 Jul–31 Aug) or, on Blue Flag/Seaside Award beaches, 15 May–30 Sep.

Access & parking

Park at the small pull-in near the communications mast just off the B3263 Tintagel–Boscastle road, then follow the steep cliff path/steps down into the cove. Sat-nav: PL34 0AY.Get directions → Family rating: ★☆☆ — Access is via steep steps down the cliff — not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs — there is no lifeguard, and the sand is completely covered at high tide, so it's easy to get cut off.

FAQs

Is Bossiney Haven dog friendly?

Yes — it's one of the Cornwall beaches with year-round, unrestricted dog access, unlike most local beaches that ban dogs in summer.

Does the beach at Bossiney Haven get cut off by the tide?

Yes, the sandy part of the cove is completely covered at high water, so fish the rock ledges and time your session around the tide.

Where do you park for Bossiney Haven?

There's a small car park/pull-in off the B3263 near Tintagel (PL34 0AY), with extra field parking available in the holiday season.

Nearby marks

Boscastle Harbour

Last updated 7 July 2026 — sources & disclaimer

Compiled from angling guides, forums and the relevant council's dog byelaws, cross-checked where possible.

Rules and conditions change, so always check current signage and tides before you go. We do our best to keep this accurate but can't promise it's error-free.