Chapel Porth

A dramatic National Trust-owned cove below old mine workings near St Agnes, Environment Agency-classified Excellent, known for strong rip currents and big surf.

Beach & safety

Water quality: Excellent

Lifeguard: RNLI lifeguard cover May to September

Hazards: Signs warn of strong undercurrents/rip currents (common around gullies and near rocks), large breaking waves, risk of rockfalls, and a fast shorebreak that develops at higher tides.

Amenities: toilets · car-park · cafe

Dogs

Official source: View the rule at source →

Family

Spectacular scenery and a National Trust cafe/toilets at the car park, but strong currents and rockfall risk mean closer supervision is needed than at a sheltered family bay.

Fishing

Chapel Porth combines a sandy surf cove with kelp-filled rocky flanks. Bass, whiting, plaice and turbot use the beach, while pollack, wrasse, pouting, dogfish and bull huss are associated with the rougher platforms and gullies. A flooding tide is productive but leaves rapidly shrinking space, so exit timing is central to the mark.

Species reported: Bass, Plaice and turbot, Whiting, Pollack and ballan wrasse, Pouting, lesser-spotted dogfish and bull huss

Crabbing

rock pooling only — National Trust material supports low-tide rock-pool and cave exploration. No stable protected family line-crabbing edge was verified, and the disappearing beach makes extended bucket-style crabbing unsuitable.

Access & parking

National Trust car park (free to members) with a path down to the beach. Sat-nav: TR5 0NT. Get directions →