Porthmeor

St Ives' most exposed beach, a sandy surf spot right below the Tate St Ives gallery, with Blue Flag status and a seasonal lifeguard service.

Beach & safety

Water quality: Excellent

Lifeguard: seasonal (RNLI, summer)

Hazards: exposed to south-westerly gales/swell,busy with surfers - keep clear of surf lanes when swimming

Amenities: cafe/restaurant · toilets (disabled access) · first aid point · lost child centre · shop · slipway · paid parking

Dogs

Official source: View the rule at source →

Family

Popular surf beach with a small paid car park right above the sand, an excellent cafe, and full toilet/disabled facilities.

Fishing

Porthmeor has clean central sand and rocky headlands at both ends. Bass use surf gutters and rips, summer brings mackerel, garfish and scad, whiting and dogfish appear after dark, and the rocky margins hold pollack and wrasse. A flooding tide through high water at dawn, dusk or darkness is the strongest general window.

Species reported: Bass, Mackerel, garfish and scad, Pollack and ballan wrasse, Whiting and lesser-spotted dogfish, Dab and small-eyed ray

Crabbing

unknown — No protected family line-crabbing zone was verified on the surf beach or exposed headlands.

Access & parking

Small paid car park directly above the beach. Sat-nav: TR26 1JZ. Get directions →