Chapel Porth Beach

Chapel Porth Beach is a small but popular bay at the bottom of a narrow valley on the St Agnes Heritage Coast.

Arriving at Chapel Porth early in the morning and simply walking along the large expanse of golden sand will make you feel glad to be alive. With the constant roar of the waves breaking on the sand, the breeze from the Atlantic and sea spray in your face, this is one of Cornwall’s natural assets at its best. When the tide’s out there are rock pools and caves to explore, and when conditions are right the surf here is fantastic.

At high tide the rocky shore is a little cramped so head to the cafe just up from the beach where in winter sipping a hot chocolate and watching the ocean is a popular pastime, as is tucking in to the café’s legendary 'hedgehog' ice creams, a concoction of Cornish ice cream, covered in clotted cream and topped with crushed hazelnuts. The dramatic ruins of the old Wheal Coates tin mine are perched on the cliffs above the beach, and the walk from there around the coast to the village of St Agnes gives stunning views.

Chapel Porth is owned and looked after by the National Trust and is able to care and conserve areas like this, thanks to their members, volunteers and donors.

Car park free to National Trust members. No overnight camping allowed.

Lifeguard cover from May to September (2023).

Please note: Dogs are welcome on this beach except in July and August when a seasonal dog ban is in place between 10am and 6pm (2023)