Polridmouth Cove Beach

Polridmouth Beach is a quiet sheltered cove to the west of Fowey, separating into two small bays at high tide by a low rocky outcrop. The only way to get there is on foot, which preserves it's seclusion.

The beach is shrouded in history, from its intriguing seawater bath built into the rocks by the Rashleigh family, to the 1920s ornamental lakes that back the beach. These were used in WW2 as decoy sites, complete with dams and lights, to imitate the nearby Fowey harbour. Most famously though, Polridmouth inspired the author Daphne du Maurier, who featured the beach in her 1938 gothic novel, Rebecca, long before she lived at the nearby Menabilly House.

From Fowey the South West Coast Path passes this serene cove before climbing up to Gribben Head with it's iconic red and white tower, offering walkers stunning Cornish coastal views from Fowey to St Austell.