Romantic Beaches in Cornwall
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The romantic beaches in Cornwall are Kenneggy Cove, Porthluney Bay, Porthoustock Beach, Little Perhaver Beach, Nanjizal Beach, Perranporth Beach, Benoath Cove and Polstreath Beach.
Cornwall has no shortage of quiet corners for two, from secluded coves reached only on foot to broad sands backed by castles and dunes. Down on Mount's Bay, hidden Kenneggy Cove asks for a scramble down the cliffs, while out near Land's End, Nanjizal hides its rock arch, the Song of the Sea.
Along the south coast around Gorran and Mevagissey you will find golden Porthluney beneath Caerhays Castle, the quiet cove of Little Perhaver and the cliff-backed sands of Polstreath. Over on the Lizard, working Porthoustock offers something more rugged and out of the ordinary.
On the north coast, wide Perranporth pairs surf with sweeping dunes and the ruins of St Piran's oratory, and little Benoath Cove tucks in near the legendary castle of Tintagel. Some are easy to reach, others take real effort, but each offers a quiet moment by the sea.
Here are eight romantic beaches to seek out in Cornwall.
Kenneggy Cove
Photo: simon james via Geograph.org.uk
Kenneggy Cove Kenneggy is a secluded sandy cove on the south coast of Cornwall, tucked below the cliffs between Praa Sands and Prussia Cove on Mount's Bay. There is no easy way down, only a steep, rough scramble from the coast path, sometimes helped along by a fixed rope, and that effort is exactly what keeps it so quiet and little visited.
The sand opens out at low tide below the cliffs, with no facilities and no lifeguard to break the spell. Do be aware the tide can cut the beach off, so keep an eye on the water.
For a couple after somewhere hidden and unspoilt in Cornwall, it is hard to better.
Porthluney Bay
Photo: Martin Dawes via Geograph.org.uk
Porthluney Bay Porthluney is a large, broad beach of golden sand on the south coast of Cornwall near Gorran, with the fairytale towers of Caerhays Castle rising just behind it. The castle, designed by John Nash, sits on a private estate celebrated for its spring magnolia gardens, and the beach below is one of the easier ones to reach in Cornwall, with a car park right beside the sand and level access.
There are toilets and a seasonal cafe, good swimming and rocks to explore at low tide, though no lifeguards. Also known as Porthluney Cove or Caerhays beach, its sweep of sand and castle backdrop make it a scenic choice for two.
Porthoustock Beach
Photo: Trevor Harris via Geograph.org.uk
Porthoustock Beach Porthoustock is a working shingle cove on the eastern side of the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, near St Keverne, with an industrial character rather than a postcard look. A crescent of flat pebbles gives way to a little sand as the tide drops, framed by a large disused concrete silo at one end and a quarry loading quay at the other, with fishing boats drawn up on the shingle.
It is an atmospheric, out-of-the-ordinary spot for a couple who like somewhere unusual. Visitors park on the shingle, and there are toilets in an old lifeboat shed.
Just offshore lie the Manacles, a reef long feared by sailors, which draws divers to its many wrecks.
Little Perhaver Beach
Photo: Ian Paterson via Geograph.org.uk
Little Perhaver Beach Little Perhaver Beach is a small cove of sand and shingle just north of the main beach at Gorran Haven, on the south coast of Cornwall. It sits below the cliffs and joins onto the village beach across the sand at low water, yet it stays noticeably quieter and less built up than its busier neighbour, which makes it a peaceful pocket for two.
The South West Coast Path runs along the top, and the water carries a bathing-water rating of excellent, so it is a fine spot for a quiet swim. There are no facilities on the cove itself; the shops and toilets are all back in Gorran Haven village.
Nanjizal Beach
Photo: David M Murray-Rust via Geograph.org.uk
Nanjizal Beach Nanjizal is a remote cove on the far west coast of Cornwall, just south of Land's End, also known as Mill Bay after an old mill that once worked here. There is no road to it: the way in is on foot along the coast path, then down a steep flight of wooden steps, and that remoteness keeps it a quiet spot for two.
The beach changes from year to year with the storms. Its best-loved feature is the Song of the Sea, a tall, narrow arch worn through the rock on the southern side, with a clear pool at its foot.
There are no facilities, and the currents here are strong.
Perranporth Beach
Photo: Rebecca A Wills via Geograph.org.uk
Perranporth Beach Perranporth Beach is a wide, flat beach of golden sand on the north coast of Cornwall, running for about three miles at the village of Perranporth and backed by the great dune system of Penhale Sands. This is one of the main surfing beaches in the county, with surf schools and room for beginners and experienced surfers, and a stream crossing the sand at the village end.
For a couple it is more about the sweep and the space than seclusion: miles of sand for a long walk, dunes to wander and sunsets over the Atlantic. There are cafes, car parks and lifeguards, and among the dunes lie the ruins of St Piran's oratory.
Benoath Cove
Photo: Rob Farrow via Geograph.org.uk
Benoath Cove Benoath Cove is a small sandy cove on the north Cornwall coast, tucked in beside Bossiney Haven near Tintagel. High grassy cliffs rise around it, and at low tide the sand is broad and joins with the neighbouring haven, opening up rock pools and a couple of small caves at the base of the cliffs.
At higher water the sand shrinks away and the cove closes to rocky ledges. It is reached down steep steps cut into the cliff, or on foot round from Bossiney when the sand is uncovered, and there is nothing built here, just cliff, sand and sea.
Quiet and enclosed, it is a secluded pocket of beach for two.
Polstreath Beach
Photo: Barry Pearce via Geograph.org.uk
Polstreath Beach Polstreath Beach is a wide, mostly sandy beach just north of the harbour town of Mevagissey in Cornwall, backed by cliffs, with more sand showing at low tide. It is reached only on foot, along the coast path from Mevagissey and down a steep flight of steps at the end, and that little effort keeps it quieter than the small harbour beach in the town, so a couple can find a bit of space.
There are no facilities on the sand; the shops, cafes and parking are all back in Mevagissey. Dogs are allowed all year, so it makes an easygoing choice for a peaceful walk and a stretch of sand largely to yourselves.
FAQs
Which romantic beaches in Cornwall are the most secluded?
Some of the quietest here take real effort. Kenneggy Cove needs a steep scramble down the cliffs on Mount's Bay, Nanjizal near Land's End is a walk and a flight of steps, and Benoath Cove near Tintagel is reached down steps cut into the rock.
Are any of these Cornwall beaches easy to reach for a couple?
Yes. Porthluney below Caerhays Castle is one of the easier beaches in Cornwall, with a car park beside the sand and level access, while Porthoustock on the Lizard lets you park right on the shingle.
Do these Cornish beaches have facilities?
Facilities are thin on most. Porthluney has toilets and a seasonal cafe, but coves like Kenneggy, Nanjizal and Benoath in Cornwall have none at all, so bring what you need and check the tide times before heading down.
Conclusion
Romance on the Cornish coast can mean very different things. It might be the effort of scrambling down to hidden Kenneggy Cove or walking out to remote Nanjizal near Land's End, where the Song of the Sea arch waits at the water's edge.
It might be the fairytale towers of Caerhays behind golden Porthluney, the quiet of Little Perhaver and Polstreath near Mevagissey, or the sweep of Perranporth at sunset. Even working Porthoustock on the Lizard has its own rugged charm for those who look beyond the obvious.
Whichever you choose, check the tides before you set off, especially on the coves that cut off, and take care on the steep paths down. For a quiet moment with someone by the sea, these are the romantic beaches to seek out in Cornwall.
