Beach Safety
Conditions at the coast and beach can change rapidly and can be very dangerous for a number of reasons.
People want to feel safe when they are using the beach or on the coast. We provide a range of safety services on beaches in Cornwall and along the coastline.
There is always a need for those using the coastline to do safely and considerately.
Tides
If you are going to the beach always make sure you are aware of the tides. The sea can move quickly and if not careful you could get cut off by the tide. You can view tide times on the BBC website.
Beach Lifeguarding
The RNLI now patrol over 200 beaches around the UK and provide a beach lifeguarding service not only on Council owned beaches in Cornwall but also on a number of beaches in the County that are privately owned.
The main lifeguard season runs from May to September. However, this does vary from beach to beach. For more information on the lifeguard service on specific beaches please refer to the table below. For more detailed information on beach safety please view the Beach Safety Tips page.
Beach Safety Signs
Beach safety signs are used to inform beach users about hazards on the beach, prohibited activities, beach lifeguard services and other appropriate local information such as bathing water quality. Please always read and take note of any signs on the beach you are visiting.
Public Rescue Equipment
Public Rescue Equipment is positioned on many of the beaches in Cornwall and along some stretches of the coastline. This equipment includes life rings and torpedo tubes, attached to a length of rope and housed in units that provide information about dangers in the area. If you have concerns about a piece of public rescue equipment being damaged or missing, please report this to us using the details on this page.
Lifeguard service on specific beaches
| Beach Name | Easter 2020 Cover Provided | Start Date for Main Lifeguard Season 2020 | End Date for Main Lifeguard Season 2020 | October Cover Provided |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booby's Bay | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Carbis Bay | No | No | No | No |
| Chapel Porth | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| Constantine Bay |
No |
30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from 24th October to the 1st November |
| Crackington Haven | No | 11th July | 6th September | No |
| Crantock | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Crooklets | No | 17th June | 27th September | No |
| Fistral (north) | No | 30th May | 1st November | 1st November |
| Fistral (south) | No | Watched from Fistral North | Watched from Fistral North | No |
| Freathy | No | Watched from Sharrow | Watched from Sharrow | No |
| Great Western | No | Watched from Towan | Watched from Towan | No |
| Gunwalloe | No | No | No | No |
| Gwenver | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Godrevy | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Gwithian | No | 30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Gwithian: Upton Towans | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Gwithan: Common Towans | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Gwithan: Mexico Towans | No | Watched from Upton | Watched from Upton | No |
| Gwithian: Hayle Towans | No | 13th June | 27th September | No |
| Gyllyngvase | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Harlyn Bay | No | 20th June | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Holywell Bay | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| Kennack Sands | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Lusty Glaze | No | No | No | No |
| Marazion | No | No | No | No |
| Mawgan Porth | No | 30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Northcott Mouth | No | No | No | No |
| Perranporth | No | 30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Perran Sands | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Perranuthnoe | No | No | No | No |
| Poldu Cove | No | 13th June | 27th September | No |
| Polurrian Cove | No | No | No | No |
| Polzeath | No | 30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Porth | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Porthcothan | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Porthcurno | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Porth Kidney | No | Watched from Hayle Towans | Watched from Hayle Towans | No |
| Porthleven | No | No | No | No |
| Porthmeor | 6th April | 13th June | 1st November | 1st November |
| Porthminster | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Porthtowan | No | 31th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Portreath | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| Praa Sands | No | 13th June | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Sandymouth | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Seaton | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Sennen | No | 13th June | 1st November | 1st November |
| Sharrow | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| St Agnes | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Summerleaze | No | 4th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Tolcarne | No | TBC | TBC | No |
| Towan | No | 4th July | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Trebarwith | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| Tregantle | No | 4th July (Subject to firing range use) | 27th September | No |
| Tregonhawke | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| Trevone | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Treyarnon | No | 17th June | 27th September | No |
| Watergate Bay | No | 13th June | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Widemouth Bay | No | 30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Widemouth Bay (Black Rock) | No | Watched from Widemouth | Watched from Widemouth | No |
Conditions at the coast and beach can change rapidly and can be very dangerous for a number of reasons.
People want to feel safe when they are using the beach or on the coast. We provide a range of safety services on beaches in Cornwall and along the coastline.
Continue readingThere is always a need for those using the coastline to do safely and considerately.
If you are going to the beach always make sure you are aware of the tides. The sea can move quickly and if not careful you could get cut off by the tide. You can view tide times on the BBC website.
The RNLI now patrol over 200 beaches around the UK and provide a beach lifeguarding service not only on Council owned beaches in Cornwall but also on a number of beaches in the County that are privately owned.
The main lifeguard season runs from May to September. However, this does vary from beach to beach. For more information on the lifeguard service on specific beaches please refer to the table below. For more detailed information on beach safety please view the Beach Safety Tips page.
Beach safety signs are used to inform beach users about hazards on the beach, prohibited activities, beach lifeguard services and other appropriate local information such as bathing water quality. Please always read and take note of any signs on the beach you are visiting.
Public Rescue Equipment is positioned on many of the beaches in Cornwall and along some stretches of the coastline. This equipment includes life rings and torpedo tubes, attached to a length of rope and housed in units that provide information about dangers in the area. If you have concerns about a piece of public rescue equipment being damaged or missing, please report this to us using the details on this page.
| Beach Name | Easter 2020 Cover Provided | Start Date for Main Lifeguard Season 2020 | End Date for Main Lifeguard Season 2020 | October Cover Provided |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booby's Bay | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Carbis Bay | No | No | No | No |
| Chapel Porth | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| Constantine Bay |
No |
30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from 24th October to the 1st November |
| Crackington Haven | No | 11th July | 6th September | No |
| Crantock | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Crooklets | No | 17th June | 27th September | No |
| Fistral (north) | No | 30th May | 1st November | 1st November |
| Fistral (south) | No | Watched from Fistral North | Watched from Fistral North | No |
| Freathy | No | Watched from Sharrow | Watched from Sharrow | No |
| Great Western | No | Watched from Towan | Watched from Towan | No |
| Gunwalloe | No | No | No | No |
| Gwenver | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Godrevy | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Gwithian | No | 30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Gwithian: Upton Towans | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Gwithan: Common Towans | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Gwithan: Mexico Towans | No | Watched from Upton | Watched from Upton | No |
| Gwithian: Hayle Towans | No | 13th June | 27th September | No |
| Gyllyngvase | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Harlyn Bay | No | 20th June | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Holywell Bay | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| Kennack Sands | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Lusty Glaze | No | No | No | No |
| Marazion | No | No | No | No |
| Mawgan Porth | No | 30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Northcott Mouth | No | No | No | No |
| Perranporth | No | 30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Perran Sands | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Perranuthnoe | No | No | No | No |
| Poldu Cove | No | 13th June | 27th September | No |
| Polurrian Cove | No | No | No | No |
| Polzeath | No | 30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Porth | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Porthcothan | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Porthcurno | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Porth Kidney | No | Watched from Hayle Towans | Watched from Hayle Towans | No |
| Porthleven | No | No | No | No |
| Porthmeor | 6th April | 13th June | 1st November | 1st November |
| Porthminster | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Porthtowan | No | 31th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Portreath | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| Praa Sands | No | 13th June | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Sandymouth | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Seaton | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Sennen | No | 13th June | 1st November | 1st November |
| Sharrow | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| St Agnes | No | 4th July | 27th September | No |
| Summerleaze | No | 4th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Tolcarne | No | TBC | TBC | No |
| Towan | No | 4th July | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Trebarwith | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| Tregantle | No | 4th July (Subject to firing range use) | 27th September | No |
| Tregonhawke | No | 20th June | 27th September | No |
| Trevone | No | 27th June | 27th September | No |
| Treyarnon | No | 17th June | 27th September | No |
| Watergate Bay | No | 13th June | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Widemouth Bay | No | 30th May | 27th September | Weekends and from the 24th October to the 1st November |
| Widemouth Bay (Black Rock) | No | Watched from Widemouth | Watched from Widemouth | No |