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 2018 Cover Provided | Start Date for Main Lifeguard Season 2018 | End Date for Main Lifeguard Season 2018 | October Cover Provided |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booby's Bay | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Carbis Bay | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Chapel Porth | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Constantine Bay |
30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May |
5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from 20th to the 28th Ocbober |
| Crackington Haven | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Crantock | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Crooklets | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Fistral (north) | 30th March | 30th March | 28th October | 28th October |
| Fistral (south) | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Freathy | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Great Western | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Gunwalloe | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Gwenver | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Godrevy | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Gwithian | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to the 28th October |
| Gwithian: Upton Towans | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Gwithan: Common Towans | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Gwithan: Mexico Towans | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Gwithian: Hayle Towans | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | No |
| Gyllyngvase | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Harlyn Bay | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Holywell Bay | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Kennack Sands | No | 19th May, weekends only until 7th July | 30th September | No |
| Lusty Glaze | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Marazion | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Mawgan Porth | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Northcott Mouth | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Perranporth | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Perran Sands | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Perranuthnoe | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Poldu Cove | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Polurrian Cove | No | 7th July, weekends and Bank Holidays only | 2nd September | No |
| Polzeath | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Porth | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Porthcothan | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Porthcurno | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Porth Kidney | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Porthleven | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Porthmeor | 30th March | 30th March | 28th October | 28th October |
| Porthminster | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Porthtowan | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Portreath | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Praa Sands | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Sandymouth | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Seaton | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Sennen | 30th March | 30th March | 28th October | 28th October |
| Sharrow | No | 5th May | 30th September | No |
| St Agnes | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Summerleaze | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Tolcarne | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Towan | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Trebarwith | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Tregantle | No | 5th May (Subject to firing range use) | 30th September | No |
| Tregonhawke | No | 5th May | 30th September | No |
| Trevone | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Treyarnon | No | 5th May | 30th September | No |
| Watergate Bay | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Widemouth Bay | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Widemouth Bay (Black Rock) | No | 19th May | 30th September | 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 2018 Cover Provided | Start Date for Main Lifeguard Season 2018 | End Date for Main Lifeguard Season 2018 | October Cover Provided |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booby's Bay | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Carbis Bay | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Chapel Porth | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Constantine Bay |
30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May |
5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from 20th to the 28th Ocbober |
| Crackington Haven | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Crantock | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Crooklets | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Fistral (north) | 30th March | 30th March | 28th October | 28th October |
| Fistral (south) | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Freathy | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Great Western | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Gunwalloe | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Gwenver | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Godrevy | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Gwithian | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to the 28th October |
| Gwithian: Upton Towans | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Gwithan: Common Towans | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Gwithan: Mexico Towans | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Gwithian: Hayle Towans | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | No |
| Gyllyngvase | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Harlyn Bay | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Holywell Bay | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Kennack Sands | No | 19th May, weekends only until 7th July | 30th September | No |
| Lusty Glaze | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Marazion | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Mawgan Porth | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Northcott Mouth | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Perranporth | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Perran Sands | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Perranuthnoe | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Poldu Cove | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Polurrian Cove | No | 7th July, weekends and Bank Holidays only | 2nd September | No |
| Polzeath | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Porth | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Porthcothan | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Porthcurno | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Porth Kidney | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Porthleven | No | 7th July | 2nd September | No |
| Porthmeor | 30th March | 30th March | 28th October | 28th October |
| Porthminster | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Porthtowan | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Portreath | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Praa Sands | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Sandymouth | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Seaton | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Sennen | 30th March | 30th March | 28th October | 28th October |
| Sharrow | No | 5th May | 30th September | No |
| St Agnes | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Summerleaze | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Tolcarne | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Towan | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Trebarwith | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Tregantle | No | 5th May (Subject to firing range use) | 30th September | No |
| Tregonhawke | No | 5th May | 30th September | No |
| Trevone | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |
| Treyarnon | No | 5th May | 30th September | No |
| Watergate Bay | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Widemouth Bay | 30th March to the 15th April and weekends until the 5th May | 5th May | 30th September | Weekends and from the 20th to 28th October |
| Widemouth Bay (Black Rock) | No | 19th May | 30th September | No |