If you’re looking for a beach that the whole family will enjoy during your cottage break in Cornwall, Polzeath is a fantastic choice. This beautiful sandy beach is perfect for bulding sandcasles, learning to surf or spotting local wildlife, making it a popular choice throughout the year. Even better, with our collection of lovely self-catering cottages within easy reach of Polzeath, you’ll never be too far from the fun!
Polzeath beach for families
Polzeath is a particularly family-friendly beach, with all kinds of entertainment to keep the little ones happy, including the occasional summer visit by a travelling theatre! You can also enjoy a bounce on the trampoline park, located just behind the car park, while the wide, sandy beach and shallow waters are perfect for paddling and building sandcastles. With its wide range of facilities, including toilets, shops and cafes, you’ll easily find everything you need for younger beach-goers (and the young at heart!) to enjoy a fun, stress-free day out.
Visiting Polzeath beach with dogs
Polzeath Beach has some dog rules, which prohibit dogs on the beach between Easter Sunday and the 30th September. However, nearby Daymer Bay (8 minutes by car) welcomes canine visitors all year round, so you can let them explore to their heart’s content! Dogs are allowed on Polzeath during the winter months, and will love running and exploring the wide swathes of sand… just remember to clean up after them!
Surfing on Polzeath Beach
Polzeath beach is famous for it’s surfing, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy a lesson, as well as a chance for more experienced surfers to make the most of the swells coming in from the Atlantic. Bodyboarding is another popular activity here, and wetsuits and other equipment can be hired and purchased from many of the nearby surf schools. There are lifeguards on duty between the 5th of May until the 30th of September, as well as during weekends in April and October.
Accessibility and parking at Polzeath Beach
Polzeath is one of Cornwall’s more accessible beaches, easily reachable by foot from the car park and with plenty of flat, open space. For those with mobility problems, it is also possible to hire a ‘sand chair’; a wheelchair adapted for use on the beach. Polzeath has two sand chairs available to hire from Wavehunters Surf School.
Polzeath beach has several nearby car parks to choose from, including one at the beach itself. However, they do tend to fill up fast in the summer months. More information on parking in Polzeath can be found here.
Polzeath Beach’s restaurants
There is a selection of beachside restaurants to enjoy during a visit to Polzeath. Surfside Café and Bar is a friendly, casual café that can be reached right from the sand, and serves delicious meals made from amazing local produce (open from Easter until the end of October).
Meanwhile, Waterfront Bar and Grill offers year-round, relaxed dining overlooking the beach. They also have a lovely rooftop bar, which provdes spectacular views in summer and a cosy retreat in winter.
Last but not least, the Cracking Crab is a fantastic family restaurant, with something for all ages. They serve delicious seafood, plenty of ice cream and even some amazing breakfast butties! Their clifftop location makes it a lovely place to admire the sunset with a glass of wine.
Walking around Polzeath Beach
If you want to escape the sand for a while and explore the local area, then Polzeath has a fantastic selection of walks to explore. One of the most popular is the circular walk between Rock and Polzeath (5.8 miles), which takes you across the dunes and headland between the towns. Other breathtaking walks include Polzeath to St Enodoc Church (3.7 miles) and around Pentire Point (4.2 miles).
With our lovely collection of holiday cottages near Polzeath, you’ll find yourself staying within easy reach of this popular family beach. And after a day by the sea, there’s nothing like heading back to your very own home from home to wash away the sand and relax by a flickering fire. Take a look at our collection and secure your next stay today!