Lizard Guide

Best for: Family Day Out Kennack Sands/Coverack
Surfing Poldhu
Quiet day for two Gillian
History Church Cove, Gunwalloe
Nearby walks Kynance Cove
CHURCH COVE LIZARD
Ashort walk from the Lizard
Village after St Wynwallow
Church. Alovely stroll down into
Church Cove, past lovely postcard
cottages and its small stream.
Above right is aprivate road to
the new RNLI Lifeboat Station.
(walking permitted).
The cove is very small and
nested between the cliffs and
there is access to the cliff walk.
The crabbing boats are still pulled
up the beach by wire rope and
winch.
COVERACK
Relax on the golden sand and
swim in the azure sea or learn to
wind surf or kayak with the local
school based in the harbour
Greatly restricted beach area at
high tide.
POLDHU COVE
Poldhu Cove is alarge popular
sandy cove with dunes and is well
known surfing spot.
Poldhu Cove is around seven
miles from Helston. Head for
Cury village by heading along
the A3083 to Lizard. After three
miles turn right onto aminor road
to Cury. Drive through the village
and follow the road to Poldhu
Cove. There is apopular surf
school where the whole family
can get lessons on how to enjoy
the waves.
Next door the family run Poldhu
Beach Cafe sells light lunches,
ice creams and drinks, as well as
the usual beaching paraphernalia.
Dogs are banned from Easter Day
to October 1(7am to 7pm)
GILLAN
Gillan Harbour lies about half
mile south of the Helford River
on the southern bank of asmall
creek opposite St Anthony in
Meneage. The beach is amixture
of sand and shingle and there is
asmall area of grass suitable for
picnics. Gillan Harbour beach is
rarely crowded.
There are good walks west
Kynance Cove
along the river bank towards
Manaccan or northwest to
Helford Village. About half amile
east of Gillan lies the rocky Menaver
Beach with walks available
east to Lestowder Cliff leading to
Nare Point.
GUNWALLOE CHURCH COVE
The name of the quiet peaceful
church at the edge of the
sand derives from the Breton
missionary saint “St Winwaloe”
and is an unusual beach in that
there is achurch set below the
low cliffs of Castle Mound at its
northern end.
What is even more unusual, is
that the bell tower is detached
from the main body of the small
church standing about three
metres away cut into the cliffside.
Quite popular due to its
proximity to Helston, fine NT car
park and its good sandy beach.
Overlooked by agolf course on its
eastern edge.
Key: Family Friendly
Car Park
Surf
Lifeguard
Quiet
National Trust
National Trust
car park
KENNACK SANDS
Kennack Sands, just outside
the village of Kuggar (TR12
7LZ) on the Lizard Peninsula, is
well known amongst the surfing
fraternity. This beach has abig
tidal range due to its shallow
angle.
As is usual for beaches on the
Lizard Peninsula, Kennack Sands
also has its own shipwreck story.
In 1914 the 100 ton Normand
of Nantes. The french ship ran
aground here. The remains of
this and other vessels can be
seen from Kennack Sands on
especially low tides. The beach
here is comprised of two beaches
which are split in the middle by
Carn Kennack (a small hill) and
ashore side rock feature called
Caerverracks.
The more easterly beach is
designated as anature reserve,
it can be reached via the footpath
that runs along the back of the
beach and over Carn Kennack.
KYNANCE COVE
Popular since Victorian times
the unexpected views are still a
powerful draw today. Located less
than two miles from The Lizard
and once remote and difficult to
get to, The National Trust built a
new toll road to alarge car park
on the downs above the cove
The beach’s defining features
are the serpentine rock
formations with adistinctive
pinnacle to the north of the
beach. All in all Kynance is one
of the prettiest coves in Cornwall
and as aresult one of the most
painted and photographed.
POLURRIAN COVE
Polurrian Cove lies just seaward
of the village of Mullion. It is
asouthwest-facing beach with
golden sand and patches of fine
shingle.
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