Porthluney Beach - Bring the Dogs

Porthluney Beach is the cove directly below Caerhays Castle, with the Castle sitting up on the hill as a backdrop. We went on a sunny afternoon at low tide. It was Wilma’s first time at the sea.

Dogs are welcome year-round. They must be on leads from 1 April to 31 October, off lead is permitted November to March. The “under control” requirement applies all year regardless. There are no lifeguards and the signs warn of strong undercurrents. Inflatables are not advised.

The beach is a wide expanse of golden sand and runs to a generous width at low tide. There are rocks at the western end at low tide – good for rock-pooling if you have older children with you. The cove is south-facing and feels sheltered.

The stream is what surprised us. The Caerhays Stream – or the River Luney – flows out across the eastern edge of the cove to meet the sea. It runs across the sand year-round. The sandy channels were ankle-deep in places when we visited. You have to navigate through them. I would wear waterproof shoes, sandals or be prepared to take your shoes off entirely. The Cornish name “Porth Leveny” means “cove of the smooth river” – the stream is part of the beach’s character, not an inconvenience.

The car park sits directly behind the beach. There are machines to pay for your stay, and the fines for over-staying are reportedly steep, so pay for plenty of time. The parking fee is waived if you go on to visit Caerhays Castle Gardens the same day – don’t pay at the machines, but when you buy your ticket for the gardens, tell them to add your reg number to validate your parking. There are toilets at the car park and a couple of seasonal pop-up cafes in spring and summer, although there were no signs of these when we visited in the afternoon on 2nd June.

The cove is privately owned by the Caerhays Estate and there is a “Making Space for Sand” coastal-management project running here. The South West Coast Path crosses the beach – if you fancy a longer walk you can pick it up east towards Hemmick or Dodman Point, or west towards Portholland.

We combined the beach with the gardens at Caerhays Castle across the road. The two work well together for a half day or full day out.

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The facts

Status: Tried and tested
Region: Cornwall
Dog rules: Partial
Walk distance: 0.5-4 miles
Cost: Free
Website: visitcornwall.com ↗

Facilities

Toilets
Picnic tables
Cafe on site
Accessible parking

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