West Cornwall is blessed with an extraordinary variety of beaches, and Mousehole sits at the heart of one of its finest stretches of coastline. Whether you’re looking for a gentle paddle in a sheltered cove, a long walk on open sands, or the exhilaration of swimming in clear Atlantic water, the beaches within easy reach of our luxury apartment accommodation in Mousehole, Cornwall offer something for every mood, every tide, and every member of the family.
Mousehole Beach
The closest beach to Polvellan Heights, Mousehole’s own harbour beach is a narrow crescent of sand and shingle tucked inside the granite harbour walls, facing south into the sheltered expanse of Mount’s Bay. Protected from the prevailing westerly winds, it’s warm and calm on summer afternoons – a place where children paddle happily in the shallows while adults watch the village go quietly about its business from the harbour wall, coffee in hand. It isn’t a beach for serious swimming, but as a place to sit, breathe, and simply be in Mousehole, it is very hard to beat.
Porthcurno
Eight miles to the south-west, Porthcurno is in an entirely different league. A steep, sheltered valley opens dramatically onto a beach of brilliant white shell sand, enclosed on both sides by towering granite cliffs, with water that turns an almost improbable shade of turquoise on a sunny day. It is consistently rated among the finest beaches in Britain – and deservedly so. The snorkelling off the rocks at each end of the beach is excellent, and the Minack Theatre sits on the clifftop directly above, making a combination of afternoon on the beach followed by an evening performance one of the truly great days out in all of Cornwall.
Sennen Cove
For those in search of surf, Sennen Cove near Land’s End – approximately 12 miles from Mousehole – offers reliable Atlantic swells, a long and generous sandy beach, and a well-established surf school with board hire. It’s one of the best surf beaches on the entire Cornish peninsula, and the setting, with Land’s End just around the headland, is dramatic in the extreme.
Praa Sands
Head in the opposite direction – roughly eight miles east along the coast – and you’ll find Praa Sands: a glorious two-mile stretch of open sand facing directly south. It catches more sun and shelter than almost any other beach on the peninsula, making it one of the warmest and most inviting on a fine day. Wide, unhurried, and never quite as crowded as the more famous beaches further west, it’s a wonderful alternative when you want space to breathe.
All four beaches are within easy driving distance of Polvellan Heights, and on a fine Cornish summer’s day the journey along the lanes between them is a pleasure in itself.
Bookings are available year-round at our luxury apartment accommodation in Mousehole, Cornwall – so whether you’re planning a midsummer beach-hopping holiday or a quieter off-season retreat, the coast is always waiting.
