Cornwall

Holywell beach walk

This walk takes you across the famous sandy beach of Holywell, before returning through the towering dune system behind. It also offers great views of the Penhale and Kelseys headlands, as well as the twin offshore islands of Carter’s Rocks.

Near to

Holywell

Start point

Holywell National Trust car park, grid ref: SW766587

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1 (km: 1.6)

Duration 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Sandy paths on beach and dunes. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Not suitable for wheelchairs. For further details, please see Access section.
***Dogs welcome on both Crantock and Holywell beaches.

Total stages: 5
Total stages: 5
Start point
Holywell National Trust car park, grid ref: SW766587
Stage 1
From the car park, cross the road and follow the path to the beach.
Stage 2
Wade through the shallow stream if you're feeling adventurous. If not, cross a nearby footbridge to access the dunes.
Holywell dunes
The dunes at Holywell rise to over 65ft (20m) to form part of a massive sand dune system that extends 5 miles (8km) from Perranporth to Crantock. These mobile dunes are constantly being reshaped by the wind, and large areas of bare sand feature. Where there is growth, stiff leaves of marram grass dominate. Other plants include wild flowers, prickly-leaved sea holly and the large yellow flowers of evening primrose – a non-native plant that has widely naturalised in such sparsely vegetated places.
Stage 3
Keeping left of the dunes, stay on the level part of the beach and follow it round to the main beach. You'll pass the Surf Life Saving Club building, which was once dressed up for the Bond movie Die Another Day.
Stage 4
Continue along the beach for a few hundred yards before cutting inland up into the dunes, where you'll see some wooden steps.
Stage 5
This will take you to the line of the coast path. Follow this wider path, marked with wooden posts, back to the start.
End point
Holywell National Trust car park, grid ref: SW766587
Trail map
A map of the Holywell beach walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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