Family friendly places on the Roseland

View over Towan beach on the Roseland — Golden beaches on the Roseland

When you want to have a day of idle adventure, the Roseland leads you to lots of places you'll want to come back to again and again - as long as you can find the tiny lane you came down to get there, that is.

Cornwall's south coast is strewn with little coves and bays, waiting for you to discover. Here are a few of our favourites.

Porthcurnick beach

Just along the coast from Portscatho is Porthcurnick beach, home of the Hidden Hut café where you can stop off for drinks and snacks. This is a great family-friendly beach where you can take it easy and admire the views. If you like to spend your beach days peering into rock pools, then you'll love this place as the tide goes out revealling all the creatures and multicoloured sea weeds that live in the shallows.

Porthcurnick is dog friendly all year.

porthcurnick beach, Roseland, Cornwall — Porthcurnick beach

Towan beach and Porth

Park in our car park at Porth and make your way though the courtyard and down towards Towan beach, a wide open bay which is family friendly and full of wildlife. Footpaths lead round to St Anthony Head and Portscatho on each side and if you fancy staying longer why not book one of our holiday cottages in the old farm range at Porth. There is also an all weather path round the woods and creek edge which is accessible for wheelchair users and buggies.

Stop off for a cup of tea, or maybe something more, at The Thirstea Co café in the courtyard area.

Towan beach is dog friendly all year.

Carne and Pendower

These two beaches become one long stretch of golden sand when the tide is out. There is parking and toilets at both ends and you will find a concession catering van parked up at Carne ready to tempt you in the warmer months.

Both beaches have a seasonal dogs 'on lead' policy.

Looking over to Carne beach on the Roseland

St Anthony Head

There is a Trust car park here, and you can spend the afternoon exploring the headland. Can you find the Fraggle Rock lighthouse? Find out about the history of the area and how it was used to defend Falmouth against coastal attack. Stay in one of the old officers' quarters, now holiday cottages. Walk down to the bird hide and see the peregrines, or on past the old Paraffin Store to the lighhouse.

Follow the path down to your right and around the corner you will find the beach called Little Molunan, a perfect hideaway.

Lighthouse at St Anthony Head, Roseland, Cornwall — The Fraggle Rock lighthouse at St Anthony Head

Percuil

The Percuil river opens out into the harbour at St Mawes and has many creeks spurring off it. Stop for a picnic, take the passenger ferry from Place to St Mawes and discover the circular walks that take you through woodlands, along shorelines and through quiet country lanes.

St Mawes

St Mawes is perched on the end of the Fal estuary looking towards the Carrick Roads. There are miles of footpaths hugging the coast line and beaches for a paddle and a picnic.

Spend the day idling around the town and harbour, visit the castle or hop on the ferry over to Falmouth.

Our short film celebrates the stunning landscape of the South West coast, specially commissioned in 2015 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the coastline conservation campaign.