5. Prussia Cove
Prussia Cove, known locally as Porth-en-Alls, is a magical spot just west of Praa Sands near Penzance. A 10-minute downhill walk from the car park, and you arrive in what looks like the land of the piskies!
Beautiful stone cottages look down on crystal blue waters, giving you the choice of large slabs of rock to sunbathe on, or small sandy beaches between numerous caves.
The water is always clear, and the small natural-looking harbour on the right, is an amazing place to snorkel - the perfect spot for a wild swim!
Prussia Cove
4. Porthcurnick
It wouldn’t be right to do a top-swim-spots around Cornwall, and not mention the Roseland!
Over recent years, St Mawes and the surrounding coastline have grown in popularity and quite rightly so.
Porthcurnick beach itself benefits from small rock pools on either side, and at low tide, a sizeable sandy beach in the middle, creating the perfect route to take a refreshing dip!
Frequently compared to the Mediterranean, with turquoise blue waters, and amazing snorkelling spots, Porthcurnick is a great beach to seek out.
Porthcurnick Beach
3. Jubilee Pool Penzance
Jubilee pool is an incredible and often overlooked spot far west in Penzance. Originally built in the 1930s, this art deco sea pool is the perfect spot if you’re looking to ease yourself into wild swimming.
With the choice of the natural sea pool, only a couple of degrees warmer than the sea, or their 30-35ᵒ geothermal pool, naturally heated by the 410m deep geothermal well, and protected from the winds by high white walls, it’s a lovely place to swim.
Jubilee Pool
2. Bude Sea Pool
Bude sea pool began construction in the 1920s, after the first influx of tourists led to tragedies due to a lack of knowledge about sea swimming and the dangers.
Opened for the first time in the 1930s, it’s part man-made and part natural structure has since been taken over by Friends of Bude Sea Pool.
It’s a tidal pool, meaning that the water is refreshed every time the tide comes in, and is manned by volunteers to ensure it’s a safe and enjoyable place to swim!
Situated on the popular Summerleaze beach, this is a great way to take a dip in a safe and monitored environment. The pool is fully open to the public, with no booking fee or restrictions, but do check the website for the tide times!
Bude Sea Pool
1. Trebah Beach (Polgwidden Cove)
Polgwidden Cove, Trebah's own private beach at the bottom of the garden is a stunning spot on the ludicrously beautiful, hidden treasure that is the Helford river.
Surrounded by natural landscape, and with views to the south side of the Helford, take in the glassy clear sea and ponder the history of this fascinating beach. With some clear remnants of the cove’s previous uses, with car deisgner Donald Healey’s boathouse selling ice creams, and the last ruins of a jetty that was used in WWII, this incredible cove has huge amounts of history behind it.
The beach is accessible to visitors of Trebah Garden and is open all year round.
