HEALTH AND WELLNESS ON THE SAND
For the Gyllyngvase Beach takeover, we discover how people keep active at this vibrant beach. Whether it’s swimming, beach workouts, paddleboarding, or a restorative sauna session, this sandy haven is the perfect backdrop for keeping happy and healthy.
One of Cornwall’s seven Blue Flag beaches, Gylly is known for its accessibility, facilities and clear water. This makes it the perfect hub for exercise and soaking up the wellbeing benefits of being outdoors. With its relaxed, friendly atmosphere and great setting, it is a hive of activity from dawn to dusk.
DAWN DIPPERS
Come wind, rain, sun or none, swimmers arrive at the beach shortly before sunrise. Gylly’s gently shelving sand and almost always calm waters make it perfect for a dip. The beach is sheltered by two headlands, making it a reliable destination for water users year-round.
“What I like about swimming at Gylly is that it’s really open,” says Gemma from SheSwims Falmouth. “There’s a lot of space and a lot of different water users.”
Image credit: Amy Bullock
“As dawn turns to daylight, get-fit groups head to areas of fine-grained sand to get active. Bootcamp, tai chi and kettlebell classes all use the beach to work out.”
Gylly is known for its large number of swimmers, who have been coming here for many years. “It’s got a really nice community feel to it so whenever you come down here there’s something going on, something to see, someone to chat to,” says Gemma.
ACTIVE ACTION
As dawn turns to daylight, get-fit groups head to areas of fine-grained, soft sand to get active. Bootcamp, tai chi and kettlebell classes all use the beach to work out.
Bex is Health Club Manager at the nearby St Michael’s Hotel & Spa and runs morning yoga classes near the café. “I love doing morning classes and coming together at Gylly,” Bex says.
Perhaps it’s because there’s something nourishing about watching the sun rise over Pendennis Castle or hearing tiny waves lap the shore. “There’s an added wellness element” to exercising outside Bex tells us.
The Surf Life Saving Club at Gylly provide fitness training, lifesaving skills and competitions for over three hundred members.
“Gylly beach means everything to us,” says Lois, the club’s Chair. “We use sport to make sure we’re in peak physical fitness but there is also a humanitarian element to the club,” she adds. “Many Gylly surf life savers go on to become beach lifeguards and are important for beach safety.”
“I like how within twenty minutes of paddling you can forget that you’re anywhere near human existence.”
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Behind Bex a ramp rolls down to the sand and joins a path at the back of the beach. This makes Gylly accessible for prams, wheelchair users, and anyone looking to enjoy this stretch of the coast.
Behind the path, Trev from Tidal Coffee van serves freshly ground coffee to the many passersby. He watches the comings and goings of beach users throughout the day – from early morning dog walkers and coastal path joggers to those looking to re-energise after time spent in the sea.
According to Trev, the pace at Gylly builds throughout the day. “It’s a special place especially first thing in the morning because it’s calm”, he says. “Then you see the activity build up all through the day until it creates a fantastic vibe.”
GO EXPLORING
Felix from Blü Paddle Co. loves Gylly because of its access to the coastline. He supplies more adventurous beach goers with stand-up paddleboards and kayaks. “It’s the perfect bay where you have shelter from three angles and plenty to explore,” he says. “You’ve got U-boats, shipwrecks, caves, gully’s, beaches and lots more.”
“I like how within twenty minutes of paddling you can forget that you’re anywhere near human existence,” he explains. “It’s just rugged coastline, you forget the crowds, and find all of the little secret beaches.”
“The sauna is a place where you can meet people unexpectedly and brings together people that wouldn’t ordinarily cross paths.”
BEACH HEALTH
Kathryn and her boyfriend Angus run Kiln, a pop-up sauna on the sand. They host sauna ritual experiences and social sauna sessions overlooking the sea. The sauna regulars are a new but growing cohort of the Gylly community.
“It’s something anyone can do,” says Kathryn. “The lovely thing about it is the health benefits are great for all ages. For children it helps them sleep really well. It’s very good for your metabolism, detoxification, having a healthier heart.”
“Gylly is our town beach and it’s amazing having this on our doorstep,” she adds. “The sauna is a place where you can meet people unexpectedly and brings together people that wouldn’t ordinarily cross paths.”
At this beach, there’s always someone getting active for their health, and others, on the sand or in the sea. Sound like the beach for you? Join them.
Welcome to Gyllyngvase
Learn more about Gylly Beach: a vibrant community space, a natural haven, and a gateway to endless adventures.
Sea moreGyllyngvase beach champion
We ask locally-based food, interiors and lifestyle photographer Frankie Thomas what makes Gyllyngvase Beach so special
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Your beach is the one that has just what you’re looking for: sandcastle sand, shoreline strolls, sunset surfs or sunrise swims. Find your beach with the Beach Match Quiz.
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