Coverack: coastal charm
From converted net lofts serving cappuccinos to the boats still landing their daily catch in the harbour, Coverack retains a rich and charming coastal heritage.
Coverack is a hidden gem tucked away on the Lizard Peninsula. Once a thriving pilchard fishing hub, this peaceful village holds tight to its traditional charm. With thatched cottages along the water’s edge and brightly painted fishing boats bobbing in the harbour, if you’re looking to soak up a slice of authentic Cornish life, this is Your Beach Found.
“Great for kids because it’s nice and enclosed and it’s always got a really nice vibe…and you can always find a space when the tide is out.”
Coffee with a view
Hannah owns the Loft Café where patrons gaze out on views stretching across the bay from its position above the harbour. Originally a fishing net loft, the building is now better known for its Cornish cream teas and Roskilly’s ice cream.
From the window, you can see the small harbour beach – mostly used by local fishermen – and beyond, the golden curve of Coverack’s main beach. “It’s one of the best beaches,” says Hannah, describing the village’s larger horseshoe bay. “Great for kids because it’s nice and enclosed and it’s always got a really nice vibe…and you can always find a space when the tide is out.”
What Hannah loves most about the village, though, is its quiet character. “It’s so far away from everywhere else in Cornwall, so it really retains its charm. It’s still got that real feel of being a proper Cornish village. You walk in, you’ve got the thatched roofs, it’s still quite quiet. It never gets crazy busy. It’s beautiful with the best water, the best people, the best views. It’s gorgeous.”
“Our house is 400 years old, used to have cows living in it, and it’s made out of mud”
Harbour Life
Just down from the café, Ben is on the harbour after bringing his boat back from the Helford River with his dad. His family have been fishing in Coverack for as long as he can remember. “Our house is 400 years old, used to have cows living in it, and it’s made out of mud… Family, history, and the harbour are really important to us,” he says.
Ben explains that their catch varies throughout the year. “Right now, it’s lobsters, but in the summer we go crabbing as a main source of income.” But, like many small fishing communities, Coverack has seen changes. “It’s all slowed down now. Just recreational boats and the odd commercial,” he says. “Every boat down here used to be fishing all the time.”
As for spending his free time on the sand, he says that Coverack is “a lovely beach.”
“I don’t use it all the time, but in the summer, now and again.”
The Paris Hotel
At the end of the harbour sits the Paris Hotel, a cosy pub with sea views and strong ties to the sea. “It was built in the early 1900s and named after a ship that went down just off Manacles Point – the SS Paris,” explains Anya, who works there. “The ship went down, but everyone was saved,” she adds.
The pub is a popular spot for both locals and visitors, drawn not just by the menu or the view, but by the beach it overlooks. “The beach is really important for the Paris and it’s such a beautiful beach”, Anya says. “Dogs are allowed down there and when the tide is out, it’s pretty huge. It’s quite flat and the sand goes on for quite a while.”
Coverack may be tucked away, but its enduring homes, maritime heritage and sandy beaches stand out. This is Cornwall at its most charming.
Book your Coverack stay at The Croft, a grand and elegant waterfront home where the beach is at the bottom of your garden…
Your Beach. Found
From the feel of the sand underfoot to the anticipation as you near the sea, your beach is the one that stays with you. Find your beach with the Beach Match Quiz.
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