Perranuthnoe: A beach to return to
Perranuthnoe is a beach that draws people back time and time again. What is it that welcomes people back to this sandy home away from home?
Maybe it’s the way the light spills over the fine-grained sand, the wide-open space perfect for dog walkers and young families, or the gentle, family-friendly waves rolling onto shore. Whatever it is, Perranuthnoe pulls visitors back in for more.
Connection to the sand
When we visit, Chris Howarth, a local sand artist, has spent the afternoon using Perranuthnoe’s expansive beach to create a stunning work of art. Using a rake, he intricately creates mandalas, messages and beautiful patterns in the sand, each one destined to be washed away by the tide.
The mandalas and messages at Perranuthnoe are inspired by #YourBeachFound, our campaign to help everyone find the beach that’s right for them. This year, Chris is being joined by fellow artists, working in different mediums, photographers and filmmakers at shoreline locations across the coast, creating new works inspired by the distinct and diverse beaches there are to choose from in Cornwall.
Watch Chris create his sand art:
Play Video “You can admire… the rugged beauty of Cuddon Point to the east, and on a clear day, the Majestic St Michael’s Mount to the west.”
From the sand itself, Chris’ creations are difficult to see, but the view from the cliffs of red soft clay behind the beach is breathtaking. From this vantage point, you can admire not only Chris’ art, but also the rugged beauty of Cuddon Point to the east, and on a clear day, the majestic St Michael’s Mount to the west.
Having grown up nearby, Chris feels a deep connection to this stretch of sand, and today it’s his canvas of choice. “I’ve been doing sand art on Perranuthnoe beach for years,” he says. “I love sand art because it washes away. I leave nothing behind. Nothing but footprints.”
“I grew up next to [this] beach, having lived in Marazion”, he adds. “As you can see, it’s massive. Perranuthnoe beach is very large and flat, and there’s always space for me to create my work.”
The vast, open space of the beach provides the perfect setting for Chris to express his creativity, and he takes full advantage of it, with his spiralling designs sprawling out toward the hundreds of granite boulders that lie at the base of the cliffs and merge with the rocks and rockpools.
When high tide arrives, Chris’ artwork will be claimed by the sea, and almost all of the beach will disappear beneath the water. His creations will be lost to the waves, leaving behind only memories and a fresh canvas.
A hidden hub of activity
“There’s a special feel about Perranuthnoe,” says Natalie, front-of-house manager at the Cabin Café. “I’ve worked around Cornwall, but here, there’s something different… We make lots of memories here with our family and our dogs, and it’s just like another home.”
The cosy café has an elevated view over the beach, where pale turquoise waves roll gently to shore. At low tide, families play next to the water and walkers emerge from the cliff path onto the sand.
The Cabin Café is a favourite stop for walkers exploring the South West Coast Path. “We’ve got the coast path that runs from Marazion all the way down,” Natalie says, nodding towards the winding cliff top trail – a scenic route that makes its way through sand dunes, along quiet country lanes and overlooking Mounts Bay.
“There’s a special feel about Perranuthnoe… We make lots of memories here with our family and our dogs, and it’s just like another home”
When Natalie talks about what makes Perranuthnoe special, she smiles. “It’s a hidden corner, but it’s not quiet, because there’s a lot going on… Everyone is happy with each other. It’s out of this world.”
The sense of community is strong here too, something reflected in the café’s loyal visitors. “We get return visitors daily and weekly, and different kinds of people: old, young, children – and a lot of dogs, too, because for most of the year, the beach is dog-friendly.”
Family-friendly surf and sand
One of those return visitors is Laura, who grew up near Perranuthnoe and learned to surf here as a child. Today, she’s back with her family, including two young children, to enjoy the rockpools and soak up the Cornish sunshine.
“It’s a really safe, nice beach to come to, especially with kids, and the waves aren’t too strong.”
“We just love it down here”, smiles Laura. “It’s somewhere that’s close to our hearts, and this is a place that we’ll always come to. I’m so proud to have a family and bring them back down here like I did when I was a youngster.”
For Laura, Perranuthnoe represents more than just nostalgia – it’s also a place where she can safely introduce her family to the joys of the beach. With a wide, flat expanse of sand, you can see the entire beach at all times, and during peak season, it’s lifeguarded, adding an extra layer of peace of mind.
“It’s a really safe, nice beach to come to, especially with kids, and the waves aren’t too strong so it’s perfect for… beginning to surf and bodyboards.”
Laura also appreciates the quieter, laid-back atmosphere of Perranuthnoe: “It feels slightly less crowded than other places; a bit more peaceful than some of the more well-known spots”.
From its rugged beauty to open sand and welcoming waves, there’s much that’s memorable about Perranuthnoe, a place made for memory-making, time and again.
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.
Take the quiz