Off to Cornwall for the first time with children? Bodyboarding is an easy and fun accessible watersports for all the family. Young children can get involved very easily at the edge of the breakers and older teens can really pick some speed up further out so it really should be on your “To DO” list this summer. In our experience we have found the North Cornish Coast to be best for bodyboarding (correct me if I’m wrong!)
Using various sources (Cornwall Live and Tripadvisor mainly) but drawing from my personal experience of visiting Cornwall every year, here our my Top 5….
- Gwithian beach, Cornwall
My personal favourite - miles and miles of endless sandy beach means you never feel crowded here. There is a bit of a walk from the car park (and display your ticket in the windscreen not the side window - £60 fine ☹) to the beach but it is worth it. Life guarded sections keep surfers separate from the bodyboarders and the waves just roll in. All ages can be seen having fun here and if you are confident enough, you can catch some really large waves that see you flying in and beached on the sand – just learn how to steer first! When the tide goes out there are so many rock pools to explore – pack your beach shoes and a fishing net and spend time exploring. There is a little mobile coffee van and a restaurant at the car park but otherwise it is just the sand and the sea – perfect.
Best advice –beach trolley to cart all your beach gear: beach tent, beach towels, books, buckets and spades and settle down with a picnic and spend the whole day here. Pack a cricket set, couple of cheeky beers and I guarantee the perfect beach day for families.
- Gunwalloe Church Cove
If you fancy a smaller beach then you can’t beat Gunwalloe. Small National Trust car park so go early or late afternoon. Two beautiful beaches either side of a Church (Poldark Fans must go) one is more stony but amazing to walk on and the views are breath-taking. Walk around the church and there is a small sandy bay. Bodyboarding is not as good as other places but can do some and can also paddle board further out in the bay. It is protected from the winds more but be care when paddle boarding as if you go out too far you suddenly get pulled with the wind! Beautiful walks along the coastal
- Polzeath Beach
This again is a large child friendly, sandy beach which is in a wide open bay with flat fine sand. Perfect for games, building sandcastles as well as bodyboarding thanks to the reliable waves. Rock pools to explore and a few shops and ice cream places. Can get crazy busy so park up early and pack a picnic to make the most of it.
- Fistral Beach, Newquay
This beach is absolutely breath-taking. You can lose hours here just watching people surf but it is also perfect for families wanting some simple fun bodyboarding. Crystal clear water, breath-taking views and plenty of food outlets close by. Lifeguards are on duty but go early as can get busy and car parks can fill up.
- Widemouth Beach, Bude
Very beautiful beach with a long sandy beach stretching nearly 2 miles. Car parks are at either end and again it is patrolled by life guards. This is an exposed stretch of coast, facing west, straight into the full force of the Atlantic Ocean meaning it is the perfect beach to bodyboard on. Everything you need for a family day, toilets, café and loads of rock pools and small caves to explore further south along the beach.
These are just my personal favourites, on Trip Advisor there are plenty more as Cornwall has some of the most beautiful beaches, coastal walks and scenery on the planet.
