Porthoustock Beach

Porthoustock Beach is a large, open shingle and sand beach on the eastern Lizard Peninsula, facing across the English Channel in a wide, exposed bay. The beach has a more industrial heritage than most Cornish coves, sitting adjacent to the former quarry workings at Dean Quarry, and the large-scale shingle gives it a rougher, less refined character. The bay is wide and the beach extensive, with plenty of space even on busy days. The scale and open aspect give it a slightly different feel to the intimate coves nearby.

Dogs are welcome here year-round with no PSPO restrictions and the beach is genuinely welcoming for dogs who enjoy a bit of rough terrain. The large shingle provides excellent grip and the rocky margins offer good exploration at low tide. The east-facing aspect provides protection from the prevailing south-westerly wind, and the wide bay gives dogs plenty of room to run. There are virtually no facilities at Porthoustock, which keeps visitor numbers manageable and the whole place appealingly uncommerced. The beach connects to the South West Coast Path at each end and the wider Lizard coastline is easily accessible for extending the day.