The Complete Guide to Kynance Cove

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I love Cornwall so much. Seriously. I’ve been going to Cornwall since I was a little girl… and I won’t even tell you what year that was! One place I had never been but was number one on my Cornwall bucket list was Kynance Cove.

I remember the first little peek of turquoise water you get as you are walking down the hill to the beach and the sheer size of the surrounding cliffs. It was gorgeous. I just could not believe this beach was in England!

Since that first time, I’ve been back many times and I still get the same feeling when the cove comes into view.

Complete Guide to Kynance Cove

Where is Kynance Cove?

Kynance Cove is National Trust-owned land on the southern coast of Cornwall, located on the Lizard Peninsula (Only a few miles from the most southern point on mainland Britain). This particular area is known for its crystal clear, turquoise waters (mainly because of the serpentine rock that is prominent in this area) and it DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.

How to get to Kynance Cove

It’s surprisingly accessible for being in the middle of nowhere, meaning the roads aren’t the super tiny country roads your GPS likes to send you down in Cornwall. (Those who have driven around Cornwall with a GPS will TOTALLY agree with me)

• By Car: The easiest way to get to Kynance Cove is by car. Helston is the largest town before you get to Lizard and it seems like all major roads in Cornwall lead to Helston. You’ll go south on the A3083 and follow the signs for Lizard. Once you are closer, you can follow the sign for Kynance Cove. The speed bumps on the road to the parking lot are brutal! Go super slow!
• By Bus: The 37 bus runs down to Lizard which is the closest stop. It’s about a mile to Kynance Cove from here and buses run frequently. If you are staying in the area (Helston, Redruth, Mullion) then this is a good option if you are planning to arrive late morning/early afternoon when the parking lot could be full.
• By Foot: If you are up for an adventure, why don’t you stay in Lizard and take the coastal path to Kynance Cove? It’s only a 2.5 mile walk up and down the cliffs and offers panoramic views of the Lizard peninsula. *This is not a nice, easy stroll. It can be considered a moderate hike for some*

The postal code for your SatNav is TR12 7PJ if you live in the UK; if you are using your phone (or you’re from the States, then you can type in Kynance Cove into your maps and follow directions from there).

Parking

Parking can be a challenge if you arrive after 11am (that’s the official National Trust statement)! This only applies to summer, weekends, and bank holidays, especially if it’s a nice day.

The UK “summer” is when the kids are out of school, which is mid July-August, if you don’t have any choice but to go during the summer holiday, then I would try to visit on Monday or Tuesday.

There is quite a large parking fee for all-day parking, but if you’re a National Trust member then you get FREE parking! Totally worth it!

Best Time to Visit

The first time I came to Kynance Cove, I visited in June on a weekday, however, the weather had not been the greatest the week prior, so it wasn’t as busy as it normally would have been.

National Trust says the season is Easter-October, but you will only get the super crowds during July and August.

Watch out for the summers that are dry and hot (which we seem to be getting more of), because you will have more people taking long weekend breaks in Cornwall.

Back in the dry summer of 2018, Visit Cornwall told tourists to stop going to Kynance Cove and Porthcurno Beach because they were so overcrowded.

September is when the weather starts to turn, but if you can get a nice day, then this is the perfect time to visit!

If you’re not going in the water or planning on soaking up the sun, then the autumn and mild winter days are perfect for hiking the area.

Facilities

There are two bathrooms. One is at the top in the parking lot, this one is only open during the season (Easter-October). The other bathroom is located at the bottom of the cove and is accessible all year round.

You can take a stroller (push-chair in British talk) down to the cove if you follow the high tide path (more on that below), but just know that the trek back up is not a pleasant one. I watched a couple struggle with pushing their stroller up as it was constantly getting stuck in the gravel and pretty steep a some points.

Unfortunately, I don’t recommend taking a wheelchair down to the bottom, as you can only make it as far as the cafe, but the steep incline on the way back up would pose a problem. If you have an electric scooter, then you might be able to make it down and back up without too many issues.

Getting Down to the Cove.

Once you park, you’ll see a bulletin board at the back end of the grass, overflow parking lot, and this is the entrance to the cove. You have two options to get down to the cove.

Option One: Low Tide/Stairs Option.

Walk down to the left, this is the fastest way to get to the bottom. If the tide is high, then you can’t take this route. It’s not as bad as some of the descents to coves and bays in Cornwall, so if you are in good health, you can make it to the bottom in about 10 minutes.

Once you get to the bottom, you have to walk over and in between large rocks scattered around (see picture below), but it’s only for about 30 feet. If you have issues with uneven, steep steps and steps carved out of rock, then this is not the route for you.

I have heard people call these steps steep and dangerous, but I honestly think that’s an exaggeration. I saw older people walking down to the bottom with no problem at all. Check out the picture below to see me walking over what everyone calls the “difficult” part.

You should always take extra caution as there are no handrails, it’s a gravel path, and at times it can be uneven, but it is not a race to the bottom, you can take your time.

Option Two: High Tide/No Stairs Option.

Walk down to the right. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get down this gradual slope. There is a nice lookout point here, but be careful because there are no fences or barriers. This path ends at the cafe that’s at the bottom of the cove, so if you arrive during high tide, you can grab a bite to eat.

I definitely recommend taking one path down and the other up, if you have no issues with stairs. It’s a nice walk both ways and worth experiencing both.

*This path is LONGER and you will climb a higher elevation than the other path.

Hide Tide/ Low Tide

You already know there are two different paths for high and low tide, but why?

The beach is NOT accessible when it is high tide. The water takes over the entire cove so you cannot lie down and relax on the beach and you definitely shouldn’t be trying to swim or dip your toes in the water!

You clearly need to go during low tide, so plan your visit accordingly. The best time to arrive would be just as the high tide is going out (about 3 hours after) so you can spend as much time there as possible.

The tides come and go quickly so make sure you pay attention to the incoming tide so you don’t get stuck!

It’s always good to check the tide times online to avoid disappointment.

*If you arrive during the low tide, just note that the backside of the cove will be inaccessible about 3 hours after the low tide time and you DO NOT want to get stuck!

What Shoes Should I Wear?

I’ve read articles where people have said you need to wear hiking boots down or a really durable pair of shoes… I wear flip-flops every I go. I have no issues whatsoever. (*I’m also a Florida girl and I wore flip-flops or sandals every day, so maybe I’m just used to them)

I don’t recommend a child walking down in flip-flops, but a perfectly capable adult can do it. Just don’t go sprinting down to the bottom because then you might fall. I saw plenty of other people walking down in flip-flops and no one had any issues.

If it’s been raining, then you should probably wear sneakers because the rocks can get slippery, but other than that, wear whatever shoes you’re comfortable walking in.

If you have adventurous children who like to climb things, then they should wear slip-resistant water shoes to give them a better grip on the rocks. (I also want to point out, that I’m not recommending anyone climb on the rocks).

Can I swim at Kynance Cove?

You can, but it’s not recommended. The rip currents are VERY strong during low tide (and you won’t be swimming during high tide) and if you are not surfing or a strong swimmer, then stay out of the water! Paddling around in the incoming waves is ok, but don’t go too far out.

I also noticed you really sink into the sand with the incoming waves (especially the further you go out), so you could easily lose your balance and get swept away if you are a small child, so that’s something else to be aware of.

There are warning signs everywhere, so don’t say you didn’t know. There are also no lifeguards on duty! SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Can I Take My Pup?

There is a dog ban at some of the beaches in Cornwall from Easter through October from 7am to 7pm, and Kynance Cove is on that list, so no. Unless you plan on going super early or staying super late.

The Cafe

This cafe is run by a local couple from Lizard and it’s kind of a big deal. Locals rave about the yummy treats they serve, during the summer you can grab sandwiches too!

There’s outdoor seating overlooking the beach and it’s a great place to chill out and wait for the tide to roll out if you get there during high tide. Feeling thirsty? They even serve local beers!

Exploring Kynance Cove

I will be the first to say, it looks a lot smaller in photos! A LOT! All the cliffs are bigger, the amount of area the cove covers is bigger, the waves are bigger… (Seriously, can you spot me in the photo below?!?!)

I took the low tide route walking down and once the cove came into view, I thought that was it. I walked down to the bottom and I literally thought the section in front of the cafe was the only part of the cove… NOPE!

I walked around a giant rock and realized there was more beach! I continued further down the beach until I couldn’t go any further and I was just surrounded by cliffs, jagged rocks, and turquoise waters… it was amazing! (This is also the area you can get stuck in if you’re not paying attention to the incoming high tide).

This is also the area with a bunch of caves to explore! According to National Trust, they have names like The Drawing Room and The Parlour (I didn’t see any nameplates, so I have no idea which ones I went in). Also, if it’s super hot outside, this is about the only shade you’re going to get, so it’s a good place to take a break from tanning.

Leaving the Cove

Depending on which way you came down and if you want to go up a different way (I had been climbing stairs ALL WEEK, so I wanted a slight incline to the top), you’ll need to know how to get back to the top.

Clearly, if you want to use the same path you came to get down, then just retrace your steps.

If you are facing the cafe, standing on the beach, the path with the stairs is to your right. You have to walk over and in between some rocks to get to the stairs and then follow it up.

The path with no stairs is straight ahead toward the cafe, stay to the left of the cafe and you’ll see the path going up the hill. I don’t think this is a gentle incline. You actually climb higher than the other path only to walk back down to the parking lot entrance. At times it can get steep and I saw a few people having to catch their breath, but once again, it’s doable.

Extra Tips

• Don’t forget your sunblock! The sun is stronger than you think!
• The water is freezing! Well not freezing, but it’s colder than expected!
• The rocks are either slippery or very jagged. Be careful if you are climbing around.
• Pack some sandwiches so you don’t have to walk up to the cafe and lose your place in the sun.
• There are no trash cans on the beach, so make sure you bring an extra bag to put trash in.
• Walk to the back side of the cove for fewer people (I use the term “fewer people” loosely for peak season), because most people set up camp in the beach area in front of the cafe
• You don’t have to go in the water or lounge around on the beach to enjoy the cove. It’s beautiful just to walk around and explore!

See the picture below to help you pinpoint the locations of interest! This picture was taken from the lookout point at the top of the main stairs down to the bottom. You can see the people setting up in the main beach area, meanwhile, the other side of the cove has NO ONE there! *Taken as the high tide was going out.

Have any more questions? Send me a DM or let me know in the comments below!!

Wondering if you should go to Cornwall? I’ll give you 10 reasons why! Already planning Cornwall? Why don’t you add Port Isaac to your list too and then check out these essential Cornwall tips!

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