Constantine Bay

Constantine Bay Beach is a sweeping arc of pale, soft sand set just three miles west of Padstow on Cornwall’s wild and beautiful north coast. Backed by rolling marram-cloaked dunes and framed by the rugged headland of Trevose Head, it is one of the most strikingly beautiful beaches in the county, affectionately known to locals as “Connies.” The beach holds a well-deserved reputation for excellent water quality and features in the Marine Conservation Society’s Good Beach Guide. Facilities are modest but perfectly suited to the surroundings, with toilets and a beach café beside the car park, a surf shop nearby, and the charming village of St Merryn just up the road offering pubs and restaurants for a post-beach supper.

Constantine Bay is one of North Cornwall’s finest surf beaches, drawing wave riders of all abilities with its reliable Atlantic swell and a reef break at the southern end of the bay. RNLI lifeguards patrol during the summer months, keeping a watchful eye over swimmers within the flagged areas. At low tide, the beach connects with neighbouring Booby’s Bay to the north, revealing a vast golden canvas of sand and rock pools teeming with marine life. The coastal path leading up to the historic Trevose Head Lighthouse is well worth the walk, offering breathtaking views across the shimmering Atlantic from the clifftops.

Constantine Bay warmly welcomes dogs all year round, making it a beloved destination for bracing winter walks as much as sunny summer days. Families will love the wide, open sands, perfect for sandcastles, paddling and exploring the wildlife-rich dunes. The beach’s west-facing position means it stages some of the most spectacular sunsets on the Cornish coast, with the sky above Trevose Head blazing with colour as the day draws to a close. Whether you come for the surf, the scenery, or simply the glorious sense of space, Constantine Bay is North Cornwall at its most captivating.

“Constantine Bay is always a pleasure to visit. It’s far enough from the local facilities that it feels natural and wonderfully secluded. On a good day, the surf here can be excellent, and the view along the beach to Trevose Head is one of the most iconic in Cornwall.” Elliot Walker

© All photos copyright of Elliot Walker