Your Beach. Found: Cawsand
For our next beach takeover, we’re in a tiny village known as Cornwall’s forgotten corner. A tiny village with a sheltered beach, pastel coloured houses and a warm sense of community. This is Cawsand, part of the Rame Peninsula, which sits close to its sister village Kingsand.
Discover a distinctly Cornish fishing village with a Mediterranean feel – bobbing fishing boats, bars serving cold beer on the water’s edge, French-style shutters on the village cottages to protect from winter storms.
Arrive early and find the beach almost empty, kayaks lined up along the wall awaiting the day’s adventurers. A close-knit group of local wild swimmers change in the pretty tiled seating area before dipping their toes into calm water.
Afterwards, you’ll find them wandering the streets in towel robes and flip-flops to The Stores Deli in Kingsand, which serves up cappuccinos and cruffins.
By mid-morning, the shore starts to come alive. Paddleboarders drift around the buoys, colourful parasols dot the sand, snorkelers peer into aquamarine rockpools, sunbathers doze off on pebbled shores and books are leafed through beneath straw hats.
Every hour and a half, the ferry to Plymouth docks directly on the sand, dropping off day-trippers from the city. Hop aboard for a scenic trip across the bay, past lush green headlands and the occasional historic military building.
Arrive into Plymouth and meander around The Barbican – a historic port home to cobbled streets, galleries, restaurants, the aquarium and more.
Food & drink
By midday, appetites stir and The Bay restaurant fills with sandy-footed diners looking for freshly grilled fish and cold rosé with a sea view.
Follow the coast path round to Kingsand and you’ll pass The Devonport Inn, where couples sip chilled beers in a row just above the sand.
Further afield
Just above the village lies one of Cornwall’s most intriguing hidden gems: Maker Heights. This converted former military site is now a creative, culinary and cultural hub, home to a bar, yoga studio, artists’ spaces and a campsite with views that roll down to the sea.
At its heart is The Canteen, where chefs serve vibrant, ever-changing dishes made from what the sea and land offer that day. Inventive veggie plates are best enjoyed outside on the benches overlooking the fields that roll down towards the sea.
Try Mount Edgcumbe Country Park for a walk through nature. Roam 18th century gardens, discover coastal woodland paths and herds of deer that roam the 860 acres between the headlands of Whitsand Bay and Millbrook Lake.
Dine in the converted orangery or relax on the waterfront with views across to Plymouth.
Book your stay in Cawsand at The Bay apartments – our selection of beach-ready boutique stays directly on the sand.
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.
Beach Match Quiz