Description: Rather tragically, when my partner and I are planning a holiday, the first thing we consider is not our happiness, but our dog’s. He comes everywhere with us and, in fairness, his demands are modest: he likes fresh air and a decent beach. On one of our days out we wanted to find somewhere that would be suitable for him to have a bit of a paddle and play fetch, so off to Gorran Haven we went.
*Getting There*
We approached along the coast road (B3723) and through the charming little town of Mevagissey. This route affords glorious views over the sea but it is not one for particularly cautious or nervous drivers: the roads through the town are extremely narrow and pedestrians have a devil-may-care approach to their own safety. As it continues towards Gorran Haven the road is steep and single lane in places. Still, we found that Cornish drivers are extremely courteous and we managed the journey in our large 4x4 with no problems.
*Parking*
There is a large, staffed car park around a five minute walk from the beach. We were there at the height of summer on a baking hot day and still easily found a space. I can’t remember exactly how much we paid but it was less than £5 (summer 2012). I believe weekly parking tickets can be bought for less than £10 which may be a more sensible option for those holidaying in the area.
*Amenities*
There are public toilets at the beach and a wealth of little cafes and restaurants in which to eat. Quite a few of these have outdoor seating so you can enjoy the sun as you eat your fish ‘n’ chips. We sat outside the Cakebreads Café and had pastie and chips (Neelix the dog pinched some chips and the friendly staff brought him a dog bowl of water, which was slurpily appreciated). There are a few little shops selling beach essentials like buckets and spades, swimming costumes, cricket sets and, of course, ice cream cones. None of these establishments is more than a couple of minutes’ walk from the beach.
*The Beach*
We didn’t spend long on the beach – perhaps half an hour at most – because it was just too crowded for my taste. It isn’t large and, although there is another beach right beside it behind some rocks, both were absolutely packed with families and holidaymakers. That’s not to say I didn’t like the place - it is incredibly picturesque and everyone there was friendly and polite - it’s just that I prefer a little bit more seclusion. For families with small children this place would be ideal as everything is contained in quite a small area so there’s little chance of anyone running off without parents noticing. Access is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies and we saw a lot of parents with prams. The sea and sand were clean and looked pretty good for sandcastle and dam building. We saw a lot of people swimming and body boarding and the water seemed quite warm when we paddled in it. Dogs are allowed on the beach but you must clean up after them and keep them on a lead.
*Overall*
This is a fantastic beach for families but perhaps not one for those looking for some quiet sun-worshipping time. Still, I think it’s worth a visit if only for the delightful location, the views out to sea and the friendly atmosphere.
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