Harlyn Bay is a super beach for kids. It’s wide, sandy and rich in ice cream vans. But significantly it also has a couple of warm, shallow pools in the sand during low tide which are perfect for fledgling bathers. Large wide spaces even when reasonably busy. rightbeach took a super whizzy frisbee which was very popular with the kiddies.

It’s an old-fashioned classic beach. Lots of sand, wind breaks, and families (some with kites, some with grannies), probably influenced by the proximity of the Harlyn Sands Holiday Park.

It also has a pub/shop in the shape of the Harlyn Inn tucked behind the sand dunes which also hires out boards and wetsuits.

rightbeach recommends Harlyn beach for all generations of beach loving families (and the dog too!)

Beach blurb

• Tide and weather »
• Lifeguards: RNLI Lifeguard service April 29th – September 25th & Easter weekend
• Water quality: Recommended »
• Dogs: Not known

See Harlyn Bay beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

• The loos are a right trek, across a stoney overflow carpark, so plan your kids’ toilet trips for them!
• The beach can get quite breezy of there’s an strong off shore wind, so taking a beach tent or wind breaks is advisable.

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Area	Rating	Observation
Beach		It’s an okay beach – it’s size and the kid-friendly tidal pools are it’s best features.
Crowded (1=deserted)		Can get busy in patches.
Surf		Pretty reliable North Cornish surf.
Sand
Toilets		An uber trek across two car parks.
Parking		Lots of parking over looking the beach. Expect to pay around £3-4 for the whole day in peak season.
Food		A pub and ice cream vans.
Shopping		A beach shop which doubles as an surf hire place.

review by The rightbeach Team