British Beaches

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"With ships the sea was sprinkled far and nigh"

Downderry Beach

Cornwall, England


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Downderry Beach, located on the south coast of Cornwall, is a popular destination for both visitors and locals, offering a unique combination of sand, shingle, and pebbles.

Downderry Beach is a long, straight beach approximately 1.1 kilometres wide, comprising a mixture of sand, shingle, and pebbles. The beach is backed by cliffs, providing a picturesque backdrop for beachgoers. At low tide, rock pools are exposed, making it an ideal spot for exploration. The eastern end of the beach is harder to access and has a reputation for being popular with nudists.

The beach is situated near a village, which offers a range of facilities, including a pub, shop, and restaurant. There is also a clifftop memorial garden, providing wonderful sea views. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities, including walking along the beach, exploring the rock pools, and snorkelling. The wreck of the 'Gypsy', the sister ship to the 'Cutty Sark', is hidden under a kelp bed near the shoreline, waiting to be discovered.

The beach is accessible, with plenty of parking available in the village. However, visitors are advised to check the tides before attempting to walk across the beach to Seaton, as it can be easy to get cut off by the rising tide. Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round.

Sand Shingle

Weather and tides for Friday 18 July

Today
Chance of rain 4%
Max temp. 22°C
(feels like 21°C)
Wind 13mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 7%
Min temp. 15°C
(feels like 16°C)
Wind 2mph

The tide at Downderry Beach is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 6:52 AM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 12:53 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   17.6°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Facilities

    Food available Toilets Shops Litter bins Slipway
  • Popular Activities

    Canoeing Fishing Sailing Sunbathing Swimming Water sports Wind surfing
  • Features

    Country park
  • Parking

    There is a Council-owned Pay & Display car park for around 50 cars near the beach which includes disabled spaces.

  • Dogs

    Dogs are allowed on the beach but owners are kindly requested to clean up after their pets.

  • Beach Cleaning

    Manual beach cleaning is carried out by the council and with help from volunteer groups.

  • Lifeguard

    No lifeguard cover at this beach

  • Awards

    Marine Conservation Society Recommended

  • Water Quality

    Excellent water quality

    Excellent water quality

Recommended holiday cottages near Downderry Beach

Things to do and see in the area

Black Rock Beach Hire (2.8 miles)
The Monkey Sanctuary (3.4 miles)
Old Guildhall Museum & Gaol (3.6 miles)
Looe to Polperro walk (3.7 miles)
Looe Island (3.8 miles)
Looe Valley Line (5.2 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Downderry

Location type: Village

OS Grid: SX314538

Country: England

Local Authority: Cornwall

Parish: Deviock

Nearest postcode: PL11 3JY

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

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Visitor information for Downderry Beach, Cornwall, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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18.97.14.84 Sat, 19 Jul 2025 03:03:12 +0100