So I can now finally say that I have SEEN Kynance Cove!
I have, in fact, been to Kynance once before. A couple of years ago I’d planned a whole day trip around visiting this famous cove on the Lizard peninsula, only to find when we arrived that it was covered by a thick fog, meaning I could barely see five feet in front of me, let alone any ocean or cliffs out to sea.
Fail.
And so since then I’ve been desperate to return and actually be able to see it properly, as you can imagine. It only takes around 45 minutes to drive there from where I live now, and it’s kind of silly that I’ve left it so long to finally visit.
If you didn’t know, Kynance Cove is one of Cornwall’s most loved and shared beaches on social media – a few years ago a video went viral on Facebook of the beach’s crystal clear, azur waters (a common feature of many stunning south-east coast beaches in Cornwall, including Porthcurno and Pedn Vounder too).
ANYWAY, Olivia and I decided to head down there to take some photos and walk the dogs last Saturday morning, and I was so happy to finally take in the spectacular view! It was pretty windy, and a little bit grey, but hey – it was dry and clear so at least there’s that.
How to Get to Kynance Cove
Kynance Cove is situated on the south-east coast of Cornwall, near the tip of the Lizard peninsula by Mullion Cove. It’s pretty easy to drive to; no weird country lanes as it’s all A-roads, and it takes around 55 minutes from Truro. Once you get to the Kynance Cove turning, there’s a 5-minute tarmac track across the cliffs to the car park, which means while you COULD get a bus, you’d then have quite a long walk along this track before you even get to the car park.
Once you’re at the car park, it’s a 5 minute walk down the cliffs on a path to get to the beach.
Parking at Kynance Cove
Kynance Cove is a National Trust beach and the car park has a Pay and Display machine. I’m not 100% sure of the rates but NT car parks can get quite pricey in Summer, but it is free if you’re a NT member!
It is an incredibly popular destination during summer and school holidays, so if you don’t arrive early there’s a good chance the car park might be full!
Toilets at Kynance Cove
There is a relatively new looking National Trust hut in the car park that has toilets that are open in summer. I can’t say for certain if they’re open during winter but I imagine probably not! I believe the cafe also has a toilet for customers too.
Kynance Cove Cafe
The Kynance Cove cafe is well known for its delicious cakes and hot chocolates (I can vouch for this also from the time I visited in fog!). It is nestled in the cliffs just above the beach and has beautiful views over the bay from its outside seating (there is some covered seating too for rainy days), and they also serve a selection of sandwiches in summer too. Dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating area.
Is Kynance Cove Dog Friendly?
Kynance Cove is a dog friendly beach in winter, but between Easter day and October 1st there is a seasonal dog ban which means no dogs are allowed on the beach during this period.
Is Kynance Cove Accessible?
There is a cliff path down to the beach but it does involve some steps and also, once you are on the beach, there are a lot of large pebbles and rocks to climb over before you get to the sand (the sand is only accessible at low tide – during high tide, the beach is purely made up of large rocks & pebbles). Therefore it’s probably not advisable to visit if you have mobility problems.
Safety at Kynance Cove
Many of the beaches in this area of Cornwall are known for having very strong rip currents and can be dangerous for swimming even on seemingly calm days, so please be careful. This beach is not life-guarded either (even in summer), and there is limited phone signal – although obviously in summer the cafe would be open to help with emergency phone calls.
When the tide is out/low, you can walk along to sand through the rock formations to hidden coves, but you must be careful not to be cut off by the tide when it comes back in.
When is the best time to visit Kynance Cove?
Obviously in summer when it is warm and calm and the water is still and crystal clear will be the most magical time to see the cove, BUT it can get so overcrowded. I wouldn’t dare go there in July and August, but a good time would probably be in May or September when the weather is nice as it should be a little quieter.
Beware of quicksand in the pools around the rocks. I had to pull my wife clear when the beach simply gave way under her at the edge of a pool.