You’ve probably seen photos & videos of Pedn Vounder beach (also known as Treen) doing the rounds on social media lately!
Ever since I was young (and probably for years before!), it’s been a pretty well-established fact that Porthcurno (the neighbouring big brother of Pedn Vounder) is one of the most beautiful beaches here in Cornwall – no arguments necessary!
Situated at the tip of Penwith coast near Land’s End, it is certainly one of the county’s most remote spots, and yet it’s always been one of the most popular tourist spots in the summer. This is probably due to the immaculately clear blue waters, soft white sand, and rugged surrounding cliffs that house the famous Minack Theatre.
After only visiting as a young child, I made the hour journey down to Porthcurno last summer and was amazed at how beautiful it was in person – the photos you see in guide books and online can never do it justice!
BUT this year, attention seems to be focusing on the ‘hidden gem’ that is Pedn Vounder; a smaller, secluded cove about 400m East of Porthcurno. I’m sure it has been well-known for a while, and I’ve certainly heard whisperings of its name in previous years but thanks to a few viral videos on Facebook and a whole load of Instagram love towards this little beach, it’s now well and truly got its name on the Cornish wishlist map of many!
My friend Keda and I decided to head down there this week to made the most of the sunshine and see what all the fuss was about. We may have been a little bit crazy to do this (being the hottest day of the year AND the start of school summer holidays), but we made it and amazingly managed to find a car park space too.
These photos pretty much speak for themselves – you don’t need me to tell you how stunning this cove is! With the clearest water I’ve ever seen, it genuinely looks like somewhere on a Greek island, and in the heat it felt like that too. I thought I’d instead share some of our tips that we learned from our first trip, that we’ll definitely be using when we return!
1. Suss out where to park to get to Pedn Vounder
As far as I’m aware, there are two options for parking at Pedn Vounder beach. You can head to Porthcurno and park in one of the car parks there where you then have a 15 minute walk along the coast path past Porthcurno to get to the Pedn Vounder cove. This is what we did, but the Porthcurno car parks get VERY full and are quite expensive (about £5 a day or more!).
But you can also park in the village of Treen where there is a grass car park in the village (TR19 6LQ) that costs around £2 a day. Then I think it’s more like a 5 to 10 minute walk to the cove instead… so we will definitely be doing that next time!
2. Get there early
I don’t know how busy the Treen car park gets, but in the high season it gets ridiculous at Porthcurno! We got there at around 2:30pm and only managed to get a space out of pure luck that someone was leaving just as we pulled in, but most other people were circling wondering what to do.
To be in with a good chance of a good parking space, and also to get yourself a good spot on the beach, I’d definitely suggest heading there early morning.
3. Pack light and use rucksacks
Pedn Vounder is NOT easy to get to. There is a pretty rugged cliff path to get near the beach, and then you literally have to climb down a cliff to get onto the sand (think coasteering style!). Luck was on our side this week and we just happened to be behind two mountaineering professionals, who helped guide us down the rocks, telling us to keep three points of contact at all times and to not look down…
Thank GOD we just had a rucksack and packed pretty light; you do not want to be trying to climb down those rocks laden with bags, windbreaks and tents.
4. Wear trainers!
Yes, I was the stupid girl who thought I could get away with wearing flipflops down what I thought was just going to be a steep coast path. Guys, you will look like an IDIOT if you don’t wear sensible footwear, so wear trainers or at least sandals that are okay for rock-climbing/hiking.
5. Be very wary about bringing young children and dogs, or if you are pregnant/have injuries
I actually don’t understand how people managed to get down to the beach with their children and dogs… so much stress! I didn’t actually see any kids younger than 8 or 9 on the beach though, so I would suggest if you have children younger than that or if you are an anxious parent, maybe stick to Porthcurno.
As I said, you literally have to climb backwards down a cliff with your hands and feet so be sensible; the mountaineers in front of us were local and said at least 5 people have to get airlifted off Pedn Vounder each year because of injuring themselves or getting caught by the tide.
6. Go to the loo before you go
As with any ‘hidden’ cove or secret beach, there are no facilities (and in this case, you need to scale a cliff before you can access any too!) so just remember to do your business before you head to the path. There are public toilets at the Porthcurno car park and I’m sure there are probably some at Treen as well.
7. Pack plenty of water (and snacks!)
There is a small cafe next to the Porthcurno car park that sells beach stuff, food to eat-in or takeaway, drinks and ice-cream, but I’d suggest bringing a picnic with you and definitely packing water in your rucksack. It’s tiring work getting down to the beach so you’ll need it!
8. Check the tide times before you leave
We arrived quite close to high tide, mainly because it was our only option that day but we also weren’t sure how much beach there would be. I think we had about an hour on the beach itself before we had to leave as the tide was cutting off the base of the cliffs. It was strange because even as we were leaving there were still people coming down to get to the beach… not sure if they knew it was about to be cut off or if they’d just come at the wrong time by accident… oh well!
It was also a shame that we didn’t get to see Pedn Vounder at low tide because it has the most incredible sand bank that creates an island effect, and the water gets beautifully warm and shallow like in all the videos and photos you may have seen online. I can’t wait to go back again in low-season at low tide to experience this for sure!
9. Give yourself plenty of time
What with walking from Porthcurno along the coast path, scrambling down cliffs and stopping to take photos, it took us at least half an hour to actually get to the beach once we’d parked, so you don’t want to be rushing to get home for something or for a parking ticket.
Thankfully, it’s much easier getting back up the cliffs than it was getting down, so it didn’t take too much time coming back. At least that’s how we found it, but again if you have children with you or struggle with climbing or fitness, it’s probably a different case.
10. It’s a nudist beach, so be sensitive with photography
I’d definitely encourage you to bring a camera with you – it is the most amazing place to take photos! However, Pedn Vounder is actually a nudist beach, and there were plenty of people walking around naked when we visited (although 90% were just tourists not in the nude), so just be very careful about where you are pointing your camera.
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As I was reading this I just kept thinking “I wonder if Anna took any photos of naked people by accident” Funny that people still choose to go completely starkers when the majority are clothed, but each to their own! Alice xxx
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I DID NOT hahaha. There were only a handful of nudists there but I still made an effort to point the camera very clearly at the water and cliffs… I swear I went somewhere recently that didn’t allow cameras at all because of people wanting to be naked; can’t remember where but that’s what made me think of it! xx
Please tell me where that was.
Funny that people still choose to wear clothes on a glorious beach on a nice day, and/or to swim and/or sunbathe.
Great write up.
Thanks
Alice, this beach has been a naturist beach for more than 55 years to my knowledge. It is strange that people choose to wear swimming costumes that are cold when wet and it would be great if people didn’t go to such great lengths to be offended
It is a huge shame this beach keeps being advertised and recommended as there are now queues on the cliff paths trying to get to be there. Cornwall is being destroyed by the massive numbers of people now going there, andwith dogs too that are now welcome everywhere. You can share your Sunday lunch with the smell of wet dog and watch it dribbling. After wiping the dog mess off your shoes before leaving the beach. Such is life and the destruction will continue
Odd about NOT going naked though 😮
“Shame it’s being advertised”? You obviously love it, it’s not a private beach so why should others not enjoy it? And some people prefer to cover up, especially when there are children present but it shouldn’t prevent them or the unclothed from enjoying this wonderful public beach.
Fucking tourists
I’m so impressed by your use of the queens English 🤭 anyway try and get a life one day
You never ever been a tourist?
The beach has been nudist for generations.
I agree, us Cornish love our beaches and yes our nude beaches and yet you have people complaining about people being naked on a nude beach, simple don’t go to the beach then there are plenty of other beaches for you unattended,
Would love to visit this beach as a long time naturist but it would be too difficult for me know, let’s hope that the beauty of the place and natural environment will encourage new young naturist couples to be at one with the sand, sea and sun and embrace this wonderful lifestyle to feel good and free from lives stressful everyday things.
It isn’t a nudist beach it’s a national trust beach. But obviously they do go down there so it’s an ‘unofficial nudist beach’ 😆
Complain about people complaining about nudists and then throw another couple complaints about dogs and just people being around in general. I thought the idea of naturism was for a feeling of freedom….
Fuck off tourist stay home and away from out cliffs. 👍🏼👍🏿👳🏿♀️
WTF have you got against holiday makers who pay your bills… don’t like it… Fuck Off somewhere else and MOAN… TOSSER!!!!
It is a beautiful spot for sure, one of my favourite. Depending on the tides (springs or nears) I reckon it’s best to try and visit about 3 or 4 hours either side of low water to be safe AND see the beach at its best. Funny how us Brits sometimes react to nudity (previous comments) – there is nothing like the feeling of swimming naked and you don’t get silly white bits either😎👍
There are two routes down from the coastal path, and your reporter may have taken the steeper northern route (also known as the goat path). From the coast path walk along a path heading south, past the start of the goat path to the point where there is a good path leading down to the beach. NT signs will direct you.
Really helpful thanks x
I have been going to Pednvounder for well over 20 years and live just over the border into Devon. First of all its not a nudist beach but it attracts nudists, quite a few of them very local. I’m not offended and as far as I’m concerned live and let live but I have no intention of swimming naked however strange they think that is. I have no wish to see other people tackle either. There is another route down at the Logan Rock end of he beach and I know people that use it but I never have. I always check the weather and tides but I have been there in all weathers and even on New Years day when I ate fruit cake and drank coffee looking down on this fabulous beach as the rollers came in. If you come down when the beach is covered there are flat sections of the cliffs to sit or lay on. I have climbed off the beach at high-water and had a BBQ then climbed back down as the tide has turned. Its a fabulous place and as one local said to me a little bit of paradise here on earth. If you are lucky enough to be there when it looks like the pictures above you have struck gold. I had over a week there once in June and it was like that every day. That said be careful, when the tide is running the swell can knock the stuffing out of you if you go out too far. Also the sand bars move each year and if you think you are swimming out to the sandbar going on last year memory when the tide ebbs it is risky as it may not be there! Take care, take a drink and munches and enjoy.
I recently came back from a staycation in Cornwall and had the best time! Pedn Vounder beach was on my list but we unfortunately didn’t get round to it :( I’m gutted, because it looks so beautiful in your photos! I guess it’s just another reason to come back again next year :) I have however linked to this post via my Cornwall guide – I hope you don’t mind! All the photos on Google images weren’t doing it just justice but these certainly do! xxx
Awh thank you so much Hannah and thank you for sharing! :) So glad you like these photos that’s so kind xx
Anna, you write so well and to me, it would seem you have a love and passion for travel. Do you have a blog or Instagram to follow your travels?
I’ve been visiting this beach since 2008. One year a young boy ran ahead of his mother and fell down the cliffs. It was horrible, I will never forget the scream his mother made. There is no mobile phone reception, nobody could call for help. Locals waved scarves to try and signal people to call for help. One had an air horn to try and signal the life guards at Porthcurno around the corner. It took about 20-30 minutes before the first help arrived.
Eventually the boy was airlifted to hospital. I believe he was okay. Please don’t take young children to this beach, it’s the same strech of beach as Porthcurno which has lifegueards, toilets, food and drink, no steep climbs down rocks etc . . .
and as you said check the tide times,
https://www.tidetimes.org.uk/penzance-newlyn-tide-times
I found this beach by accident a long time ago with 3 small children. They were great; they scrambled down with no trouble. I’ve since visited many times and seen people (adults) nervously waiting at the top of the steep descent and often turning away refusing the help I offered.
It’s not that dangerous if you’re use to scrambling as are lots of young children. If you’re not, then ask someone to guide you. We also had lots of stuff which we threw down ahead of us.
Been going there for years. If you’ve ever been tempted to try “skinny dipping” this is the perfect place and you’ll be a convert for life. If only the same great “mix and match” live and let live attitudes prevailed on all beaches.
Don’t be afraid of the cliff. It’s Cornish granite, very non-slip so think of it like a ladder, harder going down because you can’t see your feet but coming back up is “a walk in the park”
And don’t forget your sun cream. This is a real sun trap with the heat reflecting off the granite immediately behind you.
On a sunny day it’s heaven on earth.
i have been using this beach for more than thirty years since i was a teenager .it was majority naturist until the internet told everyone where it is .porth curno is right next door just as pretty and easier to get to .so all those who are offended by nudity leave this 100 metres of beach to local naturists. visit the miles of coast set aside for the people who have body hang ups
I have been going ‘nude’ here since my 20s, am almost 70 now. There is no greater feeling than being/swimming naked on this wonderful beach.
Treen village car parking charge is now £4 daily (summer 2022) and can only be paid by card, no longer accepting coins. I couldn’t find this anywhere!
It used to be a very quiet local beach, and as others have said it has been ruined, just like many other places by instagram and facebook.
It’s ok to say that why shouldn’t others have the pleasure of using it. Well it’s simple, it’s no longer a pleasure when the beach is packed, it’s no longer a pleasure when there are queues to get down to the beach, as in the photographs here. It’s no longer a pleasure when tourists use the cave as a toilet. Over tourism has ruined this place, and most just want to post it on their facebook or instagram feed, and so encourage even more tourists.
The parking at Porthcurno in recent years has been dreadful, instead of going somewhere else when the car park is full, ignorant tourists parked on the road leading in to Porthcurno, causing mayhem, and access for emergency services and the buses. The council have at last put double yellow lines, as they ignored the traffic cones.
Sadly it’s now more like an 18-30 resort, and getting more akin to Benidorm. Sadly tourists think that it’s great, locals don’t.
The national trust now advises people to use the Porthcurno beach instead as as it’s safer, it has toliets, lifeguards, and a cafe etc.
Naturists fought hard in the early seventies to make this an unofficial naturists beach, the authorities attempted to stop it, but in the end it was accepted as it was a “quiet” place. So if you’re not happy with naturism then find another beach, because the local naturists aren’t going to cover up to please you. P.S I’m not a naturist but have been using the beach for over 40 years
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I’m so glad I read your page about visiting Pedn vounder beach, I was all set to visit having seen the amazing photos but what I hadn’t realised was you had to climb down a cliff to get to the beach, I can’t do any climbing as have a bad back so this was really useful information. Thanks again