Lansallos Beach & Parsons Cove in Cornwall

For a nice non-commercial day out, Lansallos Beach and Bay is a great place to visit. Lansallos Beach is on the south coast of Cornwall, between the village of Polperro and Fowey. The beach is absolutely gorgeous. The water is calm in the summer. Lansallos Beach has a waterfall and has rugged cliffs.

Whichever way you visit the beach, it requires some walking through some great terrain. This means a walk from either the National Trust car park in the village or arriving on the South-West Coast Path.

Getting to Lansallos Beach in Cornwall

You can arrive at Lansallos Bay and Parsons Cove on a variety of trails. However, all involve a significant walk to reach the beaches.

Hike on the South-West Coast Path in Cornwall

The South West Coast Path is a long-distance hiking trail that follows the coastline of the region. Using the marked path, you can either walk from Polperro or Fowey to get here. Both walks are pretty spectacular, with amazing views of cliffs, the sea and the occasional cove.

Walk From Lansallos Village

There is a National Trust car park in the village of Lansallos, where you can park the car for the day. What I did to get to the village was take the bus from Polperro; this service is infrequent, and there are a few hours between journeys. The 481 bus services this route; this starts at Looe, via Polperro and Lansallos, a great ride to see the local countryside and coast.

Walking From Lansallos Village in Cornwall

When parked up or alighting the bus, head towards the pretty St Ildierna’s Church. From here there is a marked path into some woodland. For those like me who enjoy churches, the buildings and graveyard are worth a mooch.

St Ildierna’s Church in Lansallos is a Grade I listed parish church. It is of the Church of England denomination. They built it in the early 14th century; the church has interesting 16th-century benches and bench ends.

To the side of the church is a clearly marked tree-lined footpath. It looks like entering a mysterious world. The path here reminds me of being in a movie like The Hobbit and expecting a fairy or trolls to appear. This path is all downhill, with a small stream running along it. The path is lined with trees, visible roots, and ferns. The path also had some wooden play equipment to keep it interesting for children. This included balance beams and seesaws.

Towards the bottom of the tree tunnel, there are bridges to cross the stream. There are options here for which way to walk. Both lead to the beach.

I turned right here after crossing the bridge. After a few minutes, the path has a left turn. This involved crossing another small footbridge that leads to a stunning meadow with views of the bay.

The path through the meadow is well walked, so it’s easy to follow. Also, the views here are amazing. You have hills on either side of the sea and are surrounded by woodland.

When close to the bay, there are two ways to enter the beach. One via a gap in the cliffs, the other that passes the lush waterfall on the west end of the beach.

Lansallos Beach Waterfall

The small streams we crossed on the way from the village find their way to the sea via the waterfall at the top of the beach. A relaxing place to watch for a while and cool water to cool down on a hot summer’s day.

As a bonus, it is a handy way to rinse the sand from your feet before putting your shoes back on for the walk ahead. Henry, my dog, also enjoyed a paddle in the stream, which he prefers to the sea.

Lansallos Bay Beach in Cornwall

The beach is popular but not too crowded – a fantastic one in my eyes, as there were no commercial aspects to it at all. Lansallos Beach has sand, shale, and pebbles underfoot, so beach footwear might be a good idea. The beach is in a sheltered bay, so it’s great for paddling and general fun in the water.

There were a few kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders enjoying the sea, too. The bay is cliff-lined, and some of the cliffs are easy to explore, with lower rocks and rock pools. The beach was dog-friendly, and many dog owners were enjoying the sea with their pets.

Cliff Top Walk to Parsons Cove

Heading east from the beach is the continuation of the South-West Coast Path. This initially involves a steep ascent. After the climb, the views of the beach are fantastic and well worth the effort. It seemed a few others thought the same.

Following the path through the coastal countryside, it didn’t take long to reach the outcrop that was the route to Parsons Cove. Parsons Cove is a more secluded beach with a challenging route down; hence, it is much quieter. The outcrop had some amazing views of Parsons Cove and the surrounding coastline.

Remote Beach Visitor Tips

When visiting the beach in Cornwall, ensure you bring everything you may need for your day out. This might include.

• Food, as there is nowhere to buy any.
• Drinks to ensure you stay hydrated.
• A towel to dry off and sit on the shingle beach.
• Beach footwear, as it is rough underfoot.

Summary of Lansallos Beach & Parsons Cove in Cornwall

Lansallos Beach and Parsons Cove make up a stunning location for those who prefer beaches that aren’t commercial. The entire area is blessed with excellent views, especially from the coast path. The hiking in the area is fantastic and certainly gets the blood going. This was an excellent day out and was one of my favourite dog-friendly places in Cornwall for a walk and a swim in the sea.