Lower Marsh Farm has its own private shingle beach on the River Tamar, exclusively for guests staying with us. It’s perfect for dog walks and a great place for children to explore – look for crabs beneath the rocks, collect shells and sea glass, paddle at the water’s edge or simply settle down and watch the birds, waves and occasional boat drift past.

The river is tidal here and, around high tide, it’s a wonderful spot for swimming, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding – this video shows the river at high tide.

You’re very welcome to bring your own kayaks or paddleboards. The river frontage is approximately 300 metres from the accommodation and we can normally help transport equipment down there if needed. We don’t have boards or kayaks available to borrow, but they can be hired from Sea Moor Outdoors and delivered directly to the farm. The lovely Ben also offers lessons for complete beginners, as well as adventures for more experienced paddlers.

Please remember that the River Tamar is tidal and conditions can change, so always check the tide, weather and river conditions before heading out on the water.

When the tide is out, the mudflats are exposed, creating a rich feeding ground for an wonderful variety of birds. Regular visitors include ospreys, kingfishers, herons, egrets, curlews, snipe, avocets and godwits – and we even once had a Glossy Ibis move in for a few weeks! If you’re new to birdwatching, Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s guide to wading birds is a useful place to start identifying what you might spot. You can also find out more about birdwatching at Lower Marsh Farm.

You can walk along the river frontage (except when the tide is fully in) and further around towards Cargreen. Some parts of this route are slippery with seaweed and wellies are a good idea!

Of course, both Devon and Cornwall are equally blessed with some of the most fantastic beaches in England. The South Coast is within easy reach, a few examples of those closest to us are:

  • Seaton with great facilities (country park, children’s play area, cafe, restaurant and pubs). Seaton offers easy access via a very short flat walk from the car park. Dog friendly all year.
  • Downderry has a fairly short and not too steep walk down to the beach. A locals’ favourite and only 30 minutes away! Dog friendly all year.
  • Portwrinkle (with Hoodny Cove and Finnygook Beach so worth a visit just for the name) with lots of rockpools and places to eat. Great for young families, these are 30 minutes away. Dog friendly except between Easter day to 1st October. There is a short steepish walk down to the beach along a good path
  • Whitsand Bay is famous for its surfing and consists of 3 miles of lovely sandy beach.  Be aware that it’s a fair walk down steep paths to reach it.  This is a 30 minute drive from the Farm. Dog friendly all year.
  • Tregantle Beach is at the westerly end of Whitsand Bay and dominated by Tregantle Fort. Part is an MOD Training area. A good surf beach. Again a walk down steep paths to reach it.
  • Freathy Beach is a 40 minute drive away.  Popular with locals and part of Whitsand Bay. Dog friendly except between Easter day to 1st October. A good steep walk down which is a deterrent from this beach being as busy as some others.
  • Tregonhawke Beach is great for surfing (these can be hired from Adventure Bay who also offer lessons). The steep climb down means that it doesn’t tend to get over crowded. There is a café at the bottom.
  • Barn Pool Beach on Mount Edgcumbe Country Park is best reached by ferry from Plymouth. Worth visiting if you also take in Mount Edgcumbe.
  • Looe is a pretty seaside town with a beach which is good for families with lots of sand and shallow water plus great facilities (shopping, restaurants, pubs, toilets, excursions) so does get very busy in summer. This is 40 minutes from us.
  • Hannafore Point (round to West Looe) is another good easily accessible beach with facilities. It is mainly rocky so has lots of rock pools at low tide. It is also easily accessible and a 40 minute drive away. Dog friendly all year.
  • Cawsand & Kingsand Beach which are next door to each other and approximately a 50 minute drive away overlook Plymouth Sound (great views of ships), with good facilities and lots of pubs around as it is in a village. Kingsand is dog friendly all year with Cawsand not allowing dogs from Easter day to 1st October.
  • Talland Bay Beach is just past Looe and is a lovely small beach but a popular one (get there early!) in a small rocky bay. It has a beach cafe and a few minutes away is Talland Bay Hotel for a glamorous lunch. Dog friendly all year.

On the North Coast, the best options are in Bude (an hour away) and Padstow (an hour and a quarter).  Near Bude (voted the 7th Best Beach Destination 2012 in the UK by millions of TripAdvisor users) there is a wide selection of fantastic beaches. Padstow also has a fine selection of beaches nearby plus of course it’s infamous restaurants and shopping.

Looking for some surfing?  Click here for the best surfing beaches in Cornwall.