Explore the beaches at Carne and Pendower

View of the beach and coastline at Carne and Pendower beach, Cornwall | © National Trust Images / Hugh Mothersole

Together, Carne and Pendower offer a mile of sandy beach that's ready to be enjoyed all year round. From sweeping sea views and coastal walks to family seaside fun and military bunkers packed with history, there’s something for everyone.

Beaches

The beaches at Carne and Pendower open out to one long stretch of sand at low tide, and there’s plenty to discover whatever the season. Both beaches are reached by going down small lanes with many blind bends, so please drive carefully and consider cyclists and walkers.

To help plan your day, check the tide times before you arrive, Carne beach tide times.

Nare Head

To the east of the beaches is Nare Head, a headland with decades of military history to discover. The Veryan bunker is opened a few times a year – to find out more about it, visit the Wartime Bunker on Nare Head page.

Elevated view from a cliff down towards Carne and Pendower beaches at Roseland, Cornwall — Carne and Pendower beaches at Roseland | © National Trust Images/Harry Davies

Carne Beacon

Behind the beaches is Carne Beacon, the supposed resting place of Gerent, King of Cornwall. The barrow dates back to the Bronze Age and in more recent times has been used as a fire beacon to warn of enemy ships. In the 1940s a small hut was built here for the military to plot aircraft.

Veryan Castle

To the east of Carne Beacon is Veryan Castle, or ‘Ringarounds’, a grassy circular platform with banks and ditches. This was a late Iron Age settlement and there’s evidence it was also inhabited in the second and third centuries AD.

Walking trails

Carne is the starting point for a 4-mile (6.4 kilometre) walking trail that heads past ancient hill forts, through farmland, round Nare Head headland and onto the South West Coast Path. There’s a car park at Kiberick on the other side of Nare Head, which is also a good place to join the trail.

As with all remote car parks, please leave your vehicles secure and don’t leave valuables on show. Also, help look after the wildlife and keep the area enjoyable for everyone by taking your litter home and recycling it properly.

Stay overnight

There’s no overnight camping at Carne or Pendower – the nearest National Trust camping site is at Lansallos – but there’s the option to enjoy the views a little longer by staying at one of the Trust’s nearby holiday cottages.