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General
Porthkidney is a north-facing sandy beach about 600m long on the western
side of the Hayle estuary and is reputed to be used by naturists - but
with some history of local hostility. Carbis Bay is round a small headland
to the west, Lelant is to the south. On the other side of the tidal river,
caravan and holiday chalet complexes are strung out along the two mile
sweep of eastern St Ives Bay.
Access & Parking
Porthkidney can be approached by car from the A30 via the A3074 and is
about 3 miles SE of St. Ives. Alternatively, branch line trains run to St.
Ives - passing within view of the beach! (St Ives to Penzance, £3.10
for an adult return, stopping at Carbis Bay, Lelant and St Erth).
To the south, there is limited free parking by St Michael’s church in Lelant at SW548377. Parking in St Ives is difficult and expensive, and taking a car into St Ives is not a good idea at all, but there are many free parking opportunities in and around Carbis Bay. The main SouthWest Coast Path is a good way to get to Porthkidney on foot as it runs along the back of the dunes.
The path is waymarked in both directions, but not brilliantly. Near Lelant, it is one of six rights of way which cross a golf course, but its the only one which is visible on the ground - even then the route one is obliged to take isn’t the one marked as the Coast Path on the map, but the one which interferes least with the golfers. The easiest way onto the beach through the dunes is at SW546382, not far from where the coast path crosses the railway. A broad track about 50m long takes you to a point where beach flags provide a clear landmark and information on safe swimming - note that there can be significant currents, especially at the eastern end of the beach near the river. At low tide, you can get onto the beach just south of the western headland (Carrack Gladden) at SW535387, but this access is well underwater at high tide
Description
Despite being close to both St Ives and Hayle, which have enormous summer
populations, Porthkidney beach is never crowded, even at high tide when
only about 10-20m of soft sand separate low dunes from the sea. The reason
is that you have to walk at least half a mile to get to there, which is
about 800 yards more than the average tourist seems to want to walk.
Swimming conditions may not be safe.
Facilities
Can be found in St Ives .
Trip Report - August 2002
"I don’t recommend Porthkidney for naturism because, as you cross the footbridge from the golf course over the railway at SW547381, you are confronted by a sign stating:
WARNING This beach is visited regularly by uniformed police officers and council wardens.
There was another sentence, possibly saying something about prosecuting illegal activity, but I don’t remember the details. To me, this sign was in code. Decrypted it says: "No naturism. We know naturists have used this area for ages, but we don’t like it, and we’ll do our best to scare you off." Given the proximity of a golf course which uses similarly intimidating means to discourage people from the perfectly legal enjoyment of official rights of way, I suspect naturists at Porthkidney risk harassment of various sorts, which isn’t my idea of a recipe for a pleasant day of seaside nudity.
However, another report, received in May 2004, comments:
"The warning signs are as a result of inappropriate gay activity. The lifeguards are aware of the naturism and totally ignore it. "
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