Top 10 things to do in Perranporth

Renowned for its vast, sandy beach, Perranporth is a quintessential Cornish seaside town, set on the north coast of Cornwall, only 8 miles from Newquay. Stay in Perranporth and you’ll experience a relaxed charm that’s bound to lure you back year after year. 

Our round-up gives you the inside track on a variety of great things to do in Perranporth, many of them centred around its incredible beach. Surfers love its excellent waves, and it’s family friendly and dog friendly, too. For wild swimming you can’t get much better than a dip in its unique tidal pool, and you’ll also want to explore the beautiful sand dunes, enjoy the scenic views from the coast path or learn more about the history of St Piran in the local museum. Get active with golf, horse riding or even sky diving – then relax as you watch a spectacular sunset. 

Use our guide to the top things to do in Perranporth to help you plan your holiday in this charming beach town, and get inspired by our irresistible collection of cottages in Perranporth by clicking the button below. 

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1. Spend the day on Perranporth Beach
2. Learn to surf with Perranporth Surf School 
3. Walk the coast path from Perranporth to St Agnes
4. Go skydiving with the Cornish Parachute Club
5. Play golf at Perranporth Golf Club
6. Eat and drink at The Watering Hole 
7. Visit the Perranzabuloe Museum
8. Go horse riding on the beach 
9. Explore St Piran’s Oratory
10. Swim in a secret tidal pool

1. Spend the day on Perranporth Beach

This golden, sandy beach is renowned as one of the best in Cornwall – if not the whole of the UK. It stretches for 3 miles at low tide, connecting with Perran Sands and Ligger Bay, and its clear waters are backed by dramatic cliffs and rolling sand dunes. Easily accessible via a short slope, and with lifeguards on patrol in high season, Perranporth Beach is ideal for a family day out and is dog friendly, too.  

From sunbathing and building sandcastles to a seaside stroll along the vast expanse of sand, there are plenty of things to do at Perranporth Beach. It’s great for swimming or jumping in the waves, snorkelling, splashing around with a boogie board or booking a lesson and learning how to surf (more on this later). The stream that runs down the beach is just right for little ones to paddle in, and there are also rock pools and caves to explore. One last thing – at the end of a perfect day, this is the place to be for watching spectacular sunsets. 

2. Learn to surf with Perranporth Surf School 

With the most reliable swell on the north coast of Cornwall, Perranporth is hugely popular with surfers. Some of the county’s best can be found riding the waves here, and it’s a brilliant destination for beginners, too. 

Perranporth Surf School is the longest-established surf school in Perranporth. Based right on the beach, its qualified and experienced instructors offer lessons for all abilities, from age seven upwards, for individuals, families and groups. They’ll provide changing facilities and all the equipment necessary, and will store your belongings while you’re in the water. There are even hot showers available nearby (£1.20 for 10 minutes) for after your lesson. 

3. Walk the coast path from Perranporth to St Agnes

Stretching 630 miles, the South West Coast Path is Britain’s longest and best-loved National Trail. From Perranporth, walkers can have a fabulous day in the fresh air, enjoying incredible views and spotting plenty of wildlife. 

There are coastal walks from Perranporth to suit all levels of fitness, with one of the most popular the 3.6-mile route to St Agnes, which is mostly level, with just one steep climb. As you walk, look out for evidence of the area’s tin mining industry, including old adits in the cliffs of Cligga Head and the iconic engine houses of St Agnes. The end of the route is in picturesque Trevaunance Cove, where you’ll find the renowned Driftwood Spars pub. From there, it’s another 0.5 miles up into St Agnes village itself, to explore its independent shops and places to eat, before catching a bus back home. 

4. Go skydiving with the Cornish Parachute Club

The Cornish Parachute Club is a family-run skydive centre that offers thrill-seekers the ultimate adventurous experience while on holiday in Perranporth – a 120mph skydive! 

A 20-minute plane ride, taking in amazing views of the north Cornwall coastline, will take you up to 3,000 metres. Then, strapped securely to a highly experienced, BPA-qualified instructor, you’ll do a tandem skydive with 10 seconds of freefall and a five-minute parachute ride before landing safely back on the ground. Unforgettable!

5. Play golf at Perranporth Golf Club

Perranporth Golf Club is a championship golf course at Perranporth which is set high on the cliffs among the dunes. Visitors of all abilities are welcome at this Top 100 natural links golf club, and as you play, you’ll be treated to awe-inspiring views over Perran Bay. After your round, you’re welcome to eat and drink at The Kitchen, the club’s friendly bar and lounge. 

6. Eat and drink at The Watering Hole 

It’s the UK’s only bar on a beach, and The Watering Hole is an institution, family-owned and run since 1978. Set right in the middle of Perranporth Beach, it has awesome views and a laid-back vibe. It serves casual meals and drinks, and holds regular live-music events. It’s also at the heart of the action of Perranporth’s annual music festival, Tunes in the Dunes. Be sure to check out our full guide on restaurants in Perranporth before you visit too! 

7. Visit the Perranzabuloe Museum

Above Perranporth’s library in an old Victorian building, Perranabuloe Museum provides visitors with a fascinating insight into the rich history of Perranzabuloe parish, which includes Perranporth and many small villages and hamlets.  

Collections cover a wide range of areas, including mining, farming, social history and archaeology. You’ll find out how surfing had its origins in Perranporth in the 1920s, introduced by visiting South African soldiers. And did you know that early surf boards were actually coffin lids, provided by the local undertaker?

8. Go horse riding on the beach 

For an incredible canter along Perranporth Beach, Reen Manor Riding Stables offers a two-hour hack that goes along safe bridleways and through the dunes, then down onto the huge stretch of sand. 

Beginners can amble on the shoreline while more experienced riders can go at a faster pace across the sands. The stables has more than 20 horses to suit riders of all abilities, and you can also book shorter treks and half-day pub rides, which include lunch at a 16^th-century Cornish inn. 

9. Explore St Piran’s Oratory 

Photo credit: St Pirans Oratory - Cornwall Forever

St Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall and of tinners. Exiled from Ireland, he’s said to have floated across the sea on a millstone, landing on the north coast of Cornwall in the 6^th century, where he set up an oratory to promote Christianity. 

In medieval times the oratory was engulfed by shifting sands, only to be uncovered and re-buried many times since. You can see a model of the oratory at the Perranzabuloe Museum, and visit the remains of the real thing – one of the oldest Christian sites in Britain - in the sand dunes above Perranporth. 

To find St Piran’s Oratory, start at Perran Sands and follow the footpath north, enjoying a stroll through the beautiful dunes, looking out for butterflies, birds and wildflowers. Turn right to see a modern cross in the dunes to the right of the path. Just beyond it, on the left, is the oratory, surrounded by concrete retaining walls. In the dunes you’ll also come across an early medieval Celtic cross, and the remains of a later church. 

10. Swim in a secret tidal pool

Chapel Rock, the huge granite projection in the middle of Perranporth Beach, has a special feature that not everyone knows about. At low tide, walk around the far side and you’ll find a tidal pool that’s perfect for a wild swim away from the Atlantic waves. The pool is a great spot for children, for enjoying a picnic or watching the sunset, though it is likely to be busy in the summer. For peaceful paddles, visit early in the morning or out of season. 

Stay with us in Perranporth

We hope we’ve given you plenty of information about the fantastic things to do in Perranporth. If you’re thinking of booking a holiday cottage in this beautiful seaside town, we have a superb range of family-friendly cottages, dog-friendly cottages, larger properties for group holidays and romantic retreats just for two. Take a look at our listings by clicking the link below – and enjoy your wonderful escape to Cornwall!