Porth Joke Beach
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© Cornwall Beaches -
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© Cornwall Beaches
Situated in a deep cove between headlands, with Crantock beach to the north and Hollywell Bay to the south Porth Joke is often overlooked. Known locally as Polly Joke this unspoilt sandy beach can be an oasis of calm throughout the year despite being 5 miles from Newquay.
The narrow beach here is deeper than it is wide and backs onto a shallow valley with a stream running down. At low tide there is enough sand here on even the busiest day, there are also rock pools and caves for explorers of all ages.
Access to Porth Joke is fairly limited with the small car park being a fair walk away. Then again this is probably a price worth paying for the relative peace and quiet.
The name Polly Joke is thought to be derived from the Corhish Pol-Lejouack meaning Jackdaw cove
Also known as:
Polly Joke
Type of beach
Sandy
Lifeguard service
No lifeguard cover
Dogs friendly beach?
Dogs allowed all year
Postcode
TR8 5SE
OS grid ref.
SW 7731 6043
Parking
There is a small National Trust car park about 15 minutes walk away at West Pentire.
Porth Joke Beach Reviews (11)
Don’t be scared by people warning about snakes. Adders are on all the dunes along the coast, not just on this beach and you are highly unlikely to see one as they will go away when they hear you coming. I hate snakes but it is stupid to frighten people unnecessarily!
Josie Dawes
Aug 02nd 2021Love this beach. Come here every year with my family. It’s always a laugh :)
Beautiful beach and scenery, dog friendly.
Amazing beach had best time
Lisa
Jul 25th 2023Amazing beach had the best time playing in sea a few dogs on the beach but about 5 all happily playing in sea we had a lovely day poppy field was beautiful too
Lovely
Julia Townsend-Rose
Aug 01st 2022It is a lovely beach, but quite a hike down and then up again. Quite steep in parts, worth bearing in mind if there are mobility issues. The beach is beautiful, the sea goes out a long way.
Fabulous place to visit
Graham Rendell
Jun 07th 2022The cove is a fabulous place to visit and even better if you want to relive your childhood playing in the surf, an added bonus are the fields on the way down.
They are a riot of colour from the wild flowers, and accompanied by the songs of Skylarks…
Amazing
Love this beach especially with the Bluetits
Jeff House
Dec 05th 2021First time attending this beach and was not disappointed. Lovely walk to the beach along a well worn path. Then beach appears before you and then surprise when there was no one here apart from the other cold water swimmers. Had a great time here made better by the company!!
snakes
Angela MacDonald
May 26th 2021lovely beach but please dont let your children or dogs play in the sand dunes. just keep your eyes open people.
Cows sun bathe on the beach
Snakes
one of my favorite beaches, please be aware the dunes are a breeding ground for adders so watch kids and dogs
Dogs Dogs Dogs
Jock
Sep 11th 2021I counted 74 dogs on Polly Joke last week , it’s crackers all uncontrollable.
Poo bags hung in trees and left on the path , come on owners. Not every one has a dog .