Latest news with #Perranporth
Times
2 days ago
- Times
18 of the best beaches in Cornwall
For decades, people have flocked to the far west for a chance to paddle in the blue and feel the sand between their toes — and Cornwall remains one of the UK's most popular beach-holiday destinations. Whether you want to surf, hike, chill or sunbathe, the county has a beach to suit. Each coast has its own character, too. For dramatic cliffs and acres of sand, the north is best. Bude, Newquay, Perranporth and St Ives have a bevy of beaches to choose from, with lots of facilities nearby that families will appreciate. Land's End feels wilder: the beaches here tend to be more rugged and sometimes involve a bit of a walk to reach, creating a sense of adventure. The south offers a bit of everything: the Lizard's secluded spots, Roseland's gentle coves, and a mix of touristy spots and quiet bays around St Austell, Mevagissey and Looe. All of which create perfect conditions for road trips and coastal walks. Wherever you go, pay attention to tide times, lifeguard provision and warning flags. And definitely don't park on the beach: watching holidaymakers' cars get stuck is something of a local spectator sport. Easy to reach by train too, Cornwall makes the ideal UK break — here's our pick of its best beaches. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue The rural Roseland Peninsula presents a different side of Cornwall to the craggy north coast: gentler, greener and dotted with quiet beaches and coves. Carne is one of the biggest expanses of sand on the peninsula: at low tide it joins up with the neighbouring Pendower to the west. It takes some effort to reach, down narrow country roads, with a single-track lane leading down to the beach itself, and a National Trust car park at the bottom that's often full in summer. Come early, though, and you'll get to enjoy one of Cornwall's loveliest beaches — with the option of a coast walk round to pretty Portscatho. The posh, old-school Nare Hotel is beside the beach, but the Driftwood B&B is a better bet: secluded, quietly stylish and set in delightful gardens, it's a 15-minute drive to the southwest. North of Bude, Cornwall's coast is mad and mighty. Often the only way to sample it is on a clifftop walk, but at Sandymouth the tide retreats from a shingle bank to reveal nearly a mile and a half of gently shelving sand, with a summer lifeguard service to boot. Bude itself draws most of the crowds, so you also get acres of elbow room, backed by a layer cake of multicoloured rock strata — ancient evidence that this part of Cornwall once lay at the bottom of a vast, subtropical sea. A couple of miles inland from the beach, Higher Tiscott Farmhouse has lots of beamed, whitewashed character, with an inglenook fireplace, garden with a large lawn and plenty of space for up to eight people. • Revealed: the UK's 50 best beaches• Best things to do in Cornwall• Cornwall v Devon: which is better? Posh Padstow has its 'seven bays' to sunbathe on. Our pick are these side-by-side beaches, both popular with families and surfers, with lots of rock pools to explore, dunes to provide some shelter from the wind, and excellent coast walks nearby. Rip tides and submerged rocks mean they aren't ideal for swimmers, but there is a natural tidal pool between the two beaches that's constantly refreshed so you can bathe happily all year round. For a spoil, stay at the Pig at Harlyn Bay, in a lovely old Cornish manor with the Pig's characteristic blend of quirky decor, upcycled furniture and a working kitchen garden. Many visitors don't make any time to explore the Rame Peninsula, the stretch of the UK coast that runs eastwards towards the Tamar estuary where Plymouth lies just across the border. Its beaches are often surprisingly quiet as a result, including Whitsand Bay — a magnificently wild curve over three miles long that in any other part of Cornwall would be packed solid throughout the summer. With high cliffs for shelter and rock pools to explore, this is a good bet, particularly if you're looking to dodge the crowds: you'll mostly have walkers and surfers for company here. To make the most of the views, stay at Seaglass, a handsome timber-clad lodge set high up on Tregonhawke cliff, with a yoga deck and alfresco hot tub. This is Cornwall's Hallelujah chorus moment: a symphony of sea stacks and vertiginous cliffs that's all but hidden until you reach the head-spinning stairway that serves it. Known in Cornish as Carnewas, even if you're convinced you don't suffer from vertigo you may change your mind here. Just hold on tight to that handrail and keep going. At sea level, the sheer drama of those glowering, towering rocks will make you even giddier. Karn Havos is a new complex of smart holiday homes just inland, all open-plan and with EV charging and outdoor hot tubs. This wild, National Trust-owned beach on the Lizard is a truly spectacular spot, so much so it's become quite busy in recent years. Add in pricey parking (unless you have National Trust membership) and sands that shrink to nothing at high tide, and it's not a good high-season choice. Yet in early summer, or a warm autumn, Kynance Cove is an essential stop, provided the tide is low. That way you can properly explore the jigsaw-puzzle landscape of jagged islands, sea stacks and crystal-clear water. Finish with a two-mile cliff walk to Lizard Point to make the day perfect. There's a good, if expensive, café beside the beach. On the east side of the Lizard, Chy Karrik is a modernised barn with original beams and uncluttered interiors in the charming little village of Cadgwith. Cadgwith Cove Inn is a top spot for a pint. Yawning wide between spectacular cliffs, this north-coast favourite is especially known for its surf. Based just behind the beach, the Wavehunters surf school is a great place to learn, with lessons for beginners as well as those looking to hone their skills. For non-surfers, it's just the ticket for long, blustery strolls, with two miles of sand to explore. As you walk north along the beach, the summer crowds start to filter out and suddenly you're alone, beneath wheeling seagulls and magnificent walls of granite. The Watergate Bay Hotel is a longstanding favourite here, especially with active families. It's very laid-back, with beachy decor, a superb pool and three restaurants. The luxurious Beach Lofts are gorgeous, but all the rooms are lovely — just be sure to bag a sea view. Six miles south of Newquay, Holywell's golden sands and good looks have not gone unnoticed — used as a James Bond filming location, and for the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon. It's been the setting for many happy holidays, too. A broad crescent backed by dunes, it comes with a surf school and summer lifeguards, but it is a bit of a trek from the car park with little ones. But that's a good thing — if you're prepared to walk a bit, you should be able to find a decent patch of sand to call your own. There is a little kiosk called Imi Ola for snacks and drinks. You can't get much closer to the beach than at Beachcomber, a four-bed house that gazes over the dunes from Holywell village. One headland south of Holywell, Perran Sands yawns wide and deep — and extends for more than two miles at low tide. At the southern end, Perranporth's hotels and apartments jostle for space on the cliffs and spoil the view, but beyond Cotty's Point to the north the atmosphere changes dramatically. Think rolling waves, protected dunes and — at sea level — barely a building in sight. Parking is limited near this section, so come early, or be prepared for a long walk from town. Perranporth has no good hotels, so a quaint Cornish cottage is what you want here. Smugglers is just the ticket: built on a hillside from Cornish stone and set in its own gardens, it's pretty as a picture, and walkable to the beach. • UK's best saltwater and tidal pools• Best UK hotels with outdoor pools Gwithian is Cornwall's showstopper beach, a three-mile golden stretch that joins up with the neighbouring National Trust-owned beach of Godrevy to the north, where there is an island topped by a landmark lighthouse. Backed by low dunes (known in Cornish as 'towans'), it offers acres of space, but it is often quite windy: you might well see some kitesurfers in action here. Two lifeguard stations stand and watch over the sands. Convenient car parks add to the appeal — and there are several decent cafés near the beach, including Kabyn Café and the Jam Pot up on the dunes. Three Mile Beach is the ideal place to stay, with 15 posh self-catering beach houses and shacks literally overlooking the beach, plus an in-house café, Chomp. They also help organise wetsuits and surfboards for when you want to hit the waves. Not every beach in Cornwall serves up sea breezes and surf lessons. For a more Mediterranean vibe, unfurl your picnic blanket on Porthminster at St Ives. Sheltered from prevailing winds and incoming Atlantic swells, it's a leafy, toddler-friendly spot, with a posh restaurant next door that pretends to be a café. Look north and you'll also see the Downalong, home of St Ives' historic fishing community. When the sun's out, you'll understand in an instant why some of Britain's best 20th-century artists settled there. Primrose House is a super place to stay: Scandi-inspired style, plenty of parking (a godsend in St Ives) and only 2 minutes from Porthminster. A sandy crescent located alongside an old fishing cove, Sennen is pretty much the last beach before you hit the end of Britain at Land's End. Newfoundland is 2,000 miles west of here, and the thought of all that wild, empty ocean in between will give you goosebumps. Or maybe it's the inescapable Atlantic breeze? Don't even think of coming here without a windbreaker. The Old Success Inn is a pretty old pub that has been much updated by owners St Austell Brewery, and now offers stylish rooms, good beers and well-priced pub grub. Ideally you want to see Porthcurno from the headland first. Up there, by the clifftop Minack Theatre, it's as inviting as a Greek island: a triangle of sand wedged between ochre rocks, which tilts into the turquoise sea. Then, grab your beach towels and become part of the scene. Take care in big swells, though, the beach shelves sharply, especially at low tide, and the shore-breaking waves pack a punch. It's mostly campsites and holiday cottages this far west: for maximum views, stay at Bracken Bank, a swanky modern house sleeping eight with panoramic windows and a glass-edged deck that frames the beach like a landscape painting. It's a matter of heated local debate how you pronounce this beach: some say Prah, others Pray. Regardless, it's a good family beach with a large car park, a pub and restaurant next door, and a mile-long curve of sand on which to stretch your toes. Not surprisingly, it's a popular summer spot for families, with rock pools at the western end to add variety and a slightly wilder, more wind-tousled atmosphere than you'd expect from the south coast. It picks up big Atlantic swells too. As soon as the waves start to break, the surfers come running. For a memorable holiday, stay at the ironically named Little Cottage, a distinctive, curvy modernist house that occupies its own private patch of coast and — given that it sleeps ten — really isn't little at all. This lacks the visual drama of many Cornish beaches, but older children will love the sense of variety at Summerleaze. There's a river and a breakwater on one side, and a large, tide-filled sea pool on the other — perfect for impromptu swimming galas, or games of tag when the sea's rough. Sunset burgers at the Life's a Beach café are a must, provided you can get a table. For somewhere to stay, you won't find any better than The Beach — Bude's boutique offering just off Summerleaze, with light, bright rooms and a classy, popular restaurant. Common to every great beach is a sense of wonder when first you find it, and in Cornwall the buzz is never bigger than when you walk through Torchlight Cave. Come to Mullion Cove at a low spring tide, when the sea is farthest out and, hard by the southern harbour wall, you'll find the entrance. Sure, the secret beach on the far side is strewn with boulders, but who cares? It feels as though you've just discovered the coast of Narnia. Polurrian on the Lizard is up on the headland above the cove. The old Victorian hotel has been attractively renovated with a colourful, beachy vibe. Sea views abound; for space, go for the newer, self-contained villas. Lantic Bay lies hidden from the road and its National Trust car park, and there's no sense of what awaits until you reach the cliff edge. At which point you may just holler, for yawning out beneath you is a colour-saturated paradise of vivid bracken and sparkling turquoise sea, with not one scrap of man-made infrastructure to spoil the view. On calm days its sand and shingle beach is the perfect place to go for a proper swim, but watch out for rip currents and shore-breaking waves when it's rough. You can reach the beach on foot from Fowey, a 2.5 mile walk via the Polruan Ferry. Stay at the Harbour Hotel Fowey, which has rooms overlooking the Fowey River and a panoramic restaurant. Flat, sandy and relatively sheltered by imposing cliffs on either side, Mawgan Porth ticks a lot of boxes when it's exposed by low tides. You can also add dog friendly and beach wheelchair accessible to that list. The water is calm enough to swim most days, and there's a seasonal lifeguard on duty. Further out, gentle breaks mean it's suitable for surfers too. Need a change of scene? The scenic coastal path will take you to nearby Bedruthan Steps in no time, while Newquay and Padstow are just a short drive away. It's a no-brainer to stay at the Bedruthan Hotel & Spa, a trendy, family-orientated hotel that, though a bit blocky in design, has fantastic facilities. There are loads of activities for children, an excellent spa and wondrous coastal views. Additional reporting by Qin Xie Have we missed any? Let us know in the comments
Times
29-07-2025
- Times
Seven of the UK's best beach bars
Let's face it, the UK isn't Paros or Ibiza — a great British beach bar is a rare find along the country's otherwise infinitely varied coastline. Fish and chip vans, yes; cool coastal drinking spots, not so much. Yet in recent years our waterside offerings have morphed from the bog-standard cafés they once were, and a smattering of decent, buzzy spots can be found — usually big on wooden counters and a relaxed ambience, with alcohol licences and nicely presented food. Their hours of operation are often flexible, with early closing if the weather is bad and extended opening when the temperature stays high. But when you stumble across one of these bars on a sunny day, it will feel priceless (or about £6 a pint). • Seven of the UK's best coastal hotels under £175 This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue This bar stands on the three-mile-long Perranporth beach, with surfboards perpetually just outside on the sand. It is a place steeped in Cornish folklore, where pints of Rattler cider flow freely and the sunsets are spectacular. Run by the Job family since the 1970s, it has a long, wide bar, screens for sports and plenty of live music ( The Nest, a posh rooftop addition to the bar, opened in June ( The Seiners Arms, a short stroll across the dunes, has no-nonsense rooms to which to retire. Details B&B doubles from £150 ( • Revealed: the UK's 50 best beaches for 2025 What started as a shipping container plonked on the shingle beach at Folkestone became the Pilot in 2021. There is very little indoor space here, so it probably won't be open if there is rain tipping down, but if the sun is shining and you're sipping on one of the bar's canned cocktails — try a beachside spritz — there is nowhere that feels cooler than this corner of the south coast ( The London and Paris Hotel, five minutes' walk away, continues the bohemian appeal with personality-filled rooms, and also has one of the best restaurants in Folkestone. Details Room-only doubles from £185 ( The gloriously sandy Southbourne beach is particularly popular with locals and, under the promenade, low-slung, ultra-relaxed Sobo acts as a community centre. With wooden counters and picnic benches, it opens daily from 8am until sunset in summer, when it hosts family craft sessions alongside live music and regular exercise classes, including yoga — weather permitting. Menu options include cocktails, juices and vegan poke bowls ( Just above the beach, the Spyglass & Kettle pub has eight rooms, a popular bar and Room-only doubles from £95 ( Surrounded by pine trees and fields, the blue-flag Blackpool Sands beach is about ten minutes' drive south of Dartmouth. Run by the Newman family, who have operated here since the 1950s, the bar overlooking the beach adds a Med-style accent to its surroundings, with an open kitchen and French doors that are opened in good weather. There's a takeaway menu and locally produced beer, cider and gin, plus live music on summer evenings ( The Newmans also run Wildcomfort, a collection of off-grid cabins and shepherd's huts behind the Two nights' self-catering for two from £350 ( • 25 of the best hotels in Devon Originally a lifeboat station, this stone building has been given a new lease of life as a distinctly hip bar and restaurant, serving locally caught lobster with chips, chowder and a good kids' menu. On a small rocky peninsula between the East Strand and West Strand beaches, there are plenty of outside tables, while the Skippers lounge offers a regular roster of live music into the evenings ( A couple of minutes' walk away, Elephant Rock Hotel is another example of a growing sense of style in Portrush and is perfectly placed for the Giant's Causeway, 20 minutes' drive east. Details B&B doubles from £171 ( The most beautifully situated cocktail bar in Scotland overlooks the Firth of Clyde, Surrounded by trees and sandy. An offshoot of the Arran Botanicals drinks firm, it has been dispensing libations since 2022. A 40-minute walk, or about ten minutes by bus, south from the ferry port in the village of Brodick, the bar is usually open from midday to 6pm Thursdays to Mondays. It also aims to open for periods in winter and is rarely crowded ( Just west of Brodick, well-regarded Auchrannie Resort offers a range of accommodation options, including rooms, lodges and motorhome stopovers. Details B&B doubles from £235 ( A minute's walk from the beach, the Landing is the most food-centric beach bar in Northumberland, the seafood on its menu being supplied by the last fisherman still in operation in the village. It is open from breakfast through to dinner, augmented by a regular bill of live music. There is plenty of space inside this wood-clad building, while a large tarpaulin provides additional cover. If you want something more relaxed, the Bae satellite hut offers wood-fired pizza in the summer months. The Landing also runs a small motorhome site. Details Pitches from £20 a night ( Have we missed your favourite? Please share your recommendations in the comments below
BBC News
22-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Perranporth swimmers suggest brown flags to signal polluted water
Sea swimmers have suggested brown flags could be used on beaches to indicate pollution in the of the Bluetits sea swimming group said the flags would be especially useful to tourists who may not know how to check the water quality at beaches they Shephard, who regularly swims at Perranporth in Cornwall said: "We get red flags if you can't see because of the sea conditions and I think we need brown flags for pollution."The Environment Agency has awarded Perranporth an 'excellent' grading for bathing water quality for the past four years, as a result of its regular testing system. Fellow Bluetit swimmer Zoe Woodward said in France there was a system where purple flags were used to show poor water quality and she thought it was a "brilliant idea".She said: "For people who are on holiday here and aren't aware to check the apps, to see that visual on the beach I think it'd be a good idea to make people think."In 2024 South West Water (SWW) recorded 56,000 sewage spills into the sea and rivers in the region.A spokesperson for SWW said: "Our storm overflow at Perranporth has not been active in 2025. "There are many other factors that can impact bathing water quality."These factors include agricultural run-off from fields. Another regular sea swimmer Martha Marshall-Clack said she frequently received pollution alerts for Perranporth on her said: "If there's an alert then we're not going in because it's too risky."I know a lot of people will say 'just keep your mouth shut and keep your head out of the water' but you want to be safe."We really enjoy going in the water... hearing the pinging of the alerts that you can't do that, it's just terrible in this day and age - it's just not acceptable." 'Clear, reliable advice' A spokesperson for the Environment Agency (EA) said its bathing water classifications were in place "to give clear, reliable advice to bathers".Thee classifications give a long-term assessment of water quality over a four-year period and as bathing water quality could change daily, shorter-term assessments alone would not provide an accurate overall picture, they said when daily fluctuations in water quality occurred from weather or tide, the EA issued pollution risk forecasts at sites where it was possible to do so. In addition to the annual classification, results of tests throughout the bathing season were available for more than 400 bathing waters on the Swimfo webpage, the EA added. Sarah Walsh runs a sea swimming business and said she was often affected by poor water said: "If there's been an alert I cannot take people swimming in case anyone gets poorly and people might have an underlying health condition."Ms Shephard said water pollution "has gone on for far, far too long".She said: "I just really would like to go into the water without not just checking the tides and the sea conditions, but checking whether there's been an alert for sewage."If I bring my dog to the beach and I don't pick up after them I can be fined £1,000 and be held personally accountable for that - but you can discharge sewage into the sea and that's too difficult to deal with?"On Sunday the environment secretary Steve Reed pledged the number of times sewage is discharged by water companies will be halved by 2030.
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I ditched tiny city flat for ‘UK's Costa Del Sol'…I live on £10 a day – you don't have to go abroad for dream beach life
LIVING in a cramped city flat, care worker Erin Temple struggled to get by - often relying on food banks when her salary would barely cover her rent. But now she owns her own home with picture-perfect sea views - and has slashed her monthly living expenses by a staggering 90 per cent. 14 14 14 And she didn't need to flee the country to beat the cost of living crisis. She simply bought a van for £650 and parked it on the Cornish coast. Erin, 25, tells The Sun: 'I swapped a tiny flat for an off-grid home on wheels. The savings are gobsmacking. "I'm proof you don't have to move abroad to live affordably near world class beaches." Fed up with working gruelling shifts as a dementia and end-of-life carer for a salary that barely covered the rent on her Tyne and Wear one-bedroom flat, Erin upped sticks and moved to Cornwall with just £1,000 to her name. She arrived in Truro with her two dogs, Rooster and Rebel, a backpack, and a tent - and was soon tipped off by a local at a camping site about an elderly couple who wanted to sell their van. Erin snapped up the 20-year-old green LDV Convoy, affectionately nicknamed Betsy, and secured a long term camping spot on a private airfield near Perranporth, North Cornwall surrounded by forest and with spectacular views over the Atlantic coast. She says: 'It's a beautiful life on a budget.' Betsy's interior includes a double cabin style bed, built-in stove, sink and solar powered electrics which keep her energy costs down. The van is also fitted with a portable camping toilet and shower, though the campsite where Erin pays £300 a month to park offers full facilities. Her only other major costs are £100 for diesel and insurance, and around £20 a week for groceries, meaning her monthly outgoings total just £460. She keeps costs low by shopping for yellow label supermarket bargains, buying from local farmers and finding free firewood for Betsy's log burner, which heats her home. She adds: 'I've even started growing vegetables in buckets outside the van. "I used to pay nearly £1,200 a month in rent and bills. 'Now I live on around tenner a day, including food and accommodation. And I own my home." I was broken by low wages, high rents, and exhausting and often dangerous work. Erin Temple It's a far cry from Erin's previous life in the north east town where she would work 50 hours a week but still struggle to pay her bills. She says: "I was broken by low wages, high rents, and exhausting and often dangerous work. "It got so bad that, on occasion, I used food banks despite working 12 hour shifts. 'Carers are the hidden workers who are chronically underpaid and caught in a constant cost of living crisis. Getting a foot on the property ladder seemed like an impossible dream. She admits: "Even with double shifts, I couldn't get ahead.' Turning point 14 Her turning point came after being pushed by a dementia patient during a 24-hour shift. She recalls: "I was exhausted. My knees were bleeding and my arms bruised. 'Other staff were meant to meet me at a local pub for an after work drink but didn't show. 'I looked around and realised I was standing there in the middle of the day surrounded by two old alcoholics. 'I knew then if I did not change my life I'd end up a boozing mess, with no savings and no hope. That moment changed everything." 'Make or break' Erin gave notice on her flat, sold most of her belongings, and headed south. "I'd heard it was quieter, cheaper and the weather was tropical compared to up north," she recalls. "People said I was mad. Friends told me to take a holiday. But I knew it had to be make or break." Now Erin is living the dream in Cornwall - which since the pandemic has overtaken London as the most-searched-for location for property in the UK according to Rightmove. Perranporth Beach, renowned as one of the most beautiful surfing spots in Europe and dubbed 'Costa Del Perran' - after Spain 's Costa Del Sol - by locals is on her doorstep. She says: 'I've never been happier. The weather's great, the people are kind, and the view is incredible. 'An elderly neighbour even brought me homegrown veg to welcome me when I first arrived. That never happened in the city." Saving thousands 14 14 14 Determined that Betsy will be her home for years to come, Erin is currently building storage, redecorating and expanding her bucket garden. She says: "My dogs love it here. I am planning on studying psychology and counselling at a local college next year and finally have a life I love. 'I'm saving money, making plans and my mental health has never been better.' Erin adds that she's happily single at the moment - which she's thankful for as a bloke might be a bit of a squeeze with her and the two dogs. She chuckles: 'Living in a van, you downsize and de-clutter. I might find myself a nice Cornish lad and we'll just have to make sure he can fit in somehow!' I'm saving money, making plans and my mental health has never been better Erin Temple Erin is one of many embracing the van life movement. Since 2019, the number of Brits living in vans, buses or converted vehicles has exploded by 2,280 per cent, from 21,000 to over half a million. Cornwall is a hotspot for digital nomads even in the off season, with van lifers lured by the mild winters, coastal beauty and affordability. Farmers are renting out fields and people in local towns rent out their driveways to meet demand. While Cornwall is known for its luxurious seaside mansions and celebrity residents, including Cate Blanchett, Gordon Ramsay and Dawn French, costs can be surprisingly low. A cappuccino in Cornwall costs an average of £2.80, a third cheaper than £4.05 in London. A pint of lager averages £4.79, compared to £5.99 in the capital, and a loaf of bread is 92p compared to £1.64. For Erin, it's the perfect balance of quality of life on a budget. She says: 'We're Gen Z - we don't want to work just to pay bills. We want purpose, nature, creativity, community. Cornwall gives us that. "I'm healthier, happier, and finally hopeful. I've swapped a high rise flat for a van on the Cornish coast, and I wouldn't change a thing.' 14 14 14
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Swimmers warned about rip currents after rescues at Perranporth
Lifeguards have warned beachgoers about the danger of rip currents after they rescued 10 swimmers from a sudden flash one at a Cornish RNLI said the swimmers had been dragged out of their depth by flash rips at Perranporth beach on Saturday.A flash rip is a fast-forming, powerful current which can appear suddenly, even in seemingly calm RNLI advised people to always swim between the yellow and red flags on a lifeguarded beach and, if caught by a rip current, to float on their back with their ears under the water. Joel Ninnes, water safety delivery support for the RNLI, told BBC Radio Cornwall: "Rip currents can pop up at any state of the tide and people can get caught out fairly easily."He said there had been several large incidents involving rip currents on Cornish beaches already this year at Perranporth and Trebarwith lifeguards kept a watch for the rips, he said they could appear at any time due to the beach, size of swell and point in the tide."We've seen rip currents get up to 10, 11, 12 knots," he said. "They are incredibly strong and some can take you far out of the area."If a confident swimmer became caught in a rip, Mr Ninnes said they should swim parallel to the shore to swim sideways out of the current towards waves which would help bring them advised people who were not strong swimmers that were caught in a rip to remember the RNLI's "float to live" said: "Relax, try and catch your breath then roll on to your back and do the starfish shape."Get your ears below the water line and move your arms and legs if you need to."If you can't get out of the rip current, raise your arm in the air and look for a lifeguard and let them know."He said surfers and bodyboarders should hold on to their board and use it to help keep them afloat. The best advice, Mr Ninnes said, was to look for rip currents before entering the said: "Rip current have a different texture on top of the water - choppy or churning - and a darker deeper shade of blue."Look for where the waves aren't breaking, look for the texture - smoothness on the water can highlight the rip current and look for that deeper, darker colour."
