Carne Beach slipway
Carne Beach forms the eastern end of a broad, south-facing bay on Cornwall's Roseland Peninsula, in Veryan parish. The National Trust owns and manages the beach and its slipway, and at low tide the sand joins neighbouring Pendower Beach to the west to form one continuous stretch over a mile long.
Gerrans Bay opens for about three and a half miles between Greeb Point and Nare Head, a mile and a half deep, with Carne set on its northern shore. The whole sweep of coast from Creek Stephen Point round to Nare Head and Gull Rock lies within the Gerrans Bay to Camels Cove Site of Special Scientific Interest, a stretch of around ten kilometres protected for its geology and its bird and plant life, and the bay sits inside the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The bay's eastern side is marked by Nare Head, a headland rising seventy-eight metres, and Gull Rock, a jagged pyramid thirty-eight metres high a third of a mile off the headland, with a clear passage between the two carrying a least depth of six metres. On spring tides a tidal stream can run through this gap, pushed up over a shallow ridge, and a line of drying rocks called the Whelps extends south-west from Gull Rock. Gull Rock itself is a noted seabird site.
Nearby
A seasonal beach cafe on neighbouring Pendower Beach, which joins Carne at low tide, selling ice creams, drinks and light food.
WebsiteA restored medieval watermill with a cafe and craft shop, about a mile inland, closed over the winter.
WebsiteA Camping and Caravanning Club site with grass and hardstanding pitches plus rentable safari tents, about two and a half miles away; non-members are welcome and can join on site.
WebsiteA touring, camping and glamping site near Gerrans and Portscatho, open to the general public, about three miles away.
WebsiteConditions to check
A tidal stream can run between Nare Head and Gull Rock on spring tides, as deep water is pushed up over a shallow ridge.
SourceThe Whelps, a line of drying rocks, extend south-west from Gull Rock, with an area of races and overfalls known as The Bizzies reported in the approaches.
SourceThe beach dries out extensively at low water, when the sands join neighbouring Pendower Beach into one continuous stretch, so launching then means crossing a long way of sand before reaching the water.
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