Beach Basics

It is a well known beach for families, dogs, bird watching and kite surfing. The main entrance with parking is off the A3082 at Polmear (just out of Par, heading towards Fowey), you'll see the road just by The Ship Inn.Main access grid ref: SX 087 531 and for SatNavs the postcode is PL24 2AS.

Parking - Since the 1st April 2021 the main car park at the Eastern end is a private car park (prior to this date it was leased by Cornwall Council). They have introduced a tarmacked entrance and circuit to improve the car park surface and charge for parking (Pay and Display). Cornwall Council passes are not valid. Motor homes and campers are prohibited between 23:00hrs (11pm) and 08:00hrs (8am). The Parking Charges apply All Year, from 09:30hrs (9:30am) to 17:00hrs (5pm) daily. The current Tariffs are: Up to 1 hour £0.80, Up to 2 hours £1.50, Up to 3 hours £2.30, Up to 4 hours £3.00 and All day £4.00.

Cornwall Council manage the rest of the site and charge for parking, the charging period and charges are reviewed annually, the current Charging Period is 1st April to 31st October, from 09:00hrs to 17:00hrs daily, including Bank Holidays. Motorcycles get free parking.

A vehicle displaying a valid Blue Badge shall be entitled to 1 extra hour of free parking in addition to the time allowed following payment of the appropriate charge in accordance with the scale of charges. Blue badge users are required to pay the normal parking fee unless: The vehicle displays a valid tax disc marked nil & disabled or The vehicle parked is an especially adapted vehicle. All blue badge users must display a valid blue badge with time clock set at time of arrival.

The year 2012 saw the introduction of parking meters which sadly replaced our helpful car park attendants. There's is only one ticket machine by the toilet block opposite the bird lake. You will need to purchase a ticket "before you park" which means you'd best get a ticket before parking at the western end for example. The ticketing covers the whole area, so parking on a verge instead of a designated area does not prevent you from receiving a fine for un-payed parking. We would of course encourage you not to park on verges as this can ruin the vegetation and spoils it for everyone. The current charges are: Up to one hour £0.90, 1 to 2 hours £1.60, 2 to 3 hours £2.40, 3 to 4 hours £3.10 and Up to 24 hours £4.40.

The main car park has 300 spaces and all the parking areas are of a rough surface of stone/sand with plenty of pot holes, there is a picnic area to the side of the main car park. A little further along the access road past the main car park entrance are two small areas for parking next to the public toilets (Inc. a disabled toilet), opposite the bird lake. There is a 20p charge for their use. At the far end of the access road (the Western end) is another small car park area where you can see some of the beach while sat in a car. It is a good spot to watch waders and other birds from.

Seating - Friends of Par Beach were delighted to provide four new benches for the beach after much fundraising from our members, in 2012. There is a bench at the Polmear (Eastern) end of the beach, two benches at the far Western end near the car park there and a fourth which is in the "orchid field". Opposite the coastal holiday park reception (Par Sands) is an all ability access to a viewing area with a bench (provided by the council). Sadly a wooden ramp down to the sand did not stand the test of time and deteriorated to a point where it had to be removed. There is also council provided seating alongside the bird lake.

There is often an ice cream van in the main car park or opposite the bird lake during the holiday season. Alternatively there's the Ship Inn located at the entrance of the beach access road, the Welcome Home Inn and Par Inn are easily accessed from footpaths across the local nature reserve and the coastal holiday park, along with, the Co-op, Spar, Val's fish and chips shop, pasties at the Post Office to name but a few of the places refreshments are available in Par. You may wish to stroll round to Polkerris on the SW Coast Path for the Rashleigh Inn or Sam's On The Beach.

Dogs are still welcome all year round on the beach. Please keep your dogs under control especially by the bird lake and remember to clean up after them, there are plenty of dog waste bins around the site and the parking toll hut invariably has spare plastic bags if you need one. Dog wardens are often out and about and they will fine anyone seen to be avoiding scooping the poop as it were.

The Beach - We suggest making use of the Beachwise website. Here you will find simple, useful tips for enjoying the beach safely and responsibly. The South West Coast Path which covers 630 miles of coastal paths from Minehead round to Poole runs along the beach. The beach also abuts The Saints’ Way (both paths are marked by red diamonds with red dots in-between on the map above). In Oct 2009, the Telegraph named The Saints’ Way as no.2 in the top 5 pilgrim routes in Britain. The Saints’ Way covers almost 30 miles from Padstow across to Fowey.

Par Sands Coastal Holiday Park no longer accepts tents or campervans but they do have 'vans for hire. The 5 star Park features: Open all year round; Par Beach Café; Pet friendly; Leisure complex & tennis courts; Beachside location; Owners' events programme; Indoor pool; Walking distance to Par Station.

(Maps produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.)