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The Great Britain Guide

Beaches · South West England

Praa Sands

Also known as: Poll an Wragh

In or near St Hilary.

Free admission4.6 · 1,343 Google reviews

Praa Sands is a beach in the United Kingdom.

Praa Sands - geograph.org.uk - 231901

RichTea — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1 h–3 h
Best time of year
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Nearest railway station
Prospidnick Halt · 7.3 km
  • Free entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Dog-friendly

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Praa Sands, the nearest railway station is Prospidnick Halt, located 7.3 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is TR20 9SY. Entry to the beach is free.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Praa Sands is a beach on the coast of South-West England. The site is within the Cornwall National Landscape (AONB). It sits within the St Ives parliamentary constituency. The nearest railway station is Prospidnick Halt, about 7.3 km away. Postcode area TR20.

Photo gallery

Protected designations

  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Cornwall

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Praa Sands ( pray-sandz; Cornish: Poll an Wragh, meaning pool of the wrasse), (formerly Prah Sands) is a white-sand beach and coastal village in civil parish of Breage, in Cornwall, England. It lies off the A394 road between Helston and Penzance. Formerly serving the local mining industry, it is now mostly a tourist-orientated area. The beach is popular with surfers and walkers. Towards the south eastern end of the beach is a Second World War Type 24 pillbox. Originally this was constructed on top of the cliffs but it has been subjected to coastal erosion and has settled down onto the beach.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

On 1 February 1882 a pumping engine at Sydney Cove (part of Mount's Bay Consols) was fired. In September 1882 it was reported in The Cornishman newspaper that an engine house was nearly complete and the engine was being put in. During a World War II air battle against eight German aeroplanes over the Bay of Biscay, a Sunderland flying boat was heavily damaged. The crew returned 800 miles to the Cornish coast, where pilot Colin Walker landed and beached the aircraft at Praa Sands. The people of Praa Sands took the crew into their houses and gave them medical assistance. Walker received the Distinguished Service Order and several of the other crew members also won medals. On 2 June 2013, a…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
50.1008, -5.3860
District
Cornwall
Parish
Breage
Postcode
TR20 9SY
Parliamentary constituency
St Ives
Nearest railway station
Prospidnick Halt7.3 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Memorial - Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) - geograph.org.uk - 7979234📷 5

Memorials & monuments · South West England

RAAF Sunderland Flying Boat

RAAF Sunderland Flying Boat is a memorial in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Path on edge of Praa Green - geograph.org.uk - 8310418📷 5

Caravan parks · South West England

Praa Sands Holiday Park

Praa Sands Holiday Park — a caravan park in england south west.

Former Lesceave Cliff Hotel, Praa Sands - geograph.org.uk - 230984📷 5

Beaches · South West England

Hendra Beach

Hendra Beach is a beach in the United Kingdom.

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Pengersick Castle📷 5

Stately homes · South West England

Pengersick Castle

Pengersick Castle — Grade I listed manor house in Breage, United Kingdom.

👶pengersickcastle.com
Bossy signs at Praa Sands - geograph.org.uk - 2382765📷 5

Campsites · South West England

The Old Farm

The Old Farm — a campsite in england south west.

Daft Dog paddles at Sydney Cove - geograph.org.uk - 4712850📷 5

Campsites · South West England

Higher Pentreath

Higher Pentreath — a campsite in england south west.

Freehigherpentreathcampsite.co.uk

Where to eat & stay near Praa Sands

Places to stay

Path on edge of Praa Green - geograph.org.uk - 8310418📷 5

Caravan parks · South West England

Praa Sands Holiday Park

Praa Sands Holiday Park — a caravan park in england south west.

Bossy signs at Praa Sands - geograph.org.uk - 2382765📷 5

Campsites · South West England

The Old Farm

The Old Farm — a campsite in england south west.

Daft Dog paddles at Sydney Cove - geograph.org.uk - 4712850📷 5

Campsites · South West England

Higher Pentreath

Higher Pentreath — a campsite in england south west.

Freehigherpentreathcampsite.co.uk
Farm tracks and footpaths - geograph.org.uk - 7015683📷 5

Campsites · South West England

Keneggy Cove Holiday Park

Keneggy Cove Holiday Park — a campsite in england south west.

Waiting for the crop to grow - geograph.org.uk - 7256390📷 3

Campsites · South West England

Dropped Anchor Camping Site

Dropped Anchor Camping Site — a campsite in england south west.

Road at Tresoweshill - geograph.org.uk - 5380423📷 5

Campsites · South West England

Trem

Trem — a campsite in england south west.

Places to eat & drink

Penrose - geograph.org.uk - 1826516📷 5

Cafés · South West England

The Stables

The Stables — a café in england south west.

Decorated doorway, Coinagehall Street, Helston, Cornwall - geograph.org.uk - 4979794📷 5

Historic pubs · South West England

Fitzsimmons Arms Public House

Fitzsimmons Arms Public House in England South West, United Kingdom.

Shaft Downs Lane 1 - geograph.org.uk - 7494912📷 7

Historic pubs · South West England

The Pendarves Arms

The Pendarves Arms in England South West, United Kingdom.

The Bucket of Blood Inn Phillack - geograph.org.uk - 4065992📷 5

Historic pubs · South West England

The Bucket of Blood

The Bucket of Blood in England South West, United Kingdom.

bucketofblood.co.uk
Boats moored at Penzance - geograph.org.uk - 7877544📷 7

Restaurants · South West England

The Old Lifeboat House Bistro

The Old Lifeboat House Bistro — a restaurant in england south west. Cuisine: seafood.

lovepenzance.co.uk
Alverton Road, Penzance - geograph.org.uk - 2333551📷 5

Historic pubs · South West England

First And Last Inn

First And Last Inn in England South West, United Kingdom.

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Westbourne, a hot October evening on the beach - geograph.org.uk - 2629214📷 5

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East Cliff Lift - geograph.org.uk - 3050072📷 5

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Bournemouth East Beach is a beach in the United Kingdom.

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Bournemouth, the winter sun reflecting off the sea - geograph.org.uk - 5261566📷 5

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Bournemouth West Beach

Bournemouth West Beach is a beach in the United Kingdom.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Praa Sands?
Praa Sands is in South-West England, United Kingdom (postcode TR20 9SY), in the parish of Breage.
What is Praa Sands?
Praa Sands is a beach in the United Kingdom.
How do I get to Praa Sands?
The nearest railway station is Prospidnick Halt, about 7.3 km away. Drivers can use postcode TR20 9SY.
Is Praa Sands a protected site?
Yes — Praa Sands is part of the Cornwall National Landscape (AONB).
Is Praa Sands free to visit?
Yes, Praa Sands is free to enter.
How do I get to Praa Sands?
The nearest railway station is Prospidnick Halt, about 7.3 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode TR20 9SY.