Kynance Cove

Kynance Cove is one of the most photographed corners of the Lizard, a place of serpentine rock, white sand and clear turquoise water below a headland of heath and cliffs. The cove is cared for by the National Trust, and the walk down from the car park, around fifteen minutes on a steep path, is part of the experience.
At low tide the beach opens up into a long sweep of sand with caves, stacks and the islands of Asparagus Island and Gull Rock offshore. At high tide the sea covers most of the sand and the coves become small and enclosed, so time a visit with the tide if you want the full beach.
The serpentine rock is what gives Kynance its colour and its fame: green, red and grey stone that has been worked into ornaments for centuries, and which glistens when wet. The cliffs above are a patchwork of wildflowers and heathland in spring and summer.
Swimming here is for confident swimmers only. There is no lifeguard cover, the water is cold and the currents around the rocks deserve respect. Keep well back from the edge on the path and never enter the caves or swim if the tide is filling the cove.
Parking is in the National Trust car park above the cove and it fills early on summer days. The cafe by the beach is seasonal, so bring water and a layer. Steps and uneven ground make the path unsuitable for wheelchairs and difficult for pushchairs.
Kynance sits on the South West Coast Path, a short walk from the Lizard villages and a scenic drive from Mullion Cove, the Lizard Point lighthouse and the rest of the peninsula. Many visitors pair the cove with a clifftop stretch of the coast path for the best of the Lizard in a single day.