Porth Joke beach
The sandy cove known both as Porth Joke and Polly Joke belongs to the National Trust and is completely uncommercialised except for the occasional cow wandering on the beach. The confusion about the name arises because it was originally known as Pol Lejouack (the old Cornish words for "Jackdaw Cove") and sounds a bit like "Polly Joke". Porth (beach or port) and Pol (cove or harbour) were used fairly interchangeably, which possibly gave rise to the two competing names.
The beach is backed by sand dunes so there is a beach at all states of the tide, but significantly larger when the tide goes out as the top of the cove is quite narrow.
- Tide times
- Beach info
- Map
- Dogs: allowed all year
Walks visiting Porth Joke beach
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2.2 miles/3.6 km - Easy-moderate
West Pentire and Polly Joke
West Pentire and Polly Joke
2.2 miles/3.6 km - Easy-moderate
A circular walk through the poppy fields of West Pentire to Polly Joke beach, returning over the headland to the pub that was a cowshed until the mid-20th Century.
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3.9 miles/6.2 km - Easy-moderate
Holywell to Polly Joke
Holywell to Polly Joke
3.9 miles/6.2 km - Easy-moderate
A circular walk from Holywell Bay on the dunes and Kelsey Head to the sandy beach of Polly Joke.
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4.7 miles/7.5 km - Easy-moderate
Holywell to Crantock
Holywell to Crantock
4.7 miles/7.5 km - Easy-moderate
A circular walk from Holywell Bay past the remarkable sacred spring and along the coast to the sandy beaches of Porth Joke and Crantock, returning via the poppy fields of West Pentire and the Cubert Common nature conservation area.
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3.5 miles/5.7 km - Moderate
West Pentire to Crantock Beach
West Pentire to Crantock Beach
3.5 miles/5.7 km - Moderate
A circular walk on the northernmost end of one of Cornwall's largest areas of sand dunes that stretch from Crantock to Perranporth, under which one mediaeval chapel was found and another is said to still be lost.
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6.9 miles/11.2 km - Moderate
Holywell Bay to Newquay (via bus)
Holywell Bay to Newquay (via bus)
6.9 miles/11.2 km - Moderate
A one-way coastal walk, made circular via an initial bus journey, from Holywell Bay along the coast and Gannel estuary to Newquay, passing the beaches of Porth Joke and Crantock and the headland of West Pentire where there is a spectacular display of red-and-gold wildflowers in June.
Download the iWalk Cornwall app and use the QR scanner within the app to find out more about any of the walks above.