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What are the Cornwall webcams and how can you use them?
If you are planning a trip to the UK then Cornwall should absolutely be on your bucket list. Located in England’s Southwest corner, Cornwall offers some of the most rugged coastline and pretty villages that can be seen in England. In my opinion, Cornwall is the most beautiful place in the UK.
My family’s roots are in Cornwall so maybe that’s why I’m just a little bit obsessed with this beautiful part of the country. Even after 30 years of exploring I’m still constantly finding new hidden gems. With over 250 miles of coast and more than 300 beaches, I could probably spend the rest of my life discovering new areas of Cornwall and still not see it all!
Cornwall has a ton of interesting history, a gorgeous coastline and its own distinct culture that sets it apart from the rest of England. It even has its own language and flag, despite not officially being classed as a separate country from England (although this is a hot topic of debate!) and if I still haven’t convinced you to book a trip then check out my A-Z of reasons to visit Cornwall.
With all of this going for it, planning a trip to Cornwall can seem a little daunting. Luckily, I have a secret tool to help plan a trip to Cornwall… Live webcams!
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How to use the Cornwall webcams to plan a trip
Live webcams can be a great tool for planning a trip and there are many reasons to use them.
Lots of people come to Cornwall to surf, storm chase or enjoy a day at the beach. Cornwall’s live webcams allow you to check daily surf conditions, watch Cornwall’s intense storms from the safety of your home, keep an eye on the weather and help you choose which of Cornwall’s beautiful beaches you would like to experience in person.
Surfing in Cornwall is very popular and personally, I like to use the many live webcams in Cornwall to check the size of the waves before I go surfing. I find it useful to use the webcams in conjunction with the regular surf forecast, to add a visual element to my trip planning.
Below, I have listed some of the most popular towns and beaches in Cornwall and included the links to their live webcams so that you can choose for yourself which beach you would like to visit. I’ve also included my favourite things to do in each location as well as some recommendations for the best places to stay.
The Cornwall webcams: Sennen Cove webcam
The village of Sennen Cove is a pretty little beach and village located in West Cornwall, around 3km from Land’s end and close to Penzance. It is the most westerly village in England. There are several live webcams overlooking Sennen’s beach and harbour.
Click here to view the Sennen Cove harbour webcam
Things to do in Sennen Cove
My favourite things to do in Sennen are:
Surf! Sennen is a great beach for beginners and has an excellent surf school
Hike to Land’s End
Where to stay in Sennen Cove
The old success inn is one of the most popular places to stay in Sennen Cove. It has fantastic views and the food in its restaurant is delicious! There are also several holiday cottages in Sennen Cove that are available to rent such as Sennen Cove Cottage and Creagle.
Cornwall webcams: St Ives Webcam
St Ives is one of the most visited towns in Cornwall, and for good reason. It is one of the most picturesque fishing villages you could ever imagine.
In St Ives, you can explore the maze of cobbled streets with their many independent stores, world-class art galleries and cute fishermen’s cottages.
The beach at Porthmeor is great for surfing and is suitable for beginners and advanced surfers too.
Click here to view the St Ives webcam
Things to do in St Ives
Take a trip to Seal Island
Try surfing on Porthmeor beach
Visit one of the many art galleries, such as the Barbara Hepworth museum
Sample craft beers at Beer & Bird
Relax by the beach in St Ives harbour
Take yourself on a self-guided treasure hunt of St Ives hidden gems
Where to stay in St Ives
St Ives has lots of great options for accommodation.
I recommend staying in an artist’s cottage to really immerse yourself in the vibe of St Ives! There are also lots of nice little holiday apartments with sea views available all over town.
If you would prefer a hotel then I can recommend Una, St Ives. Una is a little outside of the main town but is another great place to stay. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside and has an on-site restaurant and spa. I got a great pedicure there too 😉
Cornwall webcams: Perranporth webcam
With 3 miles of golden sands, Perranporth is an excellent location for a beach holiday! The town is also a great place for music lovers, thanks to the annual music festival Tunes In the Dunes.
Click here to view the Perranporth webcam
Things to do in Perranporth
Watch the sunset from The Watering Hole (One of the best beach bars in the UK!)
Learn to surf. Perranporth has several great surf schools
Visit nearby St Pirans Oratory – an ancient church hidden in the sand dunes
Wild swim in the tidal pools
Where to stay in Perranporth
For the best experience in Perranporth I recommend staying in a luxury beach apartment or for something a little more unique, try staying in a Yurt!
Cornwall webcams: Port Isaac webcam
The historic fishing village of Port Isaac is famous for being the filming location of the popular TV show Doc Martin, starring Martin Clunes.
If you are a fan of the show you can take a fun Doc Martin walking tour of Port Isaac and visit all the filming locations from the show. Even if you’re not a fan of the show, Port Isaac has plenty to offer as it has been named an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Click here to view the Port Isaac webcam
Things to do in Port Isaac
Enjoy a scenic hot air balloon flight
Listen to the famous Fishermen’s Friends sea shanties group perform by the harbour
Visit the filming locations of Doc Martin and the Fisherman’s Friends movies
Where to stay in Port Isaac
My favourite place to stay in Port Issac is The Slipway. It is a beautiful Grade II listed historic building, dating back to the 1500s. It has a restaurant and bar as well as a lovely outdoor terrace and is conveniently located opposite the harbour.
Cornwall webcams: Hayle webcam
Hayle is my family’s second home and is probably my favourite place in the whole world! Despite being a small formal industrial town, it is full of charm and plenty of things to do.
There are 3 miles of gorgeous beaches and at low tide, it is possible to walk the beach from Hayle estuary all the way to Godrevy point.
Click here to view the Hayle webcam
Things to do in Hayle
Bird watching, the estuary is the most south-westerly in the UK and never freezes, this makes it a great place for birds to shelter in the winter. Up to 18,000 birds have been seen here including some rare species!
Watch the sunset over St Ives. Hayle is located directly across the bay from st Ives which makes it a great place to watch the sunset
Visit Paradise Park, home of the world parrot trust
Try kitesurfing, the dunes are perfect for it!
Where to stay in Hayle
Hayle makes a really great base for exploring Cornwall. This little resort town has a ton of great accommodation options from hotels to B&Bs to beach chalets. Personally, I always stay in the Riviere Towans as the views are unbeatable! Try renting one of the beach chalets for the most amazing sea views you could dream of.
Below are five of the chalets that I have personally stayed in and loved:
Best places to stay in Hayle, Cornwall
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Cornwall webcams: Newquay webcam
Newquay is the capital of the UK’s surf scene and is undoubtedly the best place to surf in Cornwall. The town has a number of different beaches and surf schools suitable for all abilities. You can book individual lessons, a beginner experience or even an all-day surf package.
Click here to view the Newquay webcam
Things to do in Newquay
Visit Newquay zoo
Attend the annual Boardmasters surf and music festival
Try coasteering
Where to stay in Newquay
I highly recommend St Christophers Inn. It’s right on the beach and has a great terrace and bar. It offers both private rooms and hostel accommodation.
Cornwall webcams: Padstow webcam
Padstow is a lovely fishing town in North Cornwall, surrounded by beautiful beaches and countryside. It is also a very popular foodie destination. Padstow harbour is a great place to wander around and spend an afternoon.
Click here to view the Padstow webcam
Things to do in Padstow
hire a bike and cycle the Camel Trail, an 18-mile trail that runs alongside the camel estuary
Eat traditional fish n chips at Rick Stein’s world famous restaurant
Visit the National Lobster Hatchery
Where to stay in Padstow
During my last trip to Padstow, I enjoyed staying at a farm in the surrounding countryside. Bogee Farm has some beautiful barn conversions that you can stay in. If you would prefer a sea view there are plenty of cottages and apartments available to rent close to the harbour.
Cornwall webcams: Lands End webcam
Land’s end is undoubtedly one of Britain’s best loved and most well-known landmarks. As the most South-Westerly point in the UK. It is famous for its unique location, stunning scenery and natural beauty.
Click here to view the Lands End webcam
Things to do in Land’s End
Take a photo at the iconic lands end sign
Enjoy a beer with a sea view at the Lands End hotel
Hike the South West Coast Path
Where to stay in Land’s End
The only place to stay at Land’s End proper is The Land’s End Hotel. I recommend spending some time at Land’s End hotel even if you aren’t staying there. It’s a great place to get a drink overlooking the dramatic scenery. You can also stay in nearby Sennen Cove which has more accommodation options.
Cornwall webcams: Mevagissey harbour webcam
Mevagissey is a lovely working harbour and fishing village with a tradition of boat building dating back to 1745. It is located in South East Cornwall. You can find many lovely art galleries, cafes and bars in the cute narrow streets of the village.
Click here to view the Mevagissey webcam
Things to do in Mevagissey
Visit Mevagissey aquarium. This tiny aquarium was one of my favourite places to visit as a child. The aquarium is free to visit but donations are appreciated.
Enjoy a fast rib ride around the coast.
Visit Cornwall’s oldest vineyard. Admission is free and dogs are welcome!
Where to stay in Mevagissey
The Mevagissey Bay Hotel has a gorgeous terrace and panoramic sea views and is the best place to stay in my opinion. The Tremarne Hotel is also lovely and even has an outside pool with sea views.
Cornwall webcams: Mousehole webcam
I think that Mousehole is probably my favourite fishing village in Cornwall. It is extremely quaint and cute and well worth a visit.
It’s a little difficult to get your car down to Mousehole as the streets are very narrow with tight turns. If you are just coming for a day trip then your best way to get there is to take the bus from Penzance station.
Click here to view the Mousehole webcam
Things to do in Mousehole
Jump off the harbour wall into the sea, but only at high tide and if the locals are doing it too!
Go sea kayaking
Take a guided walking tour to learn the fascinating history of the village
Take a boat tour to spot dolphins and famous landmarks
Where to stay in Mousehole
For an authentic fishing village experience try staying in a converted fisherman’s net loft or an old fisherman’s cottage.
Other Cornwall webcams
Live webcams can be incredibly helpful for planning your holiday in Cornwall or even for making a spontaneous day trip.
There are a number of different Cornwall webcams. Here are links to some other Cornwall beach webcams in popular holiday destinations.
I hope this list gave you some ideas of where to visit in Cornwall. Have you ever used live webcams as a tool for planning a trip or day trip? Let me know in the comments!
Happy travels! xo
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I truly had no idea that Cornwall had so much to offer nor did I know anything about these webcams or using them to plan a visit here. How neat! Thanks for opening my eyes up to something new today ☺️. Xx Sara
What a brilliant idea, to have all these webcams around and then to use them to plan your trip ahead of time and check things like wave sizes for surfing… technology has definitely changed the way we travel, and I am here for it! Thanks for sharing this new concept with me.
I have never been to Cornwall but know it is a beautiful part of England. I had no idea there were so many Webcams – not sure I agree with them and hadn’t thought of using them to plan a holiday. Lots to think about when I finally get to Cornwall.
I like the idea of scoping out an area before you ever get there. Great idea and post.
Love that you use the webcomes to check the surf! Great idea. I really do need to make the effort to visit Cornwall more. It is so beautiful. I just get put off by the idea of crowds (and the return journey on the M5!)
Wow! How great are webcams. So many benefits for planning holidays. Cornwall looks fantastic. I’ll be adding that to my next trip. I also think I’ll be jumping of the harbor wall in mouse hole.
I could definitely see how using webcams to check the surf before showing up would be helpful and make sure the trip to the water is worth your time, thanks for sharing!
I’ve never been to Conwall before so it’s great to be able to view the sights here beforehand through these webcams. Thanks so much for sharing!
This is so cool! My husband and I went to Cornwall a few years ago (Penzance, Marazion, St Ives…) and absolutely loved it. Had no idea there were all these webcams! Would love to go back someday. Thanks for the great post! Super informative
I have never even thought about using live webcams before to check a place out before visiting, what a great idea! Beautiful pictures too, I actually need to make a trip to Cornwall especially as it’s not too far away.
Ha, only used the webcams so far to check the surf and sailing conditions! I didn’t know there are so many in Cornwall – thank you for sharing!
Cornwell looks beautiful! Must be added to the bucket list! Thanks for sharing!
This is interesting, I haven’t heard of that before. So, I will see if I can try it. Thank you for sharing!
Gosh, these beaches are so pretty, but I bet the water is freezing.. the webcams are such a cool idea. I’ve never seen those implemented at beaches before, only on ski slopes. There sure are a lot of fun things to do in Cornwall.