People might think autumn is too cool to go to the beach, but with an average temperature of 13.1°C during the season, one beautiful location in Cornwall isn’t just the warmest stretch of sand in the UK during the leaf-falling season — it is also incredibly picturesque.
According to research by Parkdean Resorts, Porthcurno Beach is the warmest beach in the UK outside of summer. Cornwall also houses the second warmest beach in the country, Kynance Cove, which is located just 35 miles away from the leader. While this temperature is considered “fresh” and quite cool, it is possible to swim in waters that are 13 °C, but people should be aware of the risks of cold shock if they choose to take a dip.
Cold shock can occur when the initial entry into water below 15°C triggers involuntary gasping, which can lead to water inhalation if your face is submerged.
Porthcurno Beach, located just 6.6 miles from the resort town of Penzance, is a stunning location in West Cornwall, which is renowned for its fine white sand. It showcases a turquoise bay and provides a stunning backdrop of granite cliffs. The beach is a popular location for many, including families, swimmers, and photographers.
On the cliffs above the beach sits the world-famous Minack Theatre. This open air threatre has a performing season which runs from Easter to the end of October and includes a wide range of music and plays. Each year, the Minack produces several professional productions and hosts visiting companies. The location has appeared in many lists of the world’s most spectacular theatres.
In the late 1800s, the beach at Porthcurno became internationally famous for being the British termination of early submarine telegraph cables. The first of which was landed in 1870, and was part of an early international link stretching from the UK to India. The site beat out several others due to having less boat traffic, which reduced the risk of anchor damage on the cable.
Kynance Cove, also in the same county, ranked as the second warmest beach during the autumn months, following closely behind Porthcurno Beach. Kynance registered an average temperature of 13°C, and the popular spot first became well-known to people in Victorian times.
It was a favourite hangout of celebrities of the day, including Queen Victoria, who visited with Prince Albert, and poet Alfred Tennyson. Kynance Cove and the surrounding coast are owned and managed by the National Trust and feature a café which has been there for almost a century.
Rounding out the top three of the list is Birling Gap Beach, an East Sussex summer hotspot. Its beauty withstands past its warmest month of August, and it shares the same temperature of 13°C as Kynance Cove during the autumn.
