Cornwall is well-known for being one of the UK’s best staycation spots, with long sandy beaches, pretty fishing villages and a rich foodie scene and cultural history. Your first point of comparison may not be the tropical Indonesian province of Bali, however, with its exotic white-sand beaches, mountains and waterfalls markedly different from the rugged cliffs of Land’s End and Lizard Point. But Brits looking to save some cash and holiday in the UK this year could nab a taste of Indonesia without a long-haul flight, according to one TikTok creator, who is convinced she’s found Britain’s answer to Bali nestled on Cornwall’s south coast.
User Hols in Cornwall posted a video of the turquoise-coloured waves lapping up on a pretty, sandy stretch of Cornish shoreline called Lantic Bay, near the historic fishing village of Polruan, on the social media site alongside the caption, “Did I just find the Bali of Cornwall?” “Stunning spot”, she added in the caption, with fellow TikTok users quick to add their agreement. “That’s a hidden gem”, one person said, while others described it as “so beautiful”. One person even wondered: “How is this in England?”
Others warned that beachgoers had to climb down a steep and perlious rockface to reach the cove, however, which owes some of its seclusion to the daunting journey up and down the imposing cliffs that it requires.
Despite lying off the beaten track, Lantic Bay falls within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is managed by the National Trust – although visitors are advised to bring a picnic and make a day of it to take the sting out of the climb back up.
The beach, which is accessible via the South West Coast Path, was named one of the UK’s best secret shorelines in 2024 by The Independent, which promised that the “uneven walk through farmland, down some steps and a slope” was well worth the end result.
It also has a 4.5 star rating on TripAdvisor, with a recent visitor describing it as “one of the many Cornish jewels” and another dubbing it “paradise in Britain”.
With tourist hotspots around the UK preparing for a summer of protests amid buckling housing markets and overstretched infrastructure, now could be the time to indulge in a little staycationing – without sacrificing the azure blue waters the grey British weather may have you dreaming of.
On the other hand, there are fears that increased social media exposure of hidden spots like Lantic Bay – with 16.7k likes on the “Bali of Cornwall” clip – could inundate once-peaceful spots with hordes of visitors.
“Keep it a secret, don’t want people trashing the place,” one TikTok user warned. “The good thing about this place is that it’s a mile walk down the cliff to get to the beach, so it scares a lot of people off,” they added.
