Summer is when Cornwall truly comes alive. The sea can be as calm as a lake and, once the mid-Spring plankton bloom has cleared, as clear and blue as any tropical ocean. As the waters warm up, summer visitors such as dolphins, basking sharks and sunfish start to arrive. June and July are the best times to see basking sharks before their migration takes them further North ad East. If you don't need to fit in with school holidays then you can see Cornwall in the brilliance of Summer in June and early July before the tourists arrive.
From late July and through August, people flock from far and wide for the sun, sand and surf for which Cornwall is famed. See our beaches page for a list of beaches nearby, including Tregardock and Bossiney that are a bit off the beaten track and therefore quiet when others are busy. Also see our things to do page for some suggestions of places particularly good for swimming, snorkelling or kayaking.
All the sandy beaches have big tidal ranges so try to time your visits around low tide. Even in the busiest times in Summer, many of the beaches are so vast at low tide that they aren't crowded, but towards high tide people can get squashed together.
If you're an early riser then early on Summer mornings is a magical time - the beaches are empty, there is often no wind and the coast paths are full of wildlife.
If you want to get out of the mid day sun for a bit then there are some nice shady woodland walks by the Trevillet and Valency rivers and cycle trails alongside the River Camel.
Many of the villages have fetes in July where many rural traditions still survive, fortunately including some excellent home made cakes.