The Ultimate Paddle Boarder’s Guide to Marazion: Explore Cornwall’s Coastal Gems

Marazion is a picturesque coastal town on Mount’s Bay near Penzance in Cornwall and home to the famous St Michael’s Mount. Marazion is a watersports mecca, particularly popular for paddle boarding, with its long sandy beach, island to explore, a fascinating coastline to discover, and plentiful marine life to see beneath the waves.  

Exploring Marazion’s Coastal Beauty

Marazion’s Beach is one of Cornwall’s most popular beaches with parking and village shops, pubs and cafes all nearby. Views extend across St Mount’s Bay to Penzance and Mousehole, but the most striking feature is the view over to St Michael’s Mount. Situated just offshore, and reached via a long stone causeway that opens at low tide, the island castle makes an impressive backdrop to any paddle here.

Marazion’s crystal clear waters are perfect for spotting a range of marine life. Mounts Bay is designated a Marine Conservation Zone and is the home of some amazing marine life. Here you can spot the Giant Goby, a fish which lives in rock pools and is a rare find in Britain. There are also stunning Seagrass beds just offshore which are great to explore with a snorkel from your SUP. Mount’s Bay is also a great place to spot a variety of colourful jellyfish species too, including the Stalked jellyfish which can be found on most types of seaweeds and seagrasses but prefer the kelp beds here. Dolphins and seals can be spotted from paddleboards.

There are some exciting paddle board routes from Marazion including heading east along the coast to the popular beach of Perranuthnoe, or further still to explore the secret bathing spots and famous seaweed beds at Stackhouse Cove, or the fabulous hidden coves and sea caves of Prussia Cove. There is also the Marazion classic of paddle boarding around St Michael’s Mount.

Tips for safe and responsible paddle boarding in Marazion

Always check the weather conditions and sea state before you paddle at Marazion. Mount’s Bay tends to be sheltered, but offshore winds (N through to NE) can increase during the day. There is a small tidal flow on the flood (east) and the ebb (west). Further safety advice is provided for the specific routes below.

Paddle Boarding Routes near Marazion

Paddle boarding in Cornwall doesn’t get much better than Marazion and Mount’s Bay area. Here are some of our favourites:

• Paddle board around St Michael’s Mount

Paddle in the shadow of dramatic St Michael’s Mount or circumnavigate the St Michael’s Mount island for unique views of the castle gardens. Launch from Marazion, a historic small town set alongside a beautiful stretch of sandy beach, and make for the Mount, exploring the rocky outcrops where cormorants or gulls vie for space with seals. Keeping well away from the granite walls of the harbour entrance to avoid the frequent tour boats, discover the south side of the island with its fantastic waterside views of the castle and subtropical cliff-side gardens. On the return, enjoy the panoramic vista across the bay to Newlyn and Penzance. If the tide is right, don’t miss the experience of ‘flying’ over the causeway and looking down through crystal-clear waters to the stone path beneath. Offering extremely clear and generally sheltered waters, Mounts Bay is rich in marine life. Look out for starfish, crabs, and jellyfish, as well as an array of seaweeds where wrasse and pollock flourish. Harbour porpoise, seals, dolphins, basking sharks, and sunfish may also be spotted. The bay is perfect for spectacular sunrise paddles and the circumnavigation of the Mount is a popular wild swim for the experienced.

Distance 2.5km island circumnvigation

Paddling environment 3 (bay) 5 (island circumnavigation)

Access restrictions No landing on island

Starting point Marazion Beach, TR17 0EJ. Grid ref. SW 5146 3066 (50.1239 , -5.4760)

Launching Beach, 20m walk from car park

Parking Follyfield Long Stay Car Park, West End, Marazion, TR17 0ET.

Pitstops Vegetarian and coffee-lovers’ heaven, the Copper Spoon, tel. 01736 711607

Lessons, hire, tours Excellent tuition and local knowledge at Ocean High, Marazion, tel. 07801 438320

Getting there Take Marazion exit at A30 roundabout before Penzance and follow signs to car parks. Turn L onto Beach Road, past first car park, to long stay on R.

Special points Sheltered with small tidal flow on flood (east) and ebb (west) of the English Channel.  Offshore winds can increase during the day making return trips more challenging. S side of island has potential for stronger S winds and swell. Best paddled early mornings/late evenings during neaps. Beware of tourist boats.

Offshore wind: N through to NE

• Paddle board from Perranuthnoe to Prussia Cove

One of our favourite paddle board routes in Cornwall discovering the romance of a coastline featuring rock-hewn baths, as well as hidden beaches, caves and coves at the heart of the smuggling trade between Land’s End and The Lizard. From Perran Sands, head southeast (left), pass the shingle and rock of Trevean Cove nestled amongst the low cliffs, then continue to Stackhouse Cove. It is named after the 18^th-century marine biologist, John Stackhouse, who identified the widest range of seaweed species ever recorded in Britain here. Stop off and find the freshwater bathhouse located in an adit (mine tunnel) in the cliffs and the saltwater low-tide bath carved into the rocks on the shoreline. Both were built for Stackhouse’s ailing wife who lived in Acton Castle, visible on the cliff top. Round the sea cliffs of Cudden Point to discover the wonderful Piskies Cove with its stunning sand beach and huge sea cave, followed by secluded Bessy’s Cove, which is virtually hemmed in by rock ledges. As you approach, you’ll spot bricked-up caves, steep steps leading down to a tiny pebble beach, and a slipway running diagonally up the side of the cove from the rock-hewn harbour. Tumbledown shacks, rows of old coastguard cottages, and other historic buildings overlook the small bay, which is a lovely swimming spot. At the far side of the Enys headland, King’s Cove is named after John Carter, the so-called ‘King of Prussia’ and landlord of a nearby pub, who ran one of Cornwall’s most lucrative smuggling operations along this coastline . Collectively Piskies, Bessy’s and King’s coves are known as Prussia Cove.

Distance 8km return

Paddling environment 5

Starting point Perran Sands, Perranuthnoe, TR20 9NB; Grid ref. SW 5393 2926 (50.1123 , -5.4431)

Launching Beach, 150m walk from car park

Parking Perranuthnoe car park (charges), Churchtown Lane, TR20 9NE.

Pitstops Breakfasts and lunches, Peppercorn Café, tel. 01736 719584; the beachside Cabin for good crab sandwiches, tel. 01736 711733; excellent food at the quaint Victoria Inn, tel. 01736 710309 

Lessons, hire Ocean High, Marazion, tel. 07801 438320

Getting there Head towards Helston on A394 (N of Marazion), then turn off R to Perranuthnoe and beach

Special points Set off only on very low swell/wind on ebb tide for maximum exploration of the coves and caves plus beach stops. Any swell will make this trip challenging.

Offshore wind: N through to NE

• Other paddle board routes in Cornwall near Penzance include a paddle or swim from Mousehole across to St Clement’s Island, or crossing Mount’s Bay to Marazion and many more. Check out our book etc….

Exploring Marazion Beyond Paddle Boarding

Marazion is not only a great place to paddle board but there is plenty of off-water fun too. After spending quite a bit of time there researching our book, here are our recommendations for the best things to do in Marazion:

• Walk the South West Coast Path from Perranuthnoe to Prussia Cove to find the secluded beaches
• Go on a seaweed safari at Stackhouse Bay, or find its historic bathing spots hewn out of rock
• Visit St Michael’s Mount – check out our island page
• Swim around St Michael’s Mount
• Go coasteering in Mousehole
• Go birdwatching in Marazion Marshes
• Walk the St Michael’s Way
• Cycle to Penzance along the coastal route

Pitch and Paddle near Marazion

Here’s nothing quite like waking up in a campsite and simply picking up your paddle board and heading off for a paddle. Here are some of our favourite campsites for paddle boarding near Marazion.

Porth-en-All camping at Prussia Cove. Idyllic campsite with basic facilities (and communal pizza oven) overlooking the sea https://prussiacove.co.uk/camping-2/

Millstones coastal camping at Perranuthnoe is just a short walk to the beach. For adult members of the Caravan and Camping Club only https://prussiacove.co.uk/camping-2/

Best pitstops for paddles near Marazion

Cornwall is a foody paradise and the area around Marazion is not exception. We are not top end diners, more looking for pitstops on a walk or paddle. Here are some of our favourites:

Vegetarian and coffee heaven at the Copper Spoon, Marazion. Breakfasts and lunches at the Peppercorn Café; crab sandwiches at the Beachside Cabin; and top end pub food at The Victoria Inn, Perranuthnoe.

Conclusion

Paddle boarding in Cornwall is a dream but the diversity of paddles and the experiences on offer at Marazion and Mount’s Bay, along with the walks and swims and other great outdoor activities in the area, makes this a spot well worth spending a few days.

We’d love to know your favourite places and experiences in this area. Please share them with us below. 

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St Michaels Mt bay

Paddleboarding South West