Skip to content

Accessible Cornwall

Beach wheelchair hire, Changing Places toilets, accessible attractions, and the practical info that helps Cornwall work for everyone.

Cornwall has more accessible infrastructure than most visitors expect - free beach wheelchairs at 17 beaches, Changing Places toilets across the county, and step-free routes through most major attractions. This page maps what is actually available, where to book, and the realistic limits.

Free beach wheelchairs

Cornwall Mobility's Beach Chair Project runs free hire of all-terrain wheelchairs at around 17 beaches across the county. The chairs have wide inflated wheels that float over soft sand, with versions for adults and children. Hire is free; in summer, book 2-3 days ahead.

Beaches with chair hire (a selection of confirmed sites)

  • Gyllyngvase Beach (Falmouth) - hire from Gylly Beach Cafe, 01326 312884
  • Porthmeor Beach (St Ives) - hire from Porthmeor Beach Cafe
  • Carbis Bay - hire from the Carbis Bay Hotel reception
  • Sennen Cove - hire from Sennen Cove Lifeguard Station / Beach Cafe
  • Porthtowan Beach - hire from Blue Bar / beach office
  • Watergate Bay - hire from the Beach Hut
  • Polzeath - hire from the lifeguard station / surf school
  • Praa Sands - hire from the beach cafe
  • Marazion - hire near the causeway to St Michael's Mount
  • Newquay (multiple beaches) - coordinated via Newquay BID; phone Visit Newquay

For the full and current list (locations rotate when host venues change), contact Cornwall Mobility directly on 01872 672318 or info@cornwallmobility.co.uk. Their downloadable beach chair locations PDF is updated each spring.

Beaches with step-free access

Free wheelchair hire is one part - getting onto the sand in the first place is the other. These Cornish beaches have ramps, boardwalks, or level slipways that work without a beach chair.

  • Gyllyngvase, Falmouth - level promenade, ramp onto sand, accessible toilet, beach cafe.
  • Marazion - long flat slipway, accessible parking adjacent, view of St Michael's Mount across the bay.
  • Mount's Bay (Penzance promenade) - accessible all the way from Penzance to Marazion along the prom.
  • Porthtowan - level concrete slope from car park to sand.
  • Porthmeor, St Ives - ramp from the surfschool building to the sand.
  • Crooklets, Bude - flat tarmac path from car park to dune edge.
  • Polzeath - large car park immediately above the sand, gentle slope.
  • Carbis Bay - step-free from the hotel grounds; train station above is also step-free with assistance.

Several iconic beaches - Kynance Cove, Pedn Vounder, Bedruthan Steps, Pentireglaze Haven - have steep cliff descents and are not accessible. The viewpoints from the Coast Path above them are.

Changing Places toilets

Changing Places are larger accessible toilets fitted with adult-sized changing benches, ceiling hoists, and enough space for two carers. Standard accessible toilets do not have these. The Changing Places network in Cornwall is growing every year - confirmed locations include:

  • Eden Project (PL24 2SG) - in the Banana coach park, Visitor Centre, the Core, and the Link Building between the Biomes.
  • Cornwall Services (Victoria, near Bodmin, on the A30).
  • Truro - Green Street near the bus station, and Boscawen Park.
  • Several council leisure centres across the county.

The Changing Places Consortium maintains a national map at changing-places.org. Cornwall Council also lists current sites at cornwall.gov.uk/changing-places. Always confirm the toilet is open before relying on it - some have keypad locks or RADAR keys (a £4.50 universal accessible-toilet key from Disability Rights UK opens most).

Blue Badge parking

Blue Badge holders get free, time-unlimited parking in all Cornwall Council pay-and-display car parks - including the major coastal car parks at Porthcurno, Sennen, Praa Sands, Polzeath, Bedruthan Steps, and Holywell. National Trust car parks are free for NT members; the Trust honours Blue Badges in many of its other car parks too. Check at the entrance.

Most popular car parks have a small number of marked accessible bays close to the entrance. In peak summer these fill early - aim to arrive before 9.30am at Kynance Cove, Sennen, Watergate Bay, or Porthcurno. On-street disc parking in Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, and Newquay is free for Blue Badge holders for up to 3 hours; show the parking clock as well as the badge.

Accessible transport

Trains

GWR's mainline trains to Cornwall are fully accessible. Book Passenger Assist online or call 0800 197 1329 at least 2 hours before travel - staff will meet you at the platform with a portable ramp, help with luggage, and notify the destination station. At staffed stations (Truro, Penzance, St Erth, Plymouth, Bodmin Parkway, Liskeard) you can also turn up and ask. Branch line trains (St Ives, Falmouth, Looe, Newquay) need ramp assistance at most stations.

Buses

All Transport for Cornwall buses are low-floor with a wheelchair-accessible space and a deployable ramp. Drivers will lower the bus on request. Audio and visual stop announcements are now standard on most routes. Older minibus services on rural routes occasionally lack ramps - check with the operator if you depend on it.

Taxis

Wheelchair-accessible taxis (WAVs) operate in Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, Newquay, and Plymouth, but are limited in number. Always book ahead - phone the company and specifically request a WAV. National Accessible Taxi finder is at accessibletaxis.co.uk.

Mobility scooter and equipment hire

  • Cornwall Mobility (01872 672318) - daily, weekly, or longer hire of mobility scooters, wheelchairs, beds, and bathroom equipment. Delivery across the county.
  • Shopmobility schemes in Truro, Falmouth, Newquay, and Penzance offer free or low-cost daily hire of scooters and wheelchairs from town-centre offices, usually next to the bus station or main car park.

Step-free attractions

Cornwall's bigger visitor attractions all have published accessibility statements. These are the strongest options for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility:

  • Eden Project - level walkways throughout, free wheelchair loan, Changing Places toilets, accessible parking, hearing loops.
  • Lost Gardens of Heligan - "All Access" route covers the productive gardens and Italian Garden; the Jungle has steep paths that are partly inaccessible.
  • Trebah Garden - accessible route from the visitor centre to halfway down the garden; the lower beach section involves steep paths.
  • National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth - lifts to all floors, accessible toilets including Changing Places, free wheelchair loan.
  • Tate St Ives - lifts to all floors, accessible toilets, BSL audio guides.
  • Lanhydrock (NT) - house ground floor accessible, gardens accessible, electric mobility scooters available free.
  • Pendennis Castle and St Mawes Castle (English Heritage) - both have wheelchair access to the inner ward and main keep displays.
  • Bodmin Jail - lifts to all floors, accessible parking on site.
  • Newquay Zoo and Cornish Seal Sanctuary - flat or gentle paths throughout, free wheelchair hire.

Cornish villages with steep cobbled streets - Polperro, Mevagissey, Mousehole, Port Isaac, Boscastle - are difficult or impossible in a wheelchair. Falmouth, Truro, Penzance, Newquay, and Padstow all have flatter centres with accessible pavements.

South West Coast Path

The Coast Path itself is mostly steep, narrow, and not accessible. Several sections, however, have been engineered for level access and make for substantial walks or rolls along clifftop or seafront.

  • Penzance to Marazion promenade - around 3 miles fully level, sea on one side, beach the other.
  • Maenporth to Swanpool (Falmouth) - tarmac path along the Maenporth-Swanpool stretch is level and around 1.5 miles each way.
  • Polzeath to Pentireglaze - the lower section behind the dunes is firm and flat.
  • Porthtowan to Chapel Porth - clifftop path here is wide and surfaced for around a mile.
  • Camel Trail - although not technically the Coast Path, the 5.5-mile traffic-free Padstow to Wadebridge section is the best long accessible route in north Cornwall.

Accessible places to stay

Filter our property pages by the "wheelchair accessible" amenity to see options ground-floor or with adapted bathrooms. Some quick pointers:

  • Modern purpose-built holiday parks (Bude, Newquay, Looe) usually have several adapted lodges with wet rooms, hoists, and step-free entry.
  • Larger hotels in Falmouth, Newquay, and St Ives have accessible rooms with roll-in showers - book directly and confirm exactly what is provided.
  • Self-catering cottages: check the National Accessible Scheme rating (Mobility 1, 2, 3, or 4) where listed. Mobility 3 + is suitable for full-time wheelchair users.
  • Many of the older Cornish cottages are 17th-century thatched buildings with low ceilings, narrow stairs, and stone steps - rich with character but rarely accessible.

Useful organisations

  • Access Cornwall (accesscornwall.org.uk) - charity-led directory of accessible places, attractions, and accommodation. Their free Accessible Beach Guide rates 20+ beaches with a colour-coded system.
  • Cornwall Mobility (cornwallmobility.co.uk, 01872 672318) - equipment hire, beach chairs, mobility advice.
  • Visit Cornwall accessibility page (visitcornwall.com/accessibility) - tourist board's official guide.
  • Sensory Trust (sensorytrust.org.uk) - based in Cornwall, runs accessible nature programmes and provides advice on inclusive outdoor spaces.
  • Disability Cornwall (disabilitycornwall.org.uk) - local charity offering advice and signposting.

FAQs

Can you hire a beach wheelchair in Cornwall?

Yes, free of charge. Cornwall Mobility runs the Beach Chair Project at 17 locations across the county, including Gyllyngvase, Carbis Bay, Porthtowan, Sennen, and Porthmeor. The chairs have inflated balloon wheels that roll over sand. Phone the host venue ahead - most are run by beachside cafes or council offices and need a couple of days notice in summer.

Where are Cornwall's Changing Places toilets?

Cornwall has a growing network of Changing Places toilets - larger accessible toilets with hoists, adult-sized changing benches, and space for carers. Confirmed locations include the Eden Project, Cornwall Services on the A30, Truro (Green Street and Boscawen Park), and several council leisure centres. Cornwall Council maintains the current list.

Does Blue Badge parking work in Cornwall?

Yes. Blue Badge holders can park free in Cornwall Council pay-and-display car parks, in marked accessible bays, on yellow lines for up to 3 hours (with the clock displayed), and in many National Trust car parks. Display your badge clearly. Some private car parks (supermarkets, attractions) charge regardless.

Are Cornish trains and buses accessible?

GWR mainline trains are fully accessible with step-free boarding via portable ramps - book Passenger Assist via the GWR website 2+ hours ahead, or just turn up at staffed stations. Branch line trains (St Ives, Falmouth, Looe, Newquay) usually need ramp assistance. All Transport for Cornwall buses are low-floor with wheelchair spaces; most rural routes have ramps.

Which Cornwall attractions are good for wheelchair users?

The Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Trebah, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Tate St Ives, Pendennis and St Mawes Castles, and Lanhydrock all have step-free routes through their main areas. Cornish mines, fishing villages, and the Coast Path are mostly not accessible. See our notes below for specific recommendations.

Last reviewed 2026-04-30. Beach chair locations, Changing Places sites, and venue arrangements change. Always confirm with the host venue or organisation before relying on the information for a trip.