South coast beach
Sharrow Beach: dogs, parking and water quality
Photograph to come Sharrow, Cornwall.50.348° N, 4.260° W
The essentials for Sharrow on Cornwall’s south coast: the council’s dog rules, the nearest council car parks and the Environment Agency’s water quality ratings, each linked to its source.
- Dogs
- Not on the council restriction listThe council’s rules in full
- Water quality 2025
- ExcellentEnvironment Agency rating
- Council parking
- Tregantle, TorpointPL11 3AL · 1.0 km (0.6 miles) away · all nearby
- Lifeguards
- Check the RNLI finderSeason mainly May to September, varies by beach (Cornwall Council)
- Nearest station
- St Germans station6.2 km (3.9 miles) in a straight line · by train
- Nearest town
- Looe13.8 km (8.6 miles) away
Dogs on Sharrow
Sharrow does not appear on Cornwall Council’s dogs-on-beaches restriction list (council page last updated 23 October 2026, checked by us on 1 November 2026).
That is not a guarantee that dogs are welcome on every part of the beach. The council notes that other, privately owned beaches may set their own local restrictions, so check the signs when you arrive. Cornwall’s other dog orders, such as picking up after your dog, still apply.
Parking near Sharrow
Cornwall Council car parks within about 1.5 km of the Environment Agency’s sampling point for Sharrow, nearest first. Distances are straight-line estimates from our own calculation, not walking routes.
| Council car park | Postcode | Distance (straight line) | Spaces | Open | Council page updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tregantle, Torpoint | PL11 3AL | 1.0 km (0.6 miles) | 180 | 24 hours | 22 July 2026 |
Parking near many Cornish beaches is run by the National Trust, parish councils or private owners. We have not checked those yet, so they are not listed. Charges change, so we do not quote prices: each council page has current tariffs. All Cornwall Council car parks.
Water quality at Sharrow
The Environment Agency rated Sharrow Excellent in its 2025 classification. Ratings for the last four years:
| Bathing water | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharrow | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
The 2026 bathing season ran from 15 May 2026 to 30 September 2026, with 10 samples planned at Sharrow.
- Sharrow: no daily pollution risk forecasts are made here. The EA says a warning would still be issued if a pollution incident happened.
Streams and run-off at Sharrow (EA profile)
Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads. There are two streams that flow onto this beach.
Seaweed at Sharrow (EA profile)
For the four year (2022-2025) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 74% of visits. This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
Source: Environment Agency bathing water profile, Open Government Licence v3.0. See every Cornish bathing water rating.
About Sharrow
The Environment Agency describes the bathing water like this:
Sharrow beach is in Whitsand Bay on the south coast of Cornwall. It is a small sand and rock cove approximately 300 metres wide, backed by steep cliffs, and Sharrow Point headland to the east.
Quoted from the Environment Agency bathing water profile, Open Government Licence v3.0. Beach material recorded by the EA: rock, sand. Designated as a bathing water in 2012.
Safety and tides
Whether a lifeguard is on duty depends on the beach and the date. Cornwall Council says the RNLI’s main lifeguard season runs from May to September and varies from beach to beach, so check the RNLI’s lifeguarded beach finder before you go. We do not list lifeguard dates until we can check them.
The council points visitors to BBC tide tables for tide times. In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard (HM Coastguard). More in our beach safety guide.
Getting to Sharrow by train
The nearest National Rail station to the Environment Agency’s sampling point for Sharrow is St Germans, about 6.2 km (3.9 miles) away in a straight line. You would need a bus, taxi, bike or a long walk from there. The three nearest stations:
| Station | Distance (straight line) |
|---|---|
| St Germans station | 6.2 km (3.9 miles) |
| Saltash station | 7.5 km (4.7 miles) |
| Menheniot station | 13.8 km (8.6 miles) |
Straight-line distance, our own calculation from OpenStreetMap station locations (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). It is not a walking or road route. Station links go to National Rail for times and facilities. See beaches near a railway station.
Where is Sharrow?
Nearby beaches
- Tregonhawke1.4 km (0.9 miles) away · Not on the council restriction list · water Excellent
- Portwrinkle3.7 km (2.3 miles) away · Check the council map: a nearby listed area has dog rules · water Excellent
- Cawsand4.5 km (2.8 miles) away · No dogs 10am–6pm, 1 July – 31 August · water Excellent
- Kingsand4.6 km (2.8 miles) away · Not on the council restriction list · water Good
Photos
Quick answers
Are dogs allowed on Sharrow?
Sharrow is not on Cornwall Council’s dogs-on-beaches restriction list (checked 1 November 2026). Privately owned beaches can set their own rules, so check signs.
Is the water clean at Sharrow?
The Environment Agency rated Sharrow Excellent in 2025. During the bathing season (15 May 2026 to 30 September 2026 in 2026) it publishes sample results online.
Where can I park for Sharrow?
The nearest Cornwall Council car park we found is Tregantle, Torpoint (PL11 3AL), about 1.0 km (0.6 miles) away in a straight line. Check the council page for charges.
What is the nearest railway station to Sharrow?
The nearest National Rail station is St Germans, about 6.2 km (3.9 miles) away in a straight line (our calculation from OpenStreetMap data).
Sources and checks
- Cornwall Council: dogs on beaches – page last updated 23 October 2026, checked 1 November 2026
- Environment Agency: Sharrow bathing water profile – checked 1 November 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0
- Cornwall Council car park: Tregantle, Torpoint – page last updated 22 July 2026
- Cornwall Council: beach safety – page last updated 1 April 2026
- OpenStreetMap: railway station locations – ODbL; distances are our own calculation
Last checked: . Published by Oaknest Media. How we check: editorial policy.