Little and Great Molunan Beaches, St Anthony Head: Are They Worth Visiting?

Little and Great Molunan Beaches sit below St Anthony Head on the Roseland Peninsula, near St Mawes, with St Anthony Lighthouse above them and views across the Carrick Roads towards Falmouth. They are attractive little coves in a lovely setting, but I would not treat them as a must-do Cornwall beach day.

My honest view: I wouldn’t go out of my way for the Molunans as beaches alone. They are worth considering if you are already walking St Anthony Head, staying nearby, or arriving from Place, but the steep access, limited facilities and tide dependence make them more of a coastal detour than a destination.

Come for St Anthony Head; use the Molunans as the quiet beach bonus.

Quick Verdict

Little and Great Molunan are best for walkers, lighthouse wanderers, quiet-cove seekers and people already exploring the Roseland coast. They work well as a short stop on a St Anthony Head walk, especially when the tide is lower and the weather is calm.

They are less convincing for a full beach day. If you want easy parking, toilets close to the sand, lots of space and a relaxed setup with beach bags and food, I would choose somewhere easier on the Roseland.

Quick Practical Guide

Location: Below St Anthony Head, near St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula.

Best for: walking, views, small coves, snorkelling in calm conditions, and combining with St Anthony Lighthouse.

Less good for: heavy beach kit, pushchairs, mobility concerns, easy-access swimming, or a full family beach day.

Access: steep paths, steps and uneven ground from St Anthony Head, or a footpath route from Place.

Parking: no beach-level parking; use St Anthony Head parking and walk down.

Toilets: no toilets on the beaches; use the facilities at St Anthony Head before heading down.

Dogs: allowed, but keep them close and under control around the coast path, wildlife and cliff edges.

Best tide: around lower water, when there is more usable sand.

Where Are Little and Great Molunan Beaches?

The Molunans are tucked below St Anthony Head, on the western side of the Roseland Peninsula. Great Molunan Beach is the larger cove. Little Molunan Beach is smaller and sits close by, reached from the coast path.

This part of the Roseland is more about the wider coastal setting than the beach alone. You have the lighthouse, the old military landscape of St Anthony Head, views across the Carrick Roads, and the sense of being at the mouth of a busy natural harbour rather than on a polished resort beach.

That setting is the best reason to come. The beaches add sand, rocks and shelter, but St Anthony Head gives the visit its character.

What Are the Beaches Like?

Great Molunan is a small sandy cove with rocky edges, little corners to explore and a sheltered feel in the right conditions. Little Molunan is more tucked away and more modest. Around lower tide, the coves feel more useful because there is more sand and more space to sit or potter.

At higher tide, the appeal drops. You may still enjoy the view, but the beach itself can feel too limited to justify the effort unless you are already passing.

That is the honest distinction: the Molunans are scenic coves, not especially practical beaches.

Access From St Anthony Head or Place

Access is the main catch. From St Anthony Head, the route down involves steep ground, steps and uneven coast path. It is manageable if you are comfortable on foot and travelling light. It is not the beach I would pick with chairs, cool boxes, windbreaks and half the car boot.

For me, this is a small bag, towel, water and proper shoes sort of visit.

You can also reach the area from Place by footpath, which suits a ferry-and-walk day better than a traditional beach trip. That route gives the Molunans a better role: a small cove stop within a wider Roseland walk.

If access is a serious concern, I would stay cautious. St Anthony Head itself has more manageable areas near the car park and main routes, but dropping down to the coves is more demanding.

Parking, Toilets and Facilities

There is no parking at Little or Great Molunan Beach itself. The usual approach is to use St Anthony Head parking and walk down from there. That means every towel, drink and packed lunch you carry down has to come back up.

There are no proper beach-level facilities either. No café, no shop, no toilets beside the sand. Treat the Molunans as small, simple coves rather than a serviced beach.

Before heading down:

• Use the toilets at St Anthony Head.
• Sort parking before leaving the car.
• Take food and drink if you plan to linger.
• Keep your kit light.
• Check the tide before committing to the descent.

This is the bit that keeps the Molunans out of my stronger recommendations. They are pleasant once you are there, but they do not make the day easy.

Tide, Wind and Snorkelling

I would aim for lower tide at Little and Great Molunan Beaches. That is when the coves have more usable sand and feel more worth the walk down. At higher tide, the beaches can become more of a viewing point than a place to settle.

The sheltered position can be appealing in the right wind, and snorkelling can make sense on calm, clear days. The rocky edges give the place more interest than a plain strip of sand.

Still, I would keep expectations sensible. These are small coves with limited facilities, open water and conditions that can change quickly. Pick the right day rather than forcing the plan.

Dogs at Little and Great Molunan Beaches

Dogs are allowed at Little and Great Molunan Beaches, which makes them useful if you are walking St Anthony Head with a dog. The wider area has coast path, wildlife and cliff edges, so keep dogs close and under control.

I would treat this as a walking stop with a dog, not a free-run beach where everything else becomes someone else’s problem.

Best Way to Visit

The best way to visit Little and Great Molunan Beaches is to build them into a St Anthony Head walk. Start with the headland, lighthouse and views, then decide whether the tide and conditions make the coves worth dropping down to.

That keeps the day balanced. If the beaches look good, you get a quiet Roseland cove stop. If they do not, the walk still carries the trip.

FAQ

Is Great Molunan Beach easy to access?

No. Great Molunan Beach is reached on foot, with steep and uneven access from the St Anthony Head area. Travel light and wear shoes suited to coast path terrain.

Is there parking at Little and Great Molunan Beaches?

There is no parking at beach level. Use St Anthony Head parking and walk down to the coves.

Are there toilets at Little and Great Molunan Beaches?

There are no toilets on the beaches. Use the facilities at St Anthony Head before heading down.

Are dogs allowed at Little and Great Molunan Beaches?

Yes, dogs are allowed. Keep them close and under control, especially around the coast path, wildlife and cliff edges.

What tide is best for Little and Great Molunan Beaches?

Lower tide is best. You get more sand, more space and a better reason to make the walk down.

Can you swim or snorkel at Little and Great Molunan Beaches?

You can swim or snorkel in suitable calm conditions, but this is open water with limited beach facilities. I would only bother when the weather and sea state are clearly in your favour.

Pasties & Pints Verdict

Little and Great Molunan Beaches are pretty, tucked-away coves in a strong coastal setting, but they are not one of my stronger beach-day recommendations. I would go for St Anthony Head first and let the beaches be the extra if the tide, weather and access feel right.

For a proper beach day, I would choose somewhere easier. For a coastal walk with a small cove stop, the Molunans make sense.