Prussia Cove is a beautiful group of secluded coves tucked away near Penzance in West Cornwall. Made up of two neighbouring coves (Bessy’s and Piskies) it’s untouched surroundings give it a lovely nostalgic feeling.
As you reach the small shingle beach of Bessy’s Cove, you get a real sense of times gone by, with the scattering of old fisherman shacks above the beach and horse cart tracks cut deep into the rock, once used to help transport seaweed from the beach to the fields for fertilizer.
Smuggling History
Prussia Cove’s natural shelter may provide a lovely afternoon sun trap nowadays, but during the 18th Century, it also proved the perfect location for smuggling, and was home to a famous family of smugglers – the Carters who operated from the cove. “The King of Prussia” was a nickname given to one of the Carter boys, and was the original name of the cove.
The sand on Bessy’s Cove disappears at high tide, so we would advise that you check the local tide times before visiting. There are also no facilities nearby so a packed lunch and drink is a good idea if you plan on staying long.
Prussia Cove is dog friendly all year round.
Car Parking
A small private field car park is located just past the farmhouses on the approach to the Prussia Cove. The car park is free of charge. 400m walk to beach.
Toilets
There are no toilets on Prussia Cove or nearby.
Disabled Access
Steep steps are the only way to access Prussia Cove.
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