Praa Sands Beach

Praa Sands is well known for its sandy and surfing beach. It is also very interesting geologically as on the beach can be seen an ancient raised beach that represents a previous much older landscape when sea levels were different.

The importance of such a area has been recognised and it is now a Regionally Important Geological / Geomorphical Site.

On the beach close to the Welloe Rock Inn, can be seen a peat bed. This bed is the remains of a marsh that once existed here. This bed is over a thousand years old, this being dated by the pollen found within it.

Ancient Peat Bed

At the end of the beach is Lesceave Rocks. Here there is a granite outcrop. Within it can be seen large feldspar crystals.

Feldspar crystals at Lesceave Rocks

Close up of Large Feldspar

At the other end of the beach is a small cave, this is an adit. Adits were tunnels used to drain water from mine workings. In the adit walls can be seen rounded pebbles, this deposit represents a raised beach.

In the past during warmer times, both the north and south poles were smaller, less ice there meant there was more water in the seas, hence sea levels were higher. This deposit is an indicator of a past higher beach level.

Pebbles in Raised Beach at Praa Sands

Adit on Praa Sands beach