RNLI lifeguard flags come down on three Whitsand Bay beaches

If a walk on Whitsand Bay is on your autumn list, you may find one familiar sight missing from the sand. The red and yellow flags.

Looe RNLI has confirmed that Sunday (27 September) was the last day of the season for RNLI lifeguards on Seaton, Tregantle and Sharrow beaches.

So anyone heading down to those beaches this autumn and winter is being asked to take extra care.

Where lifeguards are still on patrol

Tregonhawke beach keeps its cover a little longer, but only at weekends for now.

That changes for the October half term. Lifeguards will be back on the beach every day from Saturday 24 October, and their final patrol of the year is on Sunday 1 November 2026.

After that, there will be no lifeguard cover on any of the four beaches until patrols return.

How to stay safe on an unpatrolled beach

The station is urging beachgoers to Respect the Water and follow a few simple steps before heading out:

• Check the weather and tide times
• Know your limits and don’t go out in conditions you can’t handle
• Tell someone where you are going and when you’ll be back
• Carry a means of calling for help
• Wear a flotation device

What to do in an emergency

If you or someone else gets into trouble at the coast, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.

📷Credit: Looe RNLI/Ian Foster