5 best places to find sea glass in Cornwall

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been on a mission. 

We’ve been researching the best beaches to find sea glass in Cornwall and venturing around the county, visiting some new places and some we’ve been to many times, collecting treasure. 

It’s been a pretty successful couple of weeks and I can’t wait to get started using the glass for something arty. I haven't quite decided what I’m going to do with it all yet, but I’ll let you know when I have. 

But arty things aside for a moment, there is something really therapeutic about combing the beaches and looking for sea glass, even if you don’t intend to make anything with it right away! So I highly recommend it. 

And if you are hoping to find sea glass in Cornwall in the near future, here are some of the best places to do it. 

1. Holywell Bay 

Holywell Bay is a beautiful beach that is ordinarily great for surfing and dog walking, and it is one that we visit quite regularly during the quieter months. And if you believe the rumours, it also has its own sacred well which can be found in one of the caves on the far side of the beach. 

The well (which is only accessible at low tide) is said to have healing properties if you touch the water. We have been and seen it, and whether it has healing powers or not, it’s a fascinating find. 

Of course, Holywell Bay is also excellent for sea glass, especially when the tide is going out or it has been a rough, stormy couple of days. The beach is strewn with large patches of shingle and gritty sand and these are the best places to look. 

You’ll be able to spot these large patches of more silty, gritty sand quite easily, making this one of the easiest and most popular places to find sea glass. 

2. Pentewan Beach 

Pentewan is a private beach located near St Austell and there is a dog ban there for large amounts of the year, so not ideal if you want to take your furry friends with you. 

However, we went out of season with Lunar and it’s great for finding small bits of sea glass, mostly clear glass, as well as bits of clay and pottery. 

If you park in the village, you can comb the small left-hand side of the beach first, which is where we found most of the goods. You will then have to pass through a small stream to reach the larger beach if you want to carry on. 

Either that, or you can get onto the beach through the holiday park there, but only when it’s open obviously. 

3. Portreath Beach 

Portreath also has lots of very silty, gritty sand which makes it perfect for sea glass. There are also lots of smaller rockpools and caves you can explore while you’re there, especially at low tide. 

These aren't the best places for glass, but they are fun to look at. Most of the glass can be found up the top of the beach and near the stream that runs through. 

There is also a little cafe and pub near the seafront and the parking is right on the beach, so it’s really easy to access. The little village there is very cute and just round the corner from Porthtowan and St Agnes. 

4. Maenporth Beach 

Maenporth has loads of rocks, small caves and rock pools that capture and hold sea glass and it was where we found some of our favourite pieces. Plus, the variety of colours and sizes there was perhaps the most impressive of all the beaches we’ve been to. 

Again, there is parking on the beach and a cute little cafe right there on the sand. There is a seasonal dog ban in July and August on this beach, so it’s worth keeping that in mind if you plan to walk your dog at the same time. 

5. Gyllyngvase Beach

Overlooked by Pendennis Castle, Gyllyngvase Beach (also known as Gylly Beach) is Falmouth’s main beach, right near the town centre. It’s a mixture of white stretches of sand, rockpools and on the borders, beautiful green gardens. 

There is also a lovely cafe and takeaway on the beach, and of course, sea glass! We found lots of small bits there in a variety of colours, but we were just slightly too late and the tide was already coming in. 

But sea glass aside, the beach and the town are so beautiful and the whole place has a lovely vibe so it’s definitely worth a visit. We LOVE Falmouth. 

Tips for finding sea glass in Cornwall 

If you are going to go out searching for sea glass in Cornwall, there are a couple of ways you can increase your chances of sea glass success:

• Choose a sunny day (when possible) as it’s easier to see the glass when it’s glinting in the sunshine

• Go down at low tide when the beach is at its biggest. Look on the edge of the water as wet glass is easier to spot 

• Go after a storm if you can, as more glass is likely to have been churned up and left on the beach 

• Walk slowly as you look and get low. If you spot some glass, stop and comb that area in more detail as you usually find a few bits next to one another 

• Train your eye to spot the unique glint of sea glass by doing it often

Hopefully these tips, along with insights into the best beaches for sea glass in Cornwall, can help you find some hidden treasures. 

Happy hunting!

The challenges of being a freelancer

Over the last seven years, I’ve loved working for myself, taking on exciting new projects and being free to fit my work around my life. 

There are so many great reasons to be a freelancer, especially a completely remote freelancer where you can work, travel and live as you please. 

However, I’d be lying if I said there are no downsides to working this way. 

I have certainly come up against some key challenges and some days (in fact, some months) have been tougher than others. 

So, if you’re thinking about becoming a freelancer, or, if you are already a freelancer and it’s just nice to know you’re not alone in these feelings, here are some of the downsides to being a freelancer. 

It can be lonely 

When you work for yourself, particularly from a remote location, there are times when it can feel pretty lonely. You miss the connection you have with co-workers and seeing people face-to-face on a daily basis. 

Of course, if you’re busy in other areas of your life, you are less likely to feel this way. But if you traditionally rely on work for a lot of your human interaction, the freelance life can become a bit isolating. 

You need self-discipline 

In order to stay focused, stay on track and make sure you get all your work done on time, you need to be disciplined. This can be tricky, particularly on days when you’re not feeling productive, well or possibly even when it’s just sunny outside. 

We all know how hard it is to keep yourself inside working when the sun is shining and the outside looks far more appealing! 

But essentially, what I’m saying is that you have no one to blame but yourself if you fall behind and it could cost you work and your reputation. So you must push yourself to remain productive, manage your time well and avoid distractions. 

It can be unpredictable 

It’s likely that you’ll experience ups and downs throughout your freelance life and this unpredictability can be tough. From quieter periods to unstable income, you have to be prepared for a rainy day. 

And by that I mean, you have to be prepared for slumps, clients dropping out, delayed payments and more. 

On the other hand, you also have to be ready for busier periods, and in some cases, long days or projects that overrun. 

Difficulty switching off 

Although there is the possibility of having a better work-life balance when managed properly, this can also cause problems if you’re unable to switch off from your business and work. 

Without set work hours or a set office space, you might find that you struggle to establish boundaries between your work and personal life. It can be tempting to work long hours and to be constantly available to clients, which can lead to burnout and stress.

Finding regular work 

Unlike a traditional role, if you want to make sure the work (and money) keeps coming in, you have to be proactive. This means that during quieter periods you need to keep looking for work, applying for new projects and pitching your services to relevant businesses. 

You also have to promote yourself and keep putting your name out there. This can be time-consuming, but it’s important for building your professional brand and helping clients find you. 

For some, finding and securing new work is one of the hardest parts of freelance life, especially when you’re first starting out. 

The lack of workplace benefits 

While you get a lot of freedom to go on holiday when you want to, the one thing you don’t get is holiday pay. You also don’t get sick pay and some of the other benefits that come with traditional employment, like a pension scheme. 

That being said, you should set aside money for situations like sickness and having to take unexpected time off. You can also invest in your own pension fund or savings, you just have to be more disciplined and find the best way to do this for your own future. 

Staying on top of your career development

Unlike traditional employment where there may be opportunities for you to get a promotion, freelancing can mean limited prospects for career growth. Sure, you could change your own job title when you feel like it, but in terms of other benefits like a pay rise, this all comes down to the work you pull in.

For some, this lack of a clear path can be tricky. But you can still take online courses, grow your network and strengthen your skills with a focus on personal and professional development.

Plus,  if you continuously market yourself and seek out new and impressive opportunities, your business and knowledge will naturally grow. This, in itself, is a type of development and one that many are far more proud of than simply being promoted by their boss. 

Don’t let any of this put you off 

As with everything in life, being a freelancer has its challenges, but you shouldn't let this put you off if you’re in the early stages of your career or you’re thinking about going freelance in the future. 

There are so many reasons why being a freelancer is great! And I certainly can’t imagine my life or work any other way. Right now, this gives me the freedom and flexibility to enjoy my life to the fullest. 

5 ways to find freelance work

Speaking as someone who currently has the availability to take on some new clients, I know how tricky it can be pulling in freelance work. 

Side note: If you need help with your content right now, don’t hesitate to get in touch! 

In fact, I would say it is one of the biggest challenges facing all freelancers, ensuring that you have a constant flow of work coming in. 

I’ll admit, I’ve been pretty lucky up until now and I’ve had a strong stream of work coming in and often, the client has come to me, not the other way around. 

But now, I find myself with a space to fill and I am looking to work with some exciting new brands this year. So I’m going to share what I’ve learned over the last six to seven years when it comes to finding new clients. 

It’s worth saying at this point, not all of these techniques are made equally and some will be more effective. You’ll also find that you prefer using some techniques more than others and that’s OK. 

Just go with what feels natural and what brings you the best results. 

Here are five ways to find freelance work. 

1. Let people know you’re looking

One of the biggest and simplest steps you can take is to let people know that you’re looking for work and are available to take on new projects. 

And there are several ways you can do this. You can share your availability on your website or on social media (more on this next). But one of the top ways to do this is on LinkedIn, setting your profile as ‘open to work’. 

After all, if you don’t let people know you're available, how are they going to know they can employ your services?

2. Promote yourself on social media 

Now, this one can be a little more uncomfortable depending on how you feel about social media and self-promotion, but it can also be a really great way to find work. 

By continuing to promote yourself across different social media platforms, you can get your name out there and let people know you are available to hire. 

It’s best to choose the platforms that are most popular within your industry or the platforms where your target audience tends to hang out more. 

And yes, it can feel a little cringey at first, but it’s important to try and push past that. Once you master self-promotion on social media, you can increase your chances of clients coming to you and having a steady flow of work. 

3. Use traditional job sites 

Traditional job sites can be a little trickier to navigate when you’re looking for freelance work, especially if you work remotely. 

That’s because most employers that use job boards are looking for full-time employees and usually, those that come into the office, even on a hybrid basis. 

However, you shouldn’t rule these sites out as some companies will post freelance or short-term positions on job boards too. So it’s always worth signing up for alerts or browsing job boards to find your next project. 

4. Make use of freelance platforms 

As well as traditional job sites, there are also several great sites out there that are dedicated to freelance workers and as a result, these can often be more fruitful when looking for work. 

It’s worth saying, some of these freelance platforms can advertise low-paid work and some are worse than others, so it’s a good idea to choose some of the more trusted platforms. 

Conduct some research into the platforms available for your industry and these can be a great way to get started and find clients. Some of the better sites (in my opinion) include:

• Upwork 

• People Per Hour 

• Fiverr

• Freelancer.com

• FlexJobs 

There are other, more industry-specific, job sites out there that can also be beneficial, so do make sure you conduct some research and read reviews to find the right platforms for your business. 

5. Cold pitching 

The final suggestion on my list is cold pitching, which I’ll admit, can be a tough one, especially if you've not done this before. But if you are successful, this can land you some really great clients that you’re genuinely passionate about. 

If you’re not familiar with this concept, cold pitching means reaching out to a company and letting them know about your services and how you can help them. 

You do this without a job being advertised, which is why it can be harder to see results. But if you sell yourself effectively, you might persuade them that they can’t go on without your services. 

The good news is, there are lots of great resources online to help you write a good cold pitch, like this one here. 

It’s time to go out there and find freelance work

These are some of the best ways I’ve found to find freelance work, no matter what industry you work in. 

Sure, you may prefer some techniques to others and some may be more beneficial, but it’s a good idea to have a few options on the go. This can help you to find regular work. 

There are also some great ways you can help bring clients to you, such as creating an impressive website, but that’s an article for another day. 

If you know of any other good ways to secure freelance work, drop them in the comments below!