Praa Sands is situated in a sheltered indentation within Mount's Bay; it has a long, wide, sandy, south-facing beach that is lapped by large waves for the area[citation needed].

The western side of Praa Sands beach contains Folly Rocks Site of Special Scientific Interest, which is noted for its geological aspects, including a granite porphyry.

[6][7] During a World War II air battle against eight German aeroplanes over the Bay of Biscay, a Sunderland flying boat was heavily damaged.

The crew returned 800 miles to the Cornish coast, where pilot Colin Walker landed and beached the aircraft at Praa Sands.

On 2 February 1943 the DNC telegraphed the order with the CP contract to Saro’s Ltd Saunders-Roe for the single prototype Mk2* canoe (collapsing vertically) with outriggers.