Beaches
Our beaches are beautiful, but the sea can be dangerous. The waves can get very strong and the rip tide deadly, please ONLY swim within coastguard protected flagged areas and be very careful of your children. People die every year because they underestimate the power of the sea. Because we are on the north coast we usually have fabulous, regular and impressive waves; brilliant for surfing, boogie boarding and body boarding. All of the beaches listed below (except Poly Joke) are amply supplied with cafes pubs and shops – please see Places to Eat section to find out more details.
Fistral Beach (2 minutes walk)
We are 2 minutes from the astonishing Fistral beach. Not only does it have miles of pristine white sand to play on, but because the beach faces due West we get incredible, regular, predictable surf straight across the Atlantic Ocean. This has resulted in Fistral becoming the home of the supercool Boardmasters festival in August each year as well as being one of the locations for a number of international surfing competitions. Walk down the steps off Esplanade Road (why not stop off at the Sea Spray Café on your way down for an ice cream?). Walk along the beach to the Newquay end to find a selection of surf shops, cafes and restaurants as well as the grand and quirky Headland Hotel.
Crantock Beach (10 mins walk when the tide is out, 20 mins drive)
Crantock is another stunning wide sandy beach this time owned by the National Trust just on the other side of Pentire headland. With the estuary providing safe fresh water to swim in at low tide, it is a big favourite with families and definitely worth a visit. Walk towards the river Gannel and drop down by the Fernpit Café. They operate a ferry across the estuary in the summer months as well as a café and lobster shop. You can buy fresh lobsters caught that morning which they will cook for you to take home or serve for lunch in their own hilltop café. They also operate an ice cream shack and surf hire crate on the beach itself.
Watergate Bay Newquay (15 mins drive)
Watergate Bay is north of Newquay itself, another astonishing expanse of white sandy beach with the family friendly Watergate Bay Hotel and Jamie Oliver’s perennially excellent Fifteen Cornwall Restaurant. Well worth a visit if you can get yourself a table.
Poly Joke (1hr walk, 12 minutes drive)
Poly Joke is the next tiny beach along from Crantock and is a pleasant walk along the SW coast path to reach it.
Trebarwith Strand
Trebarwith strand is south of Tintagel and can be reached on foot along the coast path, or by car.
The beach is completely covered at high tide. Please check tide times before visiting the beach. At low tide the expansive beach is revealed. The Port William, which overlooks the beach and cliffs is a very popular local pub.
OTHER BEACHES
Almost every beach for miles around is jaw-droppingly beautiful; huge expanses of pure white sand, getting more stunning the further south you travel. If you get the weather you can’t really go wrong, a few of our favourites are: Porthcothan (27 mins drive) - good for families St Ives (46 mins) – Gorgeous fishing town with National Gallery outpost Sennen Cove (1 hr away) – Stunning sweep of white sandy perfection.