Newquay is renowned for its vibrant surfing scene and is home to some of the best beaches in Europe.

There are several inviting beaches, all within four miles of the town centre, most in easy walking distance. They vary from small secluded coves, through family beaches with all amenities and backed by sheer cliffs, to endless, wide expanses of golden sand.

Magnificent views of this long, dramatic stretch of Cornish coastline can be enjoyed from many vantage points on top of the impressive cliffs or rocky headlands, battered by the Atlantic waves. Some info for surfers is included.

Western Beaches - Fistral Beach, Holywell Bay, Porth Joke Beach, Crantock Beach, Pentire Peninsula

Town Beaches - Harbour Beach, Towan Beach, Great Western Beach, Tolcarne Beach

Eastern Beaches - Lusty Glaze Beach, Porth Beach, Whipsiderry Beach, Watergate Bay

Western Beaches

Fistral Beach

One of the best well known beaches in the UK. Nearly a mile of golden sands, it is backed by steep dunes which allow some shelter. It faces west and, therefore, enjoys some of the best surfing conditions in Europe. Fistral has made Newquay world renowned surfing and many national and international competitions are held here each year.

At the northern end of the beach is a good right hander with many other waves breaking along its length on the various banks. High tide tends to get a bit full but can still be rideable. At the Southern end of the beach is Little Fistral which when conditions are right can be classic. Fistral holds up to 10-12ft swell and S.E. winds are offshore, but there can be hassles with the crowds.

The Cribber is situated on the northern side of Newquay Headland. It is a big wave spot which needs a large swell of 10-15ft and S.E. winds. It breaks into the headland and is definitely not for the inexperienced.

Above Fistral Beach is the famous Headland Hotel, location for the comedy film "The Witches". The west facing side of this area forms a natural ampitheatre. It is home of the annual BBC Radio One Road show and plays host to several other special events held throughout the year. This also overlooks the site of the original (and unsuccessful) harbour. The old Lifeboat house now contains an art gallery. At the furthest part of the Headland, on a clear day magnificent views can be afforded over Newquay Bay right along the coast as far as Trevose Head Lighthouse.

Holywell Bay

Holywell's holiday homes and caravans are hidden from the delightful bay by high dunes. A broad but shallow river meanders seawards past the southern end of the dunes. Good to average beach break, sand banks shift around frequently. Wreck in middle of beach usually produces a good wave at low tide. Northern end of beach is sheltered from North winds. Good when 3-4ft and S.E. wind.

Porth Joke

This attractive little bay, known locally as Polly Joke, amply rewards the 10 minute walk from the car park at West Pentire. The sandy, stream washed beach nestles between low cliffs. Small beach break. Needs a big swell to work. A fast, short ride best an hour after low tide or high tide. Sheltered from most winds except Westerly. Good when elsewhere is too big.

Crantock Beach

A long, peaceful beach. It is named after the tiny village above, which is full of old world charm and home to a couple of welcoming, traditional inns. Walk there along the coast path for 2 miles or drive from Newquay's town centre. The north end of the beach, nearest the village, is opposite the Pentire Headland and is separated from this by the Gannel estuary. The main stretch is over a mile long and is backed by a mass of dunes. It is very popular with the locals, being "Far from the madding crowd." There is a car park, run by the National Trust, which has toilets and level access to the beach. A small kiosk serves refreshments during the peak season.

Good quality beach break, best from low to mid tide. Sheltered from S.W. to N.W. winds, works best on S.E. On large days the Southern end of the beach produces good hollow lefts.

Pentire Peninsula

An extension of the coastal path; a lovely area for walking with views across Fistral Beach and Crantock Beach on the other side of the Gannel Estuary. There is a nine hole pitch and putt course, a refreshment kiosk plus a Public House and Restaurant enjoying a very unique location.

Town Beaches

Harbour Beach

Newquay started as a small fishing village with a small quay. This quay had only one very short pier which could not accommodate many boats. Sadly,it was destroyed by storms and so in 1439 the Bishop of Exeter gave leave for a bigger harbour to be built. This harbour grew rapidly between then and 1872 when it was very busy and had many facilities. It had two piers and a railway connection and in that same year a jetty was built with a connection to the aforementioned railway. When the steamships came in the early 1900's Newquay Harbour was of no use anymore. The harbours main use now is for pleasure craft and a few small fishing boats. On the west side of the Harbour is the historical Huer's Hut.

Towan Beach

Towan is the closest beach to the town centre and can be very busy in the summer due to it's level access. As it is right next to the harbour entrance, it is very sheltered, it gets little swell. It has a small, sea filled swimming pool. Often referred to as "Town Beach". The Newquay Sealife Centre is situated on the promenade. Newquay is often symbolized by the Island, connected to the cliffs by a suspension bridge, that rises from the beach and is depicted in many picture postcards.

A S.W. wind is offshore at Towan and Western and can produce fast hollow waves with an optimum swell size of 4-6ft. Look out for occasional surfing restrictions.

Great Western Beach

Accessed by a steep winding road left of the Great Western Hotel, this is another popular family beach. Great Western, which, like the hotel, took it's name from the railway is slightly less crowded than Towan or Tolcarne and has a wide range of amenities. These include refreshments, shop, surf and deck chair hire, toilets and showers. The beach comprises several coves with towering cliffs, which makes it very sheltered from the elements. An unusual feature is the private lift which descends through the cliffs from the Victoria Hotel. The old tram track, now a public footpath, runs above the beach and once carried goods for export, especially tin, from the railway to the harbour.

Tolcarne Beach

This beach, backed by 150 foot cliffs, is one of Newquay's most popular family beaches. It's a short stroll out of town, situated just below the Barrowfields. It may be a long way down and have about 250 steps, but, it is well worth the descent. The beach has plenty of space but is nowhere near the size of Fistral. From the beach and the cliffs above there are beautiful views of the headland and Newquay's Harbour.

Eastern Beaches

Lusty Glaze Beach

A small beach about 1 1/2 miles from the town centre. It can be reached either down some very steep steps or along the sand from Tolcarne at low tide. It consists a small cove, a cafe and a few beach huts. Again like Tolcarne it is backed by very huge, steep cliffs. It is a quiet beach away from the crowds of the larger beaches closer to the town centre. It's excellent for those who want to get away from it all without the need to travel too far.

It is a small cove which only breaks at low tide and needs a very big ground swell to work. A short, fast ride popular with boogie boarders requires a S.E. to N.E. wind to be offshore.

Porth Island & Beach

If you want to get further out of the town to see spectacular scenery then Porth Island is worth a visit. Porth Island was an Iron Age fortified settlement. It also formed part of a Bronze Age burial ground much later.

A spectacular feature at mid tide, especially on windy days, is the blow hole at the end of the island. The pressure from the sea below coming up through a tight space causes salt water to be launched into the air. You can see it from various viewpoints along Lusty Glaze and actually from the island itself. Porth has a pub, cafe and mini-market directly facing the beach.

Whipsiderry

Sheltered spot the other side of Porth headland. Steps run down to a sandy cove. The beach is completely submerged at high tide. Holds up to 8ft surf and works up to 3/4 tide with left and right handers on each side of the beach. Worth a visit when the Newquay beaches are busy.

Watergate Bay

This open bay always picks up any swell that's around, due to it being at the same angle to the Atlantic as Fistral. On many occasions it can offer cleaner surf than Fistral. At low tide the beach runs for more that 2 miles from Trevelgue Head to Griffin's Point

It holds a big swell with nice long walls when the banks are good. S.E. wind is best. Works all the way from low to high tide. Look out for banks at the Northern end of the beach which form around small rocks.