Author: viewsofcornwall

Situated on the north coast of Cornwall is one of the South West’s and even the countries most well known group of beaches. There are approximately 10 beaches located in and around Newquay. It does not matter whether you are an experience surfer, a novice wanting to learn or just want to sunbathe in a secluded cove, Newquay has a beach for you. The main beaches are as follows:

Fistral beach – Newquay, Cornwall

Fistral is probably the countries most famous surfing beach and is visited by surfers from all over the country and even the world. Fistral is made up of three beaches north Fistral, south Fistral and little Fistral. North and south Fistral look very similar and are indeed joined by a wide expanse of sand in the middle. There is also a footpath to the rear of the beaches which runs near Newquay’s golf course and the sand dunes which houses it own ecosystem unique to sand dunes.

At the north end of the beach there are newly renovated facilities offering a wide range of amenities. These include a café, restaurant, bar and vital to the areas tourism; a surf school and hire shop.

During the year the area plays host to a number of local and national events, in recent years these have included the ‘Radio 1 Road show’, numerous live bands playing and of course major surfing events.

ittle Fistral has a totally different look and feel about it than the north and south beaches. Instead of golden sand the beach is mainly made up of course sand and the area around the sea is very rocky but tends to produce some big surf. The beach is famous for having the ‘Cribba’ Britain ‘s largest rideable wave which can be found off the headland which separates the beach from the main Fistral beaches.

Lusty Glaze – Newquay, Cornwall

A sandy beach located in a beautiful cove is probably the best way of describing Lusty Glaze. The beach is accessed via some steep steps so it is probably best to consider this if you plan to take small children or elderly people. The beach is home to the national lifeguard training centre and as such there is full lifeguard cover all year round. The beach has many activities such as a water sports centre, surfboard and canoe hire as well as being a popular area for swimmers. Lusty Glaze is a handy beach for the whole family, due to its varied activities and the 400 car parking spaces that are available.

Towan Beach- Newquay, Cornwall

Accessible from steps near the harbour at low tide the beach gets completely covered by water at high tide. The beach has a sea water pool which is good for children to play and paddled in. The beach has restrictions in place on surfing during the summer due to the popularity of the beach for swimming.

At the eastern edge of the beach is one of Newquay’s most famous landmarks ‘The Island’. Having been used for many years as a residential home it has now been turned into tea rooms which can be accessed via a suspension bridge. The beach has lifeguard cover during the summer months but does not have any car parking so it is best to park in the town and walk.

Tolcarne Beach – Newquay, Cornwall

With cliffs on three sides the beach is very sheltered and as it has a sandy beach it is very popular with sun bathers. At high tide the beach becomes popular with boogie boarders when the waves break close to shore. Located at the rear of the beach are a set of brightly coloured beach huts which are available for rent. The beach is accessed by a set of steps or by an access road. There is lifeguard cover during the summer months and the beach is serviced by a good selection of shops and facilities including surf equipment hire and tuition.

Watergate Bay – Newquay, Cornwall

Located three miles to the north of Newquay town centre, Watergate Bay is Newquays biggest beach which stretches for miles at low tide. The beach has lots of car parking spaces although these can become full during the summer months due to the beaches popularity amongst a variety of users. There are usually just as many surfers in the sea as there are sun bathers on the beach due to the surf school and equipment hire. The beach has good lifeguard cover and a selection of shops along the beach front.

Great Western – Newquay, Cornwall

The beach is sheltered by high cliffs and is accessible by a sloping road or at low tide by going to the other side of ‘The Island’. Due to its location the beach is usually cut off from late afternoon sun by the cliffs behind. The beach is popular with intermediate surfers who do not want to deal with the big swells that beaches such as Fistral have to offer. It is also a favourite with families during to its close proximity to the town centre. There is lifeguard cover during the summer but be careful as at high tide there is a chance of being cut off by the rising tide.

Holywell Bay – Newquay, Cornwall

As its name suggests the beach is set within a bay with sand dunes to its rear. Even at high tide there is plenty of sand for children to play on and there are rock pools and caves to explore. The beach gained its name as pilgrims believed that the cave on the beach contain a source of holy water which had healing properties. Be careful when exploring the cave not to get cut off by the rising tide.

Porth Beach – Newquay, Cornwall

This beach is fairly flat and as such is a firm favourite with people out for a gentle stroll. A gentle slope means that at high tide the beach is idea for swimming because of its shallow depths. This also tends to make it popular with young families so during the summer it can get busy quickly so you need to get there early. The beach has a river running through it which is a good place for young children to play without the fear of waves. There are a selection of shops and even a pub nearby and during the summer months there is a lifeguard unit on patrol. Also nearby there is a pitch and putt golf course as well as a crazy golf course which make a nice alternative than spending hours sun bathing.

Regarded by many as one of the most beautiful places in Cornwall, Kynance cove offers white sand, pebbles, turquoise waters and rocks formed of multi coloured serpentine. The area is run by the National Trust and at present (Mar 2004) is undergoing major building work to enhance the Kynance experience. The beach is accessed via a fairly steep decent of approximately half a mile from the large car park and offers some breathtaking views.

It is best to visit the beach at low tide as there is more room to swim and enjoy the beautiful views, as the beach can get busy when the majority disappears at high tide. At present facilities only extend as far as a cafe/small shop which is only open during the high season and can be found at the rear of the beach. Also of interest nearby is ‘Rill Point’, which is one of the first places the Spanish Armada was spotted in 1588.

Only a couple of miles east of the Lizard can be found this area of natural beauty. The beach and surrounding area is part of a national nature reserve and offers some amazing scenery. The beach itself is made up of mainly fine sand with a good variety of rock pools for all ages to explore. The beach is used by local surfers but it is not recommend for total beginners as there are some strong currents during certain states of the tide. There is a large car park near the beach with a shop and cafe open during the summer season for your beaching needs.

Located only a few miles down the coast from Portreath beach, situated in St Ives Bay you can find both Gwithian and Godrevy beaches. The beaches are basically separated by the ‘ Red River ‘ which got its name from the red pollution deposited by ‘South Crofty Mine’ when tin mining was one of Cornwall ‘s thriving industries.

Gwithian Beach, Cornwall

The beach boasts one of the best stretches of golden sand in the whole of Cornwall and at low tide is used by ‘kite buggiers’ which can reach an impressive speed. The beach is backed by some high cliffs but at regular intervals there is good access to the beach. Behind the cliffs are some very spectacular sand dunes which are great fun for kids of all ages. The beach is patrolled by lifeguard during the summer months and due the expanse of sand involved they use quad bikes to go from one end of the beach to another. Within walking distance of the main part of the beach is a good size car park, a tea room which serves a selection of drinks and snacks and a local shop which also hires out items for use on the beach.

Godrevy Beach, Cornwall

Located to the right hand side of the ‘ Red River ‘ is a rocky beach which is renowned for its good surfing conditions. There is a strong current present between the beach and ‘ Godrevy Island ‘ and it is best to stay away from this area unless you are an experienced surfer. The island has a lighthouse which warns ships of the dangers of coming in to close to the shore. The area behind the beach is owned by the National Trust and the walk through the coastal grassland and heath land is well worth the effort if the busy beach becomes too much. There is a lifeguard presence on the beach during the summer months and there is a nice café/restaurant located in one of the small car park near the beach.

In this fishing village, a relatively small rocky beach can be found below the harbour wall. The village is very picturesque and there are some nice walks around the nearby coasts. The beach consists of shingles at the top near the wall and sand which is exposed as the tide retreats. Due to its location there tends to be only small waves so it is a good beach for swimming but be warned as there is a small fishing fleet which uses the bay. In the village there are a number of small shops and around 120 car parking spaces.

Located 30 miles further west of Newquay but still on the north coast of Cornwall is the very popular tourist area that is St Ives. During the summer the town is very busy with visitors many of whom stay in the one of towns hotels or bed and breakfast’s, finding somewhere to park can sometimes prove to be tricky so it is a good idea to arrive early in the morning. St Ives has three beaches of golden sand and a harbour beach which is popular with young families.

Porthmeor Beach – St Ives, Cornwall

Found towards the north of the town is Porthmeor beach which is the most well known surfers beach that St Ives has to offer. Depending on the conditions of the sea the beach usually has two different types of users. When the swell is big and the waves are crashing in on the beach the surfers descend on the beach from the surrounding areas. At other times the beach is good for families who like to take small children into the sea as there is a full lifeguard service during the summer months and dogs are also banned from the beach.

The beach has an excellent café/restaurant which is handy for when you need a hot cup of tea to warm the body after a dip in the sea. Located just behind the beach is one of St Ives most popular tourist attraction ‘The Tate St Ives’. The gallery was opened in June 1993 and has shown exhibitions of both national and local artists, the recent one being the late Terry Frost (Feb 2004).

Porthgwidden Beach – St Ives, CornwallThis beach is much smaller than Porthmeor and situated between ‘The Island’ and the old pier, because of this it is a much safer beach for swimming and families and is known locally as ‘The Island Beach’. It is protected from prevailing winds by the cliffs on both sides and has a range of beach huts for bathers to use.

Porthminster Beach – St Ives, Cornwall

Located to the south east of the town can be found Porthminster beach. The beach is the longest that the town has to offer and measures approximately ½ mile in length. It has good facilities to offer families in the way of beach huts, deck chair hire, a food outlet and many other useful amenities. There is a lifeguard service in operation during the summer months and the sea is generally calm and a good place to take the kids for a swim.

The beach can be reached by walking through the town or a pleasant stroll following a footpath along the coast. To the rear of the beach are the town’s railway station and a car park, these get extremely busy during the summer months. The branch line runs between St Ives and St Erth where you can catch a train to the rest of the country. This is one of the most beautiful train journeys in the whole of the country and it is well worth leaving the car at St Erth and using the park and ride service which operates during the popular months.

The Harbour Beach – St Ives, Cornwall

Located in the centre of the town the beach is popular with families who enjoy walking around the town and then visiting the beach to keep the kids happy. At high tide there is not a very big expanse of sand but as the tide retreats more and more golden sand gets exposed. The harbour is a fully working and thriving business as such there are times when it is dangerous for small children and it is best that they are not left unattended. From the harbour it is possible to hire out self drive boats

Set in a beautiful bay on the north coast of Cornwall Porthtowan beach has something for everyone. At low tide there is a vast expanse of golden sand and it is also possible to walk around to St Agnes head. There is a man made salt water swimming pool which can be accessed when the tide goes out far enough. The beach is very popular with surfers as a good variety of waves are on offer depending on the direction of the wind. There are a good number of car parking spaces available and with the fairly flat beach makes Porthtowan popular with families. There is a RNLI beach rescue service in operation 7 days a week during the summer months and a lifesaving club with emergency services during the rest of the year.

There are a number of shops located near the beach where you can also find the very popular ‘Blue Bar’. The Blue Bar offers a range of food and drinks and is open from 11am until late in the evening. During the year live entertainment is provided which coupled with its views makes the bar an ideal spot for a visit.

Portreath is situated between Camborne and Redruth, two of Cornwall’s most populated towns, this can make the beach very busy in the summer months, The beach itself is formed of course sand and shingle with soft sand being exposed at low tide. To the right hand side of the beach is the pier which separates it from Portreath harbour, there are some rock pools which are good for children to play in at low tide. There is also a sea water swimming pool which gets exposed as the sea retreats which gets popular when the sea is rough.

The left hand side of the beach is flanked by high cliffs which contain some interesting caves which are worth exploring. When the conditions are good local surfers like the beach for its powerful and frequent waves, it is especially fashionable with body boarders. Just out to sea is ‘Gul Rock’, during certain points of the tide the rock disrupts the wave’s formations.

There are lifeguards on duty during the summer months and during the rest of the year there is an emergency service in operation. Within a few hundred metres of the beach you can find local tourist shops, food outlets, amusement arcades and a surf shop which also hires out equipment.

On the south coast of Cornwall can be found this mile long beach which is made up of golden sand and outcrops of rock. The beach is divided into two areas, the eastern and western ends. The eastern end consists of mainly rocks and rock pools. The western end is more sandy and is where the amenities can be found. These consist of café/restaurant, toilets, shops, a camp site and even a pub.

There is a large car park available which means the beach can get very busy during the summer months. There is a life guard service in operation covering the western end of the beach during the summer months. The beach is popular with local surfers all year round but be careful as there can be some strong currents around. Located only 1/2 mile behind the beach can be found a 9 hole golf course which is very popular with locals.

Being nearly 2 mile long Perranporth is one of the longest beaches in Cornwall . When the tide comes in the beach is split into two; Perranporth and Perran Sands. The area is backed by sand dunes that include St Piran’s cross and buried underneath the sand are the ruins of St Piran’s Oratory.

Perranporth Beach, Cornwall

Occupying the majority of the 2 mile stretch of sand, Perranporth beach can get very busy during the summer with families and when the conditions are good, surfers. The beach is flat which means that the tide rises quickly but there are lifeguards on duty during the summer months. There is a phone located at the Surf Life Saving Club for emergency at all other times of the year. The main town is close by and has a good supply of car parking space. Literally on the beach is a very popular nightspot for both local and tourists ‘The Watering Hole’, which has live music most of the year.

Perran Sands – Perranporth, Cornwall

This is a much smaller beach than Perranporth itself and is ideal if you fancy a quiet walk or surf away from the hustle of other beaches in the area. Beginners are advised to stay to the southern half of the beach as this is where the lifeguards patrol. If you fancy a fairly long walk the Penhale corner next to the rocks on the northern side has some good waves and is sheltered from northerly winds.