Newquay Beaches for Sun, Surf and Sandy-toed Adventures

 

Salt-kissed Newquay has shrugged off its full-throttle party reputation and re-invented itself as one of Cornwall’s coolest beach destinations. Stylish cocktail bars nudge the shore, celeb chefs and swanky eateries are putting the town on the foodie radar, and – instead of partying till sunrise – these days the locals are more likely to get up with the sun and go surfing.  

But beach bars, foodie pop ups and trendy boutiques aside, what people really come here for – and have done since Victorian times – is the beaches. Dubbed the UK’s surfing capital, Newquay boasts a littering of breaks that light up in different conditions, alongside pockets of white sand from where spectators bask and watch the waves. From swimming in the harbour and paddling in rock pools, to bellyboarding the ‘wedge’ at Tolcarne and watching pros compete at Fistral, beach life in Newquay is, quite simply, some of the best in Britain. 

So, with sunny days upon us (at last), here’s where to feel the sand between your toes in Newquay this summer: 

Fistral Beach

Hailed as one of the finest surf beaches in the country, Fistral is where many of the UK’s surfing pros cut their teeth. Well endowed with surf schools, hire outlets, sundowner bars and surfside eateries, it does its best to emulate Australian beach life and is a magnet for surfers and beach lovers from far and wide. It’s also the venue for plenty of surfing competitions, including the annual Boardmasters event, which brings some of the world’s top surfers to the UK. 

Being a popular place, the surf can get quite crowded, but with a series of peaks scattered from north to south, there are waves for everyone. Just make sure you brush up on your surfing etiquette, and respect the locals chasing barrels at North Fistral. You might prefer to watch the action from Fistral Beach Bar, or over a platter of the finest local seafood at The Fish House (one of the best restaurants in Cornwall). Our favourite spot for post-surf coffee and brunch is the Seaspray café, tucked in the cliffs at South Fistral. 

Dogs welcome year-round. Seasonal lifeguards.

Little Fistral

Tucked between the surfing mecca of Fistral and Newquay’s town beaches, Little Fistral is a quieter, more rugged little cove with coarse, crushed-shell sands. When winter swells pound the coast, Cornwall’s legendary big-wave spot, The Cribbar reef, lights up just offshore, and the UK’s hardiest surfers ride its giants with hundreds of onlookers gasping from the headland. 

However, in summer a calmer ocean laps the shoreline, where beach goers hunt for shells and sea glass, or layout their picnics in the shelter of sea caves and rocky nooks. As the tide ebbs we like to pick our way out along the headland and plunge into deep blue rock pools. Clambering over wet, seaweed covered rocks is rewarded by the discovery of shimmering pools of all shapes and sizes, for skin-tingling dips, sea life spotting and basking on the rocks away from the summer crowds. 

If your sandy-toed adventures work up an appetite, we recommend cream tea on the terrace at the iconic Headland Hotel, where you can also make use of state-of-the-art spa facilities at The Aqua Club. 

Dogs welcome year-round. No lifeguards.

Newquay Harbour Beach

A low-tide crescent of sand from where the fishing boats come and go, the harbour is home to Newquay’s most sheltered beach. At high tide there’s no beach at all, but it makes a sublime location for a swim or paddle off the harbour wall, and on sunny days packs of local beach groms come down for a spot of harbour jumping. 

As the tide ebbs the sand is revealed, the once-bobbing boats are left and high and dry, and children scour the shoreline for crabs and critters. Colourful and atmospheric, this is one our favourite spots to tuck into ‘global eats from local peeps’ at the street food market by the beach. 

Dogs allowed year-round. No lifeguards.

Towan Beach

Instantly recognisable by its famous island, linked to the cliffs by a suspension bridge, Towan is Newquay’s most central beach. Easily accessible from town, with a promenade of kiosks for beach food and ice cream, it’s a popular spot with families, swimmers and sun worshippers. 

As the tide drops out there’s a sea pool for paddling in, and you can walk out under the bridge to neighbouring Great Western Beach, searching for sea life in the rock pools on your way. If you want to see even more marine life – both from UK shores and overseas – pop in to the Blue Reef Aquarium, right beside the beach, where you can walk through an underwater tunnel and come face-to-face with sharks and turtles. 

Dogs welcome year-round. Seasonal lifeguards.

Great Western Beach

Linked to Towan at low tide, Great Western is where surfing took off in Newquay back in the 1960s, when Australian lifeguards were spotted riding the waves here on fibreglass boards. The Great Western Beach Complex pays homage to its surf legacy, with a surf school and hire, a cool café and a beach bar. When the wind is south-westerly, it’s one our favourite places to surf in all of Newquay. 

Many summer days see the ocean with a barely a ripple here, which lures swimmers and sun bathers to the sheltered golden sands. And at low tide you can walk all the way along Newquay’s town beaches, from Towan to Tolcarne, making a pitstop here at Great Western. 

Dogs allowed year-round. Seasonal lifeguards

Tolcarne Beach

Accessed via steps from the eastern end of Newquay town, Tolcarne boasts sugary sands backed by beach huts and apartments, a café, and swanky bar and restaurant. When the bigger swells max out the open beaches, it’s our go-to for a surf in Newquay, and at high tide bodyboarders come here to test their mettle on the hollow walls of the ‘Wedge’. 

Sneak along the northern rim of the beach as the tide drops out and you’ll find yourself in a fascinating world of rock pools and sea caves, that feels miles’ from any beach town. But food and drink is never far away, with coffee and cake on the beachside deck, or seafood platters and fireside feasts at The Colonial. 

Seasonal dog ban April-October. Seasonal lifeguards.

Lusty Glaze Beach

It’s easy to miss this gob-smacking cove that’s sheltered by towering cliffs on the eastern flanks of Newquay. However, it’s worth seeking out the gate and descending its 133 steps to pad on pearly white sands and hangout in the dog-friendly beach bar and restaurant. 

An idyllic venue for everything from beach yoga to beach rugby events, Lusty Glaze also holds the crown as one of Britain’s most picturesque music venues, hosting everything from international headliners to intimate sundowner sessions, with a backdrop of the wild Atlantic.  

Dogs allowed year-round. Seasonal lifeguards

Porth Beach

A five-minute drive (or 25-minute walk) from Newquay, Porth Beach is protected from the Atlantic swell by rugged promontories, luring flocks of families with its safe bathing and beside-the-beach parking. Bring nets and buckets for rock-pooling and explore the rocky spit of Porth Island where you can go geo-caching and feel the spray blasting out of the blowhole when it’s working its magic. 

Next to the beach, the trendy Roos Beach boutique is where you’ll find the best beach robes in town, while The Mermaid pub has a deck that sprawls out alongside the sand. 

Seasonal dog ban from Easter to October. Seasonal lifeguards

Watergate Bay

Dog walkers, surfers and families mingle on this two miles of golden sands backed by rugged cliffs, just north of Newquay. Book surf lessons and wellness sessions at Wavehunters, or slink to the north end of the beach to hunt for starfish and crabs in the rockpools. Head south beneath the sky-scraping cliffs, and you’ll soon be in a world of your own, where you can dip in emerald pools with only the soundtrack of wheeling gulls and the roaring ocean. 

Back in the huddle of seafront eateries, sandy-toed and sandy-pawed punters are welcomed into the mix at the Beach Hut, or you can take a seat for a fine dining experience at Zacry’s on the sea wall. 

Dogs allowed year-round. Seasonal lifeguards. 

Crantock Beach

A pebble’s throw from the bustle of Newquay’s beaches, with easy access and a stream for paddling in when the tide’s miles out, Crantock is a winner with families and dog walkers. Surfers and bodyboarders can hit the waves (be careful of rip tides) and wetsuits, boards, windbreaks and deckchairs can be hired wave-side (in peak season), so all you need to bring is your beach towel. 

If you’re coming from Newquay, hop over the River Gannel on the foot ferry, pausing for a crab sandwich with a view at the Fern Pit Café. 

Dogs welcome year-round. Seasonal lifeguards.

Holywell Bay

Six miles south of Newquay, Holywell Bay once kept the crowds at bay – until it played a starring role in the BBC adaptation of Poldark. With giant sand dunes, a stream to paddle in and the Atlantic pounding the shore, it’s the perfect beach for hitting the surf, collecting shells and exploring the sea caves in search of the ‘holy well’. Pause for coffee and lunch on the deck at Holywell Beach Bar, and follow the coast path to Kelsey Head to spot seals and seabirds. 

Dogs welcome year-round. Seasonal Lifeguards.

To find out where to explore beyond the beaches, take a look at our local’s guide to Newquay and discover our 26 things to do in Newquay.