Newquay Accommodation

Lusty Glaze Beach, one of Newquay Bay's 11 Beaches - good surfing!

Tolcarne Beach - Surfing Lessons Here and endless Golden Sand

Newquay Beach Scene between Tolcarne & Great Western Beaches

Dog Friendly Beaches - there's plenty at Newquay!

Newquay Beaches Surfing Newquay Fistral Beach Newquay Cornwall

Looking for some of the best surfing beaches in Cornwall? Not just for surfers are Newquay's 11 glorious beaches, many are perfect family holiday beaches with endless golden sands. When the tide goes out Newquay's beaches are exposed with a choice of prime surfing beaches such as fully exposed Fistral Beach to the West, or beautiful sheltered cove beaches such as picture postcard Lusty Glaze Beach to the East of Newquay Bay.

The choice of Newquay Beaches is one of the best in the UK and there's a beach for everyone here, from experienced to beginner surfers, to mushy wave family beaches and quieter alternatives such as the out of town stunning Watergate Bay to the East of Newquay. If you like the crowds in peak season then head for the central favourite Newquay beaches ideally backed onto by the town. Central Beach favourites include Great Western, Tolcarne Beach and Towan Beach.

Newquay Beaches Central

Newquay's central main bay conveniently sits adjacent to the town centre and many of the surfing clothing shops, surfing schools and restaurants, pubs and fast food outlets. Newquay beaches in Newquay Bay include Great Western Beach, Towan Beach, Tolcarne Beach and delightful cove beach Lusty Glaze. This is where the peak season Cornwall holiday crowds head, and these four beaches combined offer 1 mile of beautiful sandy beach at low tide, perfect for families and beginner surfers generally although occasionally Newquay Bay beaches are the only ones where surfing is allowed on windy days when the weather is up.

Sheltered Towan Beach is popular with families and situated nearest the harbour at the southern end of Newquay Bay. When the tide's low it's easily reached via steps from the harbour. Families love this Newquay beach as it offers numerous rock pools especially around the little Island. There's a natural paddling pool at the foot of the Island as well which families and young children love. Towan is the closest Newquay beach to the town centre so you've easy access to amenities. Parking is available adjacent to the gentle slope down to Towan. Top marks for a family beach! Amenities are particularly good on the beach and include toilets, a cafe and shop, disabled access and a direct bus service. Also Towan is a dog friendly beach!

Great Western Beach, adjacent to Towan, is not quite as sheltered but still popular with families. It's not so easily reached via a steep slope just off Cliff Road next to the Great Western Hotel. However at low tide Great Western can be reached to the right of the Island on Towan. The cliffs that back onto Great Western mean it's fairly sheltered so good sunbathing territory. Towards late afternoon it becomes shaded. Plenty of amenities here including a cafe, toilets, disabled access/toilet and a direct bus service. No dogs allowed on Great Western. Tolcarne beach next door to Great Western is privately owned and renowned for it's rows of beach huts which can be hired. Get to Tolcarne via steps down from the cliff face at Narrowclife or alternatively a winding slope at the east end. Tolcarne beach is popular with both surfers and families. Amenities including toilets, a cafe and direct bus service. No dogs allowed on Tolcarne Beach.

Lusty Glaze Beach, also privately owned, is a stunning cove beach within walking distance of Newquay town centre. The British Surfing Association's Surf School is here, and Lusty Glaze beach excels at offering outdoor activities for all ages. It has the most excellent toilet apparently and is a particularly clean and well cared for beach with restaurant, bar, shop, toilets and direct bus service. No dogs are allowed on Lusty Glaze Beach. Popular with all!

Fistral Surfing Beach & West Newquay Beaches

Fistral Beach in Newquay is quite simply the best surfing beach in the UK (although some experienced surfers may quibble and look to the Welsh coast?). It's not just the swell where the Atlantic hits west facing Fistral beach head on but it's proximity to Newquay which has developed and evolved it's very own surfing culture since the late 1960s. So not by accident the British Surfing Association (BSA) has it's main centre here on Fistral Beach.

Fistral Beach sits to the west of Newquay centre on the other side of Pentire Headland. It's about a 15 minute walk from Newquay town centre, and walking to it may be needed in peak season when the car park is full! Fistral is a large beach, making it perfect for the many national and international surfing competitions held here. Facilities are excellent so both surfers and families congregate on Fistral. There's a creche, showers in the BSA base, the lifeguard centre and first aid point. Fistral is split into three sections, North Fistral where most of the amenities are, South Fistral the most sheltered and Little Fistral. Parking is available on the street above South Fistral and in a car park near North Fistral. Ample toilets are available, dogs are welcome and theirs either a cafe at the BSA centre or a restaurant open to non residents at the Headland Hotel.

Crantock Bay to the south west of Fistral beach is particularly stunning with it's backed on sand dunes and it's significant tidal estuary feature, the River Gannel. The estuary results in quite strong currents on the right side of Crantock Beach so better to swim on the left side of the beach. The National Trust car park is behind the dunes, and there's a cafe, toilets, a direct bus and dogs are welcome. When the surf's good Crantock is popular with longboarders. Best to take a packed lunch and supplies as it's a way from Newquay town centre.

Watergate Bay & Watergate Beach Newquay

Watergate Bay and Watergate Beach particularly is fast becoming rather popular in the Newquay beach firmament. Watergate is three to four miles east out of Newquay town centre but well worth the trip, especially for views of this beach on the approach. Watergate Beach is huge with it's 2 miles of beautiful sand, and even in peak summer season you'll find a quiet spot. Surfers like Watergate particularly for evening surfing and handy beach bar to retire too!

Especially clean water, lots of parking, ample beach facilities including toilets, disabled toilet, restaurant, bar, dogs welcome and a bus service and shop you've everything you need close at hand. It's easy access down onto Watergate Beach so highly recommended for visitors with mobility issues. Deckchairs and equipment can be hired on the beach and it's fully life guarded in peak season.

Newquay Beaches & Caves

Newquay offers a plethora of other smaller beaches including Newquay harbour little beach which is popular with locals and families as well as fishermen. There are no breakers here so it's a good spot for families with very young children.

Some of Newquay's beaches have fascinating caves which can be explored. Check out Holywell Bay which offers ample space even at high tide and like Crantock has dunes. When the tide is love Holywell Bay's cave on the north side is exposed. This beaches name relates to the cave as pilgrims of old thought this cave contained water with healing properties, hence Holywell. Visitors need to watch the tide to avoid being cut off and to watch rocks which can be slippery.

Porth Beach to the East of Newquay centre is particularly popular for it's excellent disabled access. The beach is level with the road and the car park so has superb easy access. To the east of Porth Beach is fascinating Porth Island which is the site of an Iron Age settlement. There are caves here too with many a smugglers' myth attached. Crazy golf pitch and putt fans will find a good course on Trevelgue Head. Ample facilities are available on Porth beach including dogs welcome, disabled toilet/toilets, restaurant, cafe, shop and bus service.

For more sand dunes and cliffs head to Mawgan Porth which is spacious and usually quiet and secluded. Nearby hamlet Mawgan Porth is also well worth a look and walkers can easily hook into the Lanherne trail up through Carnanton Woods on to St Columb. Alternatively if you're on the lookout for a gem of a Newquay beach then Porth Joke is where to head, situated between Kelsey Head and West Pentire. Both Holywell and Porth Joke beaches are to the west of Crantock.

Best Surfing Beaches Cornwall/Newquay

Once you've picked up the surfing and Best Cornwall Beaches bug don't just stop at Newquay. The North Cornwall coast offers the best selection of surfing beaches in the UK and just a short drive will take you to other top surfing spots such as Constantine Bay and Polzeath beaches near Padstow. Or move further north upto Bude or south of Newquay to Porthtowan beach.

Check out the A1 surf weblink to the right for a definitive guide to the best surfing beaches in Cornwall. Surfing beach guides are often the best guides to Cornwall beaches generally as they go into a lot of detail on amenities and local facilities! The A1 website is particularly good.

Other superb beaches around Cornwall not just for surfing but for quality clean water and excellent facilities include Whitesand Bay and Sennen Cove just north of Lands End in Far West Cornwall. Pretty exposed this beach! Others include Bude on the North coast near Devon surfing and beautiful beach hotspots Croyde and Woolacombe, Perranporth Beach on the North Cornwall Coast, Polzeath Beach, one of the most popular of the Cornwall surfing beaches 3 miles north west of Padstow and finally stunning Constantine Bay Near Trevose Head west of Padstow. For full details on all these other superb Cornwall surfing beaches check the A1 site to the right.

Home Top