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 Newquay -
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NEWQUAY TOURIST INFORMATION
NEWQUAY
is undoubtedly
Cornwall’s premier tourist resort.
Once, a quiet little fishing port it evolved into a popular
seaside destination for the Victorians. Little now remains
of that era, many of the buildings have long since
disappeared to be replaced by far less attractive
architecture.
Newquay tourism now dominates the town
with a wide variety of night life, pubs, restaurants, tea
rooms, take-aways and various
attractions.
It has become more and more recognized that the resort
attracts the younger generation and the activities and
services available tend to reflect this.
In the town and surrounding area there are a wide range of
shops including supermarkets. These cater for the large
contingent of the
Newquay self catering population that
arrives during the summer months.
Newquay centre has many high street shopping names mixed in
with the surf shops, clothing shops and the novelty shops.
Although to some, the town has been cheapened it still
offers the very best of family holidays. It goes without
saying that the main draw are the
Newquay beaches.
These are unchanged and are still regarded as the best in
Europe.
There are eleven beaches in Newquay, twelve if you include
Perranporth,
regarded by many as one of the best in Cornwall.
The eleven beaches start at:
Holywell Bay:
Approached through the little village of
Cubert
off the main Newquay to
Redruth road.
There is a National Trust car park at the head of the beach,
together with a small shop, two pubs and toilets.
The beach is long and sandy with large rolling sand dunes
giving protection from the wind whatever the direction. A
small stream wanders down one side of the beach and is a
favourite with young children damming it up. The beach
itself is flat for much of the tide but does rise at high
tide. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months and it
is strongly recommended that bathing is between the fixed
flags. Holywell, like all Newquay beaches is on the
Cornwall north coast and the currents can
be hazardous.
Summary:
A lovely beach, soft sand and high dunes. There is very
little local accommodation and what there is consists of
self catering,
although there are a few guest houses in nearby Cubert. Most
visitors to
Holywell beach are either from the Newquay
camp sites or some other accommodation in Newquay.
The beach is recommended is:
Crantock:
Approached through
Crantock village which has a post
office/general stores, 2 pubs and quaint little cottages.
There is a National Trust car park on the beach together
with toilets. The beach itself has lovely soft sand and
rolling sand dunes. Because of its size it never appears
busy although it is an extremely popular beach with visitors
who have bothered to find it. The sand dunes are very
popular with children who spend hours playing in them. Also
popular with children is the River Gannel which enters the
sea here. When the tide is out the river is very shallow and
an ideal playground. However, there are warning signs about
the river and this is particularly relevant when the tide
comes in, the currents are very strong and not a place to
play. Like all
Newquay beaches lifeguards are on duty
during the summer months, it is strongly recommended that
bathers take the lifeguards instructions and bathe/surf
between the yellow flags.
Lovely walks can be enjoyed along the grassed tops of the
sand-dunes or up the river towards Newquay. Careful with the
tide with walks up the Gannel as the tide comes in very
quickly and it’s possible to be cut off.
Summary:
A beautiful beach with easy access and highly recommended.
The
accommodation in
Crantock is extremely limited. There are a
few guest houses in the village and a few hotels at the top
of the village. There is also a large caravan park
immediately above the beach. Most of the visitors to the
beach will have come either from the
Newquay Caravan Parks,
the
Newquay camp sites
or other
accommodation in Newquay. Crantock is
about a 10 minute drive from Newquay (traffic permitting).
Further information can be obtained from the
Newquay tourist
information office.
The
Pentire Headland
separates Crantock from
Fistral beach. The headland is a favourite
destination for sightseers who just want to sit in their
cars or on the grass and relax overlooking the beach or
enjoy a pleasant stroll to the headland point. Fishing can
also be enjoyed from the rocks on both sides of the
headland. Fishing into the
Gannel is the preferred location and Bass
the main species. Lugworm/ragworm/sandeels are the favoured
baits.
Fishing from the rocks on the Fistral beach side of the
headland the water is much deeper and the species are likely
to be mackerel/Pollack.
Moving north we arrive at:
Fistral beach:
Approached through
Newquay town and on the western edge and
flanked by the
Pentire Headland and Newquay Headland.
Fistral beach has its own car park together with car parking
availability on the approach road, this has the usual
British pay & display meters. However, during high season it
does get extremely busy and parking can be a problem.
Toilets/café/surfing
shop on the beach.
Fistral beach is almost a mile long and is a favourite for
surfing competitions
including the
Rip Curl Championship, now a 5 star event.
Life guards are on duty during the summer months, there are
separate areas for long board surfers and ordinary bathers,
there advice is strongly recommended, currents, can be
extreme and the life guards are continually monitoring them.
Just to the north of Fistral beach flanked by the splendid
Headland Hotel (one of the few remaining hotels that provide
an excellent example of days gone by) is Little Fistral. A
rocky little cove carved out of the Newquay Headland, Little
Fistral is a favourite with the more experienced surfers
when the conditions are suitable.
Just to the north of
Little Fistral and off the point of
Newquay Headland is ‘The
Cribber’. When conditions are right,
usually in the winter, a reef can make the surf enormous,
breaking into the headland with thunderous roaring. Only the
foolhardy or very experienced should even consider surfing
here.
Summary:
Fistral Beach is regarded as the
surfing capital of the UK and surfers
congregate here all the year round. However the beach is
suitable for all types of activities, the sand is of
excellent quality backed by small dunes and is gently
sloping right up to high tide when it does rise more
steeply.
The beach is recommended, especially for those who enjoy
surfing.
Fistral beach
accommodation is provided by Newquay and
the surrounding area.
Newquay camp sites
Newquay Caravan parks
Newquay hotels
Newquay guest houses
Newquay self catering
establishments.
Any further information on Newquay can be obtained from the
Newquay tourist information office in the town centre.
Separating Fistral beach from the main town beaches is the
Newquay Headland.
Like the Pentire Headland this is a lovely spot just to sit
and relax on the grass and view the Atlantic Ocean virtually
all the way around. A lovely walk can be enjoyed around the
top of the headland, all-be-it not very long. Toilets are
provided on the headland and ice creams are usually
available. Of course, there are the obligatory parking
meters. I can remember the day, not too long distant when it
was possible to enjoy the walks, the wildlife and the views
free of charge, but alas those days seem to have gone
forever. The Headland is also a popular destination for the
fishing brigade. There are excellent rocky vantage points to
fish from right to near the point. Popular baits include,
ragworm, mackerel strip, sandeels. Species caught are
usually mackerel, Pollack, the occasional
bass/flounders/mullet near the point.
Moving on we arrive at the Town beaches & the harbour:
Newquay Harbour:
A real sun-trap and well protected from the prevailing wind
it provides a safe anchorage for numerous small craft.
Access the harbour is restricted for boats as it dries out
at low tide. Boat trips are available for deep sea fishing
and mackerel fishing around the bay.
The harbour is popular with local children as the swimming
is safe and many take great joy in jumping off the harbour
wall at high tide.
Fishing, especially at night, is popular from the harbour
wall. Main species include, mackerel, bass and flounder,
recommended bait being lugworm.
Summary:
A nice place to call into when out on a walk, the beach has
lovely sand and very popular with the bucket and spade
brigade. Good boat fishing trips.
Newquay Towan Beach:
Next to the harbour and sheltered by the headland,
Towan beach
is the safest of all the
Newquay beaches. A favourite with families
and young children, the beach is flat with excellent sand
good for sand castles and ball games. Unlike most of
Newquay’s beaches
the tide comes right into the wall on the higher tides. All
amenities are available but there is no car park. The beach
is just a few minutes walk from the town centre with all its
shops/restaurants/takeaways etc. The beach also has a tidal
swimming pool under ‘The Island’ which is very popular with
younger children.
Summary:
A popular little beach within a few minutes walk of the town
centre. Very popular with families and young children.
Offers safe bathing and excellent sand quality.
Moving next to Towan beach in a slight arc are the remaining
town beaches, consisting of:
Great Western Beach
Tolcarne Beach
Lusty Glaze Beach
All have toilets and services but no parking facilities.
At low tide from Towan to Lusty Glaze it is one long open
beach. The waves tend to increase in size as you move away
from Towan so the Headland gives less protection.
Summary:
All excellent beaches with the finest quality sand, all have
lifeguards during the summer months and are within easy
walking distance of the town.
Moving north we arrive at:
Newquay Porth:
A narrow sandy beach with a small stream running down one
side. Parking is available on the beach. Services include
toilets, tea shop and pubs.
To the north of the beach there is a splendid headland
offering an excellent walk.
Fishing from the rocks is also available onto Porth beach
with the incoming tide. Bass is the species most likely to
be caught, best bait, lugworm.
Summary:
An excellent sandy beach, popular with families. Parking on
the beach is an advantage.
Accommodation in Newquay Porth is limited although there are
a few hotels/guest houses/camp sites in Newquay Porth.
From Newquay Porth there is a relatively long jump, taking
in several rocky outcrops and headlands, the next and last
Newquay beach is:
Watergate Bay:
No longer protected by Newquay Headland
Watergate Bay
is wide open to the Atlantic Rollers and as such is very
popular with surfers. The surfing can be extremely rewarding
with large swells when weather conditions are right.
Parking is available at the entrance to the beach together
with toilets and services.
Jamie Oliver’s 15 Restaurant is now a popular destination
attracting customers from all over Cornwall.
Accommodation in Watergate Bay consists mostly of hotels
including the impressive Watergate Bay Hotel, positioned
directly on top of the beach.
Summary:
A very large expanse of excellent quality sand providing
first rate surfing.
What other attractions does the town have to offer:
Dairyland Farm World - www.dairylandfarmworld.com
Hoywell Bay Fun Park - www.holywellbay.co.uk
Lappa Valley Steam Railway - www.lappavalley.co.uk
Newquay Paintball - www.newquaypaintball.com
Carvynick Golf & Country Club - www.carvynick.co.uk
Newquay Golf Club (over looking Fistral Beach)
Newquay Zoo - www.newquayzoo.org.uk
Water World - www.newquaywaterworld.co.uk
World in Miniature - www.worldinminiature.co.uk
Screech Owl Sanctuary - www.owlsanct.freeserve.co.uk
The Cornish Cyder Farm - www.thecornishcyderfarm.co.uk
Tunnels Through Time - www.tunnelsthroughtime.co.uk
Springfields Fun Park and Pony Centre -
www.springfieldspark.co.uk
Oasis Fun Pools - www.oasis-hendra.co.uk
The
Accommodation in Newquay:
This website has been designed with two main feature in
mind:
The available
accommodation in Cornwall
As much
Cornwall Tourist Information as possible.
The
Newquay accommodation
caters for many thousands of visitors each year, the varying
types of accommodation in Newquay has to be extensive.
Although the main influx of visitors are in the main summer
months Newquay has become more and more an all year round
destination. Even in the middle of the winter with Atlantic
gales in full force large numbers of surfers can be seen
bobbing around in the swell.
The accommodation in Newquay has been designed to cater for
all pockets.
One of the latest, and growing in popularity with Newquay
tourist information searches is that of:
Newquay Budget
accommodation: This caters in the main for
the surfing brigade and offers basic accommodation at very
reasonable rates. Often room only but food available if
required.
The next is:
Self catering in Newquay
and the surrounding area, this consists of:
Newquay apartments
Newquay caravan and camp
sites
There are also many self catering houses in Newquay offering
that little more luxury and popular with those prepared to
spend a little more money.
The
bed and breakfast in
Newquay comes in various forms:
Newquay guest houses
- usually providing en-suite accommodation with a full
English breakfast. Because of the competition in the town
these offer excellent value.
Newquay Hotels
- many of the larger hotels in Newquay have disappeared,
often reappearing as flats. Those that remain provide an
excellent service with value for money accommodation.
Touring:
Visit Newquay out of season and enjoy what the town has to
offer plus the major attractions and destinations that are
all within an easy drive.
These include:
The Eden Project
The Lost Gardens of
Heligan
Falmouth Maritime Centre
Landydrock House
The resorts of
Padstow,
St Ives,
Falmouth
and
Truro
City are all relatively quiet out of the summer months. Why
not treat yourself to a meal at the famous
Rick Stein’s Restaurant
at Padstow or the
Jamie Oliver fiftenn
Restaurant at
Watergate Bay.
The list could go on and on, for extensive details on places
to visit or eat check either the:
Newquay tourist Board
information office or the
Cornwall Tourist Board
Getting to Newquay:
Most people arrive by private car. Cornwall is far more
accessible these days and it is quite common for visitors to
holiday just for a long weekend.
Train station in the town with additional trains laid on for
the summer months
Fly into
Newquay airport - regular bus service or
taxi direct from the airport (10 – 15 mins)
To Summarise:
Newquay offers something for everyone.
For the young person – extensive night life with a choice of
night clubs or lively pubs.
The
surfer:
Unsurpassed in the UK
Families:
Lovely beaches,
plenty of attractions, good variety of accommodation at very
reasonable prices.
Good restaurants and shopping
Whatever the reason for coming to Newquay you will be
assured of an excellent holiday with plenty of good Cornish
sea air.
Should you require any further information the main Newquay
Tourist Information office is situated in the town centre.
Newquay News:
SHOWERS MAKE IT A WET SPRINGSouth Devon Herald Express, UK - May 10, 2008A MAN reported missing from his home in Paignton was later found safe and well at Newquay Airport. Police issued details on Thursday evening after revealing ... |
Simon Calder: The man who pays his wayIndependent, UK - May 9, 2008This is largely thanks to Newquay, which is rapidly becoming the Amsterdam Schiphol or Chicago O'Hare of Cornwall. Skybus will fly you from St Mary's in ... |
New Newquay flights take offFalmouth Penryn Packet, UK - Apr 29, 2008Jim Cameron, chief executive of Air Southwest said: "The introduction of these new destinations with Air Southwest from Newquay is a major expansion of air ... |
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Weather
The below photographs are local scenes and beaches from around
the Newquay area
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