Newquay

With it’s breathtaking rugged coastal scenery and seven miles of golden sandy beaches it is easy to see why Newquay, the surfer’s paradise, has traditionally been the most popular holiday destination in Cornwall.

The airport is expanding, with British Airways recently restarting flights from Gatwick, and the main roads into Newquay have been given a good overhaul. So why all the effort?

The food revolution in Cornwall has clearly helped. Rick Stein’s presence in Padstow re-invented the town and now Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant is doing the same for Newquay. It's popularity is well known, yet out of season deals on lunches make it worthwhile trying to get a last minute booking, even a week or two in advance. If you are struggling to get a reservation, try Explore South West who can often get tables at Fifteen and Rick’s Seafood restaurant. They can also arrange to take you there and back in their bio-fuel taxis, so you can feel good about yourself while feasting!

But it’s not just Jamie and Rick who are good for foodies. Lewinnick Lodge on the Pentire Headland has great food and with about the best views going. The Lusty Glaze restaurant does great British food with a Mediterannean flavour and is situated in a lovely sandy cove at the north end of Newquay. From here you can watch the surf and the surfers while you sit back and relax.

In the centre of town Fistral Blu and Chy Bar can be relied on for gourmet food and panoramic sea views. Or why not try a pub meal and sample a Cornish ale in the numerous local bars?

Regardless of age or interests Newquay has lots on offer. Whether you enjoy walking, great views, pretty seaside towns, specialty shops, local history, relaxing on the beach or maybe something a bit more energetic, Newquay and the surrounding area has it all in abundance.
For many people, a holiday isn't a holiday without a beach and with eight perfect ones all within walking distance, the choice is wide.

All the beaches have excellent facilities, golden sand and caves and rock pools to explore but if you want to check out the country’s top surfers then head for Fistral. Fistral is the stage for all major UK surfing competitions and is famous for big waves. Fistral can be great for learners but when the Atlantic’s at its most ferocious the sheltered beaches of Towan, Great Western, Tolcarne, Lusty Glaze and Porth are the beaches to head for because they provide fun and mellow surf. Whatever your surfing ability there is no better place to take surf lessons than Newquay. To find a top surf school visit Explore South West where you can also find other great activities such as Kite Surfing, Canoeing and Newquay’s latest craze, Coasteering. Jumping off cliffs into the sea sounds a bit insane to us but apparently it’s perfectly safe - and you may even bump into a seal or a dolphin!

If hurling yourself into an Atlantic roller isn’t your top priority why not ease into your holiday with a leisurely stroll around Newquay’s Discovery Trail? A relaxing walking route which takes you around town, allows you to get your bearings and visit local shops while introducing you to some of Newquay’s history, myths and legends. This walk also presents plenty of opportunities to indulge in a tradition Cornish ice cream, pasty or cream tea at any number of excellent cafes.

If you wish to escape the town there are more than 10 other circular walks to discover. Some take you onto the beaches and high up on the cliff paths to take in the sweeping sea views while others lead you to other points of natural beauty and interest. Sights worth visiting include the harbour, the River Gannel tidal estuary, the fly and active promenades built on the site of the pilchard-curing cellars, Huer’s House on Towan Headland, Trevelgue Head Island ancient village settlement and the Tumuli prehistoric burial places at Whipsiderry, Porth Island and Barrowfields.

A great family attraction to visit is Trenance Leisure Park. The 25-acre park houses Newquay Zoo, Waterworld, sports facilities, a miniature railway, Newquay’s oldest cottage, gardens, a boating lake and bird sanctuary. Or if you tire of all the sea air you could always visit the Blue Reef Aquarium situated on Towan Beach and experience the wonders of the Atlantic with a slice of life beneath the waves.

It is easy to lose yourself in the relaxed beach atmosphere of Newquay, but it is worth remembering that because of the unique position, it makes the perfect touring base for exploring other beautiful and historically rich locations.

Without even starting the car the keen walker or cyclist can follow the St Piran trail out of Newquay on a picturesque journey through villages and patchwork countryside taking in ancient buildings and stunning gardens. Or you could travel south of Newquay for four miles along peaceful rural lanes to visit the spectacular National Trust property, Trerice Manor - an elaborate Elizabethan house complete with beautiful gardens and a lawnmower museum.

Within a short drive there are the rugged jaws of rock at Bedruthan Steps, the Wheal Martyn Museum near St Austell that turns the China clay industry into an exciting adventure trail, Paradise Park at Hayle with its wonderful world of wildlife in splendid Victorian Gardens, Padstow and Rock (more millionaires than anywhere in Cornwall reputedly), Tintagel with its fabulous ruins and Arthurian legends, and the nationally acclaimed Eden Project near St Austell to name but a few.

Cornwall has so many attractions the biggest challenge for any holidaymaker is finding time to fit it all in.