Newquay - on the beach

Whether you’re into surfing, adventure sports or sandcastles, there’s a beach for you, and if you want more information on Newquay and the numerous activities taking place over the summer, pop into the Tourist Information Centre in the Municipal Offices, Marcus Hill.

Beach Breakdown

Fistral

Fistral enjoys its reputation as the top UK surfing beach and is split into three sections: North Fistral where most of the surfing takes place, South Fistral, the most sheltered, and Little Fistral, a small, rocky area at the end of which is Towan headland, famous for the Cribbar wave, which is named after the reef that stretches half a mile out to sea. At its highest point the Cribbar can reach to around 40 feet.

Don’t worry if you’re not a surfer or you have young children: at low tide Fistral offers a wide stretch of sand and rockpools at either end, so take your shrimping nets, and if you’re into angling, a rod and line to try and hook a sea bass or two. You can also explore parts of the sand dunes on the public footpath which runs alongside the golf course and try to identify the grasses and wild plants which grow there, but please remember that the dunes are a protected area and respect the wildlife.

With cafés and surf shops, it’s no wonder that Fistral’s beaches are eternally popular. Take a look at Fistral Blu, which will feed you from breakfast to evening dinner, either in the restaurant, beach café or on the terrace.

Fistral’s Surf Schools

All schools offer lessons from beginner to advanced, and there are speciality lessons, as listed below:

• The British Surfing Association offers surf coaching courses. Tel 01637 850737 or log onto www.nationalsurfingcentre.com.
• The English Surfing Federation Surf School includes bodyboarding lessons and all-girl days. Tel (01637) 879571, or log onto www.englishsurfschool.com.
• South Fistral Surf School teaches individuals and groups Tel 01637 851800, www.southfistral.com.
• Blue Wings Surf School offers kids only sessions. Tel 01637 874445 or log onto www.bluewingssurfschool.co.uk

The Harbour Beach 

This small and sheltered sandy beach lies in Newquay’s working harbour, where you will able to watch the fishing boats land with their catch. There are usually more than a few seals in tow, obviously hoping a stray fish or two will fly their way. You can even book your own fishing trip and see how it’s done.

Towan Beach 

Next door neighbour to the Harbour, Towan beach is also sheltered and has its own sea water pool. The calm waters make it perfect for children and the summer surfing restrictions render it very safe. Visit the Sea Life Centre and the tea rooms on the Island, which is connected to the mainland by a suspension bridge.

Great Western Beach

This is popular with learner surfers and is home to Reef Surf School. Warm up after a session on the waves with a game of volley ball.  Tel 01637 87905 or log onto www.reefsurfschool.com. Errant Surf School also operates here, and at Towan and Watergate Bay. Tel 0870 896 5252 or log onto www.errantsurfschool.com .

Tolcarne

This is where the body boarders hang out because at high tide the waves break close to the shoreline. A large expanse of sand and all-day sun make it very popular and it you want to make yourself at home, why not hire one of the different coloured beach huts? A pitch and putt course makes it perfect for the kids.

Lusty Glaze

Its name is derived from Cornish and translates as a place to view boats, and the majestic cliffs that surround this beach would have certainly served as a lookout. The beach is now privately owned and is Newquay’s prime activity beach with its own beachside restaurant. You can surf, coasteer, climb, abseil or ride the zip wire, train as a life guard or if young enough, take part in Junior Bay Watch. For more gentle activity, take a guided cliff walk. Tel 01637 872444 or 01637 878718 or log onto http://lustyglaze.adventure-centre.org.

Porth

Of all Newquay’s beaches, this is the family favourite. Kids love to paddle in the river that flows through the centre and parents know they will be safe. Even at high tide the sea remains shallow because of the gently sloping terrain. Explore the caves or walk through the gully at low tide and you will come to Whipsiderry beach. A spectacular sight when the tide is up is the funnel of water which is channelled through the gully like a geezer.

Whipsiderry

As a former mining area, the beach’s name derives from two mining terms, whips and derry. If you don’t walk through from Porth you will have to climb down some steep steps but the views over Newquay are worth the effort, as is the seclusion you will enjoy once you are here.
 
Watergate Bay

Another renowned surfing beach, Watergate Bay is also home to Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant, where, at low tide, you can dine overlooking the two-mile expanse of sand, and this, of course also makes it great for the kids. The Extreme Academy offers surfing and kite surfing, waveski, kite buggy or landboard, mountain board and traction kite, a day of mixed activities. Tel 01637 860543 or log onto www.watergatebay.co.uk.

Crantock Beach and the Gannel Estuary

This is the place to go if you’re into wildlife. In the estuary, the salt marshes come alive in the spring with the fragrant scurvy grass, thrift , sea aster and sea purslane. On the mud flats wading birds feed on shellfish, worms and crabs, and in the winter dunlin, ringed plover, redshank, whimbrel, grey plover, greenshank, godwits curlew, widgeon and teal find welcome shelter. Take a cliffwalk over Pentire Point and look out for spring squill, kidney vetch and wild carrot. Don’t forget to take a wander around the delightful old village of Crantock before ploughing through the sand dunes to the massive sandy beach. Do you think you hear a strident, rasping sound? It’s probably the Gannel Crake. It’s not a bird but a crying sound, some say of a tortured human soul, but the more practical will tell you a bird or vixen is responsible for the harsh tones.

Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps

The fang-like rocks at Bedruthan have been a favourite of photographers for years and never cease to amaze. Although a little north of Newquay, this beach is a must to experience some of north Cornwall’s most spectacular scenery. A story goes that a giant called Bedruthan used the beach stacks as stepping stones or steps for a short cut across the bay, although  this story seems to have been invented in the 19th-century especially for the new-found tourists, as no earlier source has been identified. Take the cliff staircase to the beach or walk along the clifftops and you will come across Bronze Age barrows, two Iron Age cliff castles and a nineteenth century iron mine.

Activities not to be missed in 2008

Newquay’s Riviera Run - 3rd - 5th May at Trevelgue

Hundreds of minis will be on display at the Show n Shine, which is held on the Sunday with traders selling spare parts, clothes and jewellery.

Run to the Sun - 23-26 May - Bank Holiday Weekend

First launched in 1987, this event now enjoys a cult following which has spread beyond the UK. Hundreds of Volkswagen and custom car enthusiasts meet at Tregunnel car park and boogie to three nights of live entertainment at Trevelgue Holiday Park. The cruise starts at Heston services on the M4 and picks up cars en route, which usually top 1000, creating a line of traffic five miles long.

Gig Racing

Gig races are held several times a week in Newquay harbour from May onwards. On special novice nights members of the public are invited to try their hand at the oars. “Welly” races are held every other Friday when the winning team is awarded a mahogany wellington which is filled up with alcohol as an added bonus.

Fat Face Night Surf - 22nd – 23rd June

World-class surfers carve through floodlit surf on Lusty Glaze Beach while those on shore enjoy a family-friendly beach party.

Newquay Fish Festival 12th to the 14th September 2008

Fish is the word and plenty of the little sea creatures are cooked in front of spectators by Newquay’s top chefs. Buy your own fish at the stalls, tuck into a fish BBQ while being entertained by live bands, or take to the waves for a dolphin, seal and shark spotting trip.

Events at Watergate Bay

• BKSA Kitesurf Freestyle Championships  - April 18-20
• English Surfing Championships - May 3-5
• Zapcats King of the Surf Rounds - June 14-15 and September 19-20. These inflatable motorised catamarans will be speeding through the surf for all-thrills racing.
• BLU Midsummer Classic - June 21-22. The UK’s best longboard surfers compete in the British Longboard Union series.
• White Stuff Surf Relief UK Festival  - Sat Jul 26 2008. Surfing and music extravaganza .
• Veuve Cliquot Polo on the Beach - September 9

With so much to do in Newquay, you’ll probably find two weeks just isn’t enough and will be raring to come back next year. Whether you’re into surf, nature, beach or walking, Newquay has it all.