This stretch of the north coast is the surf coast, awash with wetsuits and wild waves, where saints landed and mermaids dived.
Newquay’s castle is sculpted daily in the waves, its spires vast and occasionally deadly, turrets spiralling in sets rolling surfers to the shore, battlements rising awash with spray. Its giant is the Cribbar or Widow Maker rising to roll gigantic muscling limbs.
Fistral Beach is the focal point of Newquay’s surfing life but there are many beaches around Newquay; Towan at the town centre, surrounded by Great Western, Tolcarne, Lusty Glaze Beach, Porth Beach, Little Fistral, and Watergate Bay. Along the coast are Crantock and Poly Joke, its headland red with summer poppies.
All the beaches have their own character and suitability (or not) for surfing families, in common golden sand soft to the toes.
Newquay Town centre is vibrant day and night, with a Zoo and an Aquarium and many eateries.
Perranporth is a lively town, beach focussed on sea and sand. Surfing is the main pursuit - the sea is perfect for learners and pros alike. Towans (sand dunes) bank its wide, wide beach with swaying coastal grasses. The ruins of Saint Piran’s Oratory, a 6th century chapel, can be found at Penhale Sands to the north.
The first surf boards were belly boards were made from coffin lids invented and ridden in Perranporth: Perranzabuloe Museum has a fascinating display about the history of surfing.
