The gateway to Cornwall’s north coast, with its sublime beaches, craggy scenery and constellation of top-notch restaurants, Newquay has morphed from a summer resort into a year-round destination. Here’s how to make the most of your visit.
Sand and surf
Endless white-sand beaches, swimmable waters and more sunshine hours than almost anywhere else in the UK combine to make Newquay a classic beach destination. Pull up a sunlounger on central Towan Beach, take the kids rock pooling at Crantock, or enjoy some serious R&R at local’s secret Porth Joke. Newquay is also the UK’s surf capital and a favourite with board junkies of all levels – catch the best waves at Fistral, Chapel Porth, Holywell Bay and Perran Sands.
Fruits of the sea
Sometimes described as Britain’s Costa del Sol, Newquay has long been famous for its nightlife scene. Now, though, alongside funky bars such as Belushi’s (35 Fore Street) and Fistral Blue (Fistral Beach), the town and its surroundings have sprouted a crop of upmarket eateries. Try Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen (Watergate Bay), a traditional Italian with a Cornish twist, or pop up to nearby Padstow to experience taste bud-tantalising fish dishes at Rick Stein’s The Seafood Restaurant (Riverside, Padstow).
Walk this way
If you’re planning a trip to Newquay from Glasgow Airport then be sure to pack your walking boots. The scenery in this part of Cornwall is downright miraculous, with natural coastal wonders such as epic blowholes and the Bedruthan Steps providing plenty for nature lovers to marvel over. Take a stroll through Trenance Gardens, explore the salt marshes of the Gannel Estuary, soak up the stunning sea views from Pentire Head, or get snap happy at the photogenic lighthouse on Trevose Head. Seriously keen walkers could even attempt a stretch of the South West Coast Path, which runs for over 1,000km in total around the coasts of Devon and Cornwall.