With miles upon miles of golden sand and utterly captivating coastlines, Newquay boasts 12 of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of the UK. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to build sandcastles with the kids, explore fascinating rock pools, sunbathe on the sand, or even try your hand at surfing, there’s a beach to suit everyone here in Newquay. Discover our guide to Newquay’s stunning beaches below…
The Family-Friendly Fistral Beach
Fistral Beach is probably Newquay’s most famous, hailed as one of the best surfing and family-friendly beaches in the UK. This beautiful stretch of golden sand is backed by sand dunes, rocks, and cliffs, combining the simple pleasures of sea and surf.
Facilities: Surf equipment hire and lessons, toilets, restaurants, and cafés.
Access & car parking: Easy access, car park adjacent to beach.
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed all year round.
Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguard station from May – September.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 15 minutes’ drive.
The Wholesome Whipsiderry Beach
Whipsiderry Beach is well worth visiting at low tide, with plenty of caves and rock pools just waiting to be discovered. The best caves include the Cathedral Cavern, the Banqueting Hall, the Boulder Cavern, and the Fern Cavern.
Facilities: None.
Access & car parking: Accessed via steep steps, limited parking.
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed all year round.
Lifeguards: None.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 15 minutes’ drive.
The Tranquil Tolcarne Beach
Nestled in a crescent-shaped bay against a backdrop of dramatic cliffs, Tolcarne Beach offers soft sand, easy swimming, family surfing, exciting rock pools and sea fishing. It is one of four Newquay town beaches.
Facilities: Lock-up huts, surfboard hire, toilets, shop, and café.
Access & car parking: Easy access via steps or sloping roadway, no parking but only a short walk from Newquay town centre.
Dog friendly: Dogs not allowed from 1st April – 31st October.
Lifeguards: Lifeguard cover from mid-May – September.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 15 minutes’ drive.
The Wonderful Watergate Bay Beach
Watergate Bay boasts a large expanse of fine golden sand that stretches for over 2 miles, nestled at the foot of steep cliffs. The large, open bay often picks up swell from the Atlantic, making it popular with families and surfers alike.
Facilities: Toilets, beach shop and café.
Access & car parking: Several access points, 2 car parks adjacent to beach.
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed all year round.
Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguard station from mid-May – September.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 15 minutes’ drive.
The Perfect Porth Beach
The lovely sandy Porth Beach is protected by headlands on both sides, often exposed to great Atlantic swells. Discover the picturesque Porth island to the east, which boasts impressive prehistoric earthworks and the remains of an ancient settlement.
Facilities: Toilets, shop, café, and pub.
Access & car parking: Easy access, car park adjacent to beach.
Dog friendly: Dogs not allowed between Easter – September.
Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguard station from May – September, NO surfing allowed during the summer season.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 15 minutes’ drive.
The Cracking Crantock Beach
This expansive sandy beach sits at the mouth of the Gannel Estuary, sandwiched by cliffs, rocks, and sand dunes. Crantock Beach forms part of the expanse of sand between the Pentire and West Pentire headlines, making for a great family day out.
Facilities: Toilets, shop, and café.
Access & car parking: Easy access, car park adjacent to beach.
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed all year round.
Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguard station from mid-May – September.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 15 minutes’ drive.
The Notorious Newquay Harbour
Newquay’s historic harbour is home to a small beach, ideal for watching the fishing boats returning from sea with their catch of the day. Sea safari’s run regularly from the harbour, seeking out dolphins, seals, and other marine life.
Facilities: Toilets, café, restaurant.
Access & car parking: Easy access, no parking but only a short walk from Newquay town centre.
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed all year round.
Lifeguards: None.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 15 minutes’ drive.
The Gorgeous Great Western Beach
This popular family beach sits just north of Towan Beach, with several coves offering shelter and seclusion. The best time to visit Great Western Beach is at low tide, when it joins with Towan and Tolcarane beaches to create a vast expanse of golden sand.
Facilities: Surf equipment hire and lessons, toilets, café, and restaurant.
Access & car parking: Accessed via steep path, no parking but only a short walk from Newquay town centre.
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed all year round.
Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguard station from May – September.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 15 minutes’ drive.
The Lovely Lusty Glaze Beach
The privately-owned Lusty Glaze Beach resort caters for families, sunbathers, and water sports enthusiasts. The sheltered cove offers protection during high winds, surrounded by stunning 200ft high cliffs.
Facilities: Surf equipment hire and lessons, toilets, shop, and restaurant.
Access & car parking: Accessed via steep steps, car park at top of the cliff overlooking the beach.
Dog friendly: Dogs not allowed from 31st May – 30th September.
Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguard station from April – October.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 15 minutes’ drive.
The Touristy Towan Beach
Towan Beach is the most central of Newquay’s beaches, providing small waves for novice surfers and swimmers. This popular and often busy beach is a good size, welcoming families from near and afar.
Facilities: Toilets, café.
Access & car parking: Disabled access, no parking but only a short walk from Newquay town centre.
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed all year round.
Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguard station from mid-May – September.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 20 minutes’ drive.
The Humble Holywell Bay Beach
Holywell Bay is a large, open beach west of Newquay, encompassed by cliffs and sand dunes. It is exposed to great Atlantic swells, making it a popular destination for surfers, body boarders and swimmers.
Facilities: Toilets, shop, café, and pub.
Access & car parking: Easy access, car park adjacent to beach.
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed all year round.
Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguard station from May – September.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 20 minutes’ drive.
The Pretty Polly Joke Beach
Porth Joke, also known as Polly Joke Beach, is a small attractive cove with oodles of caves and rockpools to explore. This unspoilt sandy beach is much quieter than others, providing a true oasis of calm throughout the year.
Facilities: None.
Access & car parking: Limited access, car park is a fair walk away.
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed all year round.
Lifeguards: None.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 20 minutes’ drive.
The Picturesque Perranporth Beach
With 3 miles of glorious sand and hundreds of rockpools to explore, you are guaranteed a great family day out at Perranporth Beach. The river flows onto the beach, which is great for kids to paddle in; offering ample opportunities for surfing, snorkelling, and sailing.
Facilities: Toilets, shops, restaurants, and pubs.
Access & car parking: Disabled access, car park adjacent to beach.
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed all year round. Must be kept on leads in July and August.
Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguard station from May – September.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 20 minutes’ drive.
The Magnificent Mawgan Porth Beach
Mawgan Porth is a wide sandy beach just to the north of Newquay, especially popular with families and surfers. It is protected on both sides by cliffs and rocks, with sand dunes to the north. At low tide, several caves are accessible.
Facilities: Surf equipment hire and lessons, toilets, shop, pub, restaurants, and café.
Access & car parking: Easy access, car park adjacent to beach.
Dog friendly: Dogs allowed all year round.
Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguard station from May – September.
Distance from The Beeches Glamping: 20 minutes’ drive.
