Visit the UK: Newquay, Cornwall: Holidays, Beaches, and Surfing

Surfing at Fistral beach
Image by Geoff Tydeman

Newquay is situated on the North Atlantic coast of Cornwall, and is known as the "Surfing Capital of the UK".

Newquay was originally a fishing village catching mostly pilchards, but these days only a small amount of edible crabs and lobsters are caught by the local fishermen. In the last century, the town has blossomed as a holiday resort, with its population swelling five times at the height of the season.

Newquay is particularly popular with families, due to its ten long sandy beaches, and with surfers, due to the powerful, hollow waves and good sized swell at the Fistral Beach.

Surfing at Newquay

Fistral Beach is the centerpiece of Newquay's reputation as the surf center of the UK. Fistral Beach is capable of producing powerful, hollow waves, and of holding a good sized swell. The Beach is regularly used for international surfing competitions. The Towan, Great Western, and Tolcarne beaches, which are near the town, and the nearby Crantock and Watergate Bay are also popular with surfers because they have high quality breaks.

Holiday Activities in Newquay

Newquay provides many holiday activities to suit people of all ages:

Newquay Zoo - hundreds of animals from all around the world, ranging from small rare monkeys to shy red pandas, live amongst the exotic lakeside gardens
Trenance Park & Gardens - a 26 acre sub-tropical garden, including a 60 meter high flume in the water park
Ten sandy beaches that are all easily accessible, with some very close to the main part of the town
Blue Reef Aquarium - situated on Towan Beach, has more than 40 species from around the world
South West Coast Path - popular with walkers of all ages
Fishing and diving - there are reefs and wrecks to explore at depths to suit divers of most abilities
Boating and Sailing - experience the cliffs and coastline from the sea, or take a pedalo or rowing boat on the lake in Trenance Park