Low to mid tide
Fistral Beach
Newquay's headline surf beach, with consistent Atlantic swell, lifeguards and surf schools on the sand.
- Type
- Surf beach
- Best for
- Surfing
- Parking
- Two beach car parks
Cornwall, England
North Cornwall
Local guides to Atlantic surf beaches, dune-backed sands and sheltered family bays between Bude and Porthtowan.
Choose your beach
Explore the coast
Compare eleven beaches by character, best tide and local details before choosing where to spend the day.
See the sea temperature yearly cycle
See North Cornwall's water quality report card
Compare dog-friendly beaches in North Cornwall
Show me:
Low to mid tide
Watergate Bay
Two miles of sand below the cliffs, with space for everyone and a hotel and beach kitchen behind it.
- Type
- Long surf beach
- Best for
- Space & lessons
- Parking
- Clifftop car park
Mid to low tide
Polzeath
A wide, gently shelving bay near Rock that is one of the friendliest places in Cornwall to learn to surf.
- Type
- Gentle surf bay
- Best for
- Beginners
- Parking
- Beach car park
Mid tide
Constantine Bay
A wilder, quieter surf beach near Padstow, with dunes behind it and rock ledges at either end.
- Type
- Surf bay
- Best for
- Quieter surf
- Parking
- Small car park
Any tide
Bude
Summerleaze, Bude's main town beach, with a tidal sea pool below the cliff and a canal behind the sand.
- Type
- Town surf beach
- Best for
- Families
- Parking
- Summerleaze car park
Low to mid tide
Perranporth
Three miles of sand backed by Penhale dunes, with a lively town and a bar on the beach.
- Type
- Long sandy beach
- Best for
- All-round days
- Parking
- Town car parks
Mid to low tide
Porthtowan
A compact surf beach on the mining coast near St Agnes, with a strong local scene and a beach bar.
- Type
- Surf beach
- Best for
- Local surf
- Parking
- Beach car park
Any tide
Harlyn Bay
A sheltered, gently shelving bay near Padstow that stays surfable when the exposed beaches are too big.
- Type
- Sheltered bay
- Best for
- Beginners
- Parking
- Beach car park
Low to mid tide
Mawgan Porth
A family bay in a valley mouth between Newquay and Padstow, with a stream, rockpools and space at low tide.
- Type
- Valley-mouth bay
- Best for
- Families
- Parking
- Beach car parks
Low to mid tide
Trevone Bay
A small sandy cove near Padstow with rock ledges, a natural rock pool and a quieter feel than its neighbours.
- Type
- Sandy cove
- Best for
- Rockpooling
- Parking
- Village car park
Low to mid tide
Towan Beach
Newquay's town beach, with rock pools around The Island footbridge that open up at low tide.
- Type
- Town beach
- Best for
- Rockpooling
- Parking
- Towan Headland car park