Its one of the main reasons you come all the way to Cornwall.
Its why you spend all that time in the car on the M5!
Its for the beautiful sandy beaches, surrounded by imposing cliffs, with the cool blue Atlantic ocean enticing you to paddle in the shallows or get adventurous on the bodyboards. Cornish beaches always feature in “Britains best beaches” lists, with Watergate Bay almost a permanent fixture in the top three.
To open our series of recommendations for our guests, we are going to list our favourite six local beaches. All are within a twenty minute drive from the house@fortysix.
6 – Constantine Bay
On the way to Padstow, the best postcode to follow is PL28 8JJ
A golden arc of sandy loveliness at low tide with rock pools and sand dunes to keep the kids entertained. Being west facing it gets plenty of solid Atlantic waves, making this a popular surfing beach so always keep an eye on the RNLI lifeguards and safety flags.
Parking can be a bit of a pain with limited spots right next to the beach, but there are plenty of places in nearby Treyarnon Bay which is a gentle 10 minute walk along the SW coastal path.
Dog friendly all year round!!!
5 – Fistral Beach
Newquay’s finest, follow TR7 1HY.
Probably Cornwall’s most famous (and therefore busiest) beach, it is a wide expanse of white sand stretching from Towan Headland down to Pentire.
Plenty of restaurants, cafes, coffee shops and surf shops are nearby, just off the beach.
There is a large beachside carpark, with other parking available nearby.
Dog friendly all year round!!!
4 – Crantock
The other side of Newquay, in the stunning village of Crantock. Follow TR8 5RN.
A world away from the busy beaches of nearby Newquay, Crantock is a wide, beautiful beach stretching from the River Gannel all the way up to the cliffs at West Pentire.
National Trust run the car park (free to members) and there is limited parking in the village.
The “chocolate box” village of Crantock is well worth a stroll around and you can admire the properties that only a lottery win would make affordable 😉
Dog friendly all year round!!!
3 – Perranporth
Lovely seaside town, with beach for miles. Follow TR6 OJL.
Why wouldn’t you love a beach with a pub on it! Not overlooking the beach, actually on the beach. The Watering Hole (www.thewateringhole.co.uk) is Britains only beach pub and hosts the annual “tunes in the dunes” music festival.
The longest unbroken beach on the north Cornwall coast, there’s plenty of space for everyone no matter how busy it gets.
The nearby high street has a plethora of shops, ice cream parlours and cafes should you need a break from the beach.
There are several car parks in the town but they can fill up quickly in peak season. Best to get there early.
Dogs are allowed all year but must be on a lead in July and August.
2 – Watergate Bay
Stunning location just north of Newquay. Follow TR8 4AA.
One of Britain’s finest beaches, Watergate Bay has everything our guests would want in a beach. Stunning scenery, a wide expanse of golden sand, huge cliffs that shield the wind and a beachside cafe that does exquisite hot chocolate.
Its also the perfect spot to watch the sun go down with a picnic and a glass of something cheeky!
There’s plenty of parking nearby but access to the beach is down a slipway with a bit of a slope on it but the effort is well worth it.
Dog friendly all year round!!!
1 – Mawgan Porth
Top of the pops at number 1. Just perfect. Follow TR8 4BA.
There’s just something about this place. Its never too busy, the sun always seems to shine, the views are to die for and there is a genuine lovely vibe to both the beach and the village.
A perfect spot for families or for people wanting some peace to read a good book in a deckchair with the sound of the waves and the smell of the ocean in the air.
Normally a lot quieter than other nearby beaches, lets keep this one our little secret.
Lots of parking nearby with easy access onto the beach.
Dog friendly all year round!!!
Across the road from the beach is….
- a chippy (recommended) www.bluefishbar.co.uk
- a pub (recommended) www.merrymoorinn.com
- a seafood restaurant (recommended) www.catchmawganporthbeach.co.uk
- a coffee shop selling home-made cakes (recommended) www.coastacoffee.co.uk
- a surf school (recommended) www.kingsurf.co.uk
What more can one ask for?