WHEN conditions are right, the sandy beach at Treyarnon, a few miles from Padstow in North Cornwall, is good for surfing, with waves being funnelled in between rocky cliffs. There is also a sea pool in the rocks on the north side of the beach.

As a child and teenager on holiday and weekend breaks, I enjoyed catching the waves here. Our family used plain polystyrene surfboards – which were much more buoyant than the traditional wooden boards – and my brothers and I quickly learnt to catch the best waves which sent us hurtling shorewards at thrilling speeds.

We also learnt quickly that you needed to wear a vest on the boards because they gave you a rash! And that the polystyrene easily snapped. We referred to our boards as surfboards, though, we only ever went bodyboarding.

Blue sky and an inviting sea at Treyarnon near Padstow in Cornwall. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
Blue sky and an inviting sea at Treyarnon near Padstow in Cornwall. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

In the 1960s and 1970s, in Cornwall, what are now called surfboards were known as Malibu boards. Surfing was quite new then in North Cornwall and we marvelled at the skill of the men and women who could surf standing up.

In those days, wetsuits were a luxury. Swimming costumes and a vest were all that was required in the bracing waters of the North Atlantic!

Treyarnon with its ever-captivating scenery remains popular with visitors today.

The walk out on the clifftops to the south of the beach takes you past Trethias Island, separated from the mainland by a deep gulley through which the sea crashes on stormy days.

Porthcothan on the north coast of Cornwall was closely associated with smuggling in the past. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
Porthcothan on the north coast of Cornwall was closely associated with smuggling in the past. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

A little further south, the dramatic site of three prehistoric promontory forts on three parallel small headlands at Winecove Point, Pepper Cove and Warren Cove is protected as an ancient scheduled monument.

Nearby Porthcothan, which was closely associated with smuggling in the past, has some fine beach caves.

*Andrew Townsend is a journalist and writer. He further explores the county in the travel book, Cornwall Favourites For One And All!: A Quick Guide To Good Places To Visit Across The County, which is available in print and as an ebook. More details on Andrew’s books and ebooks can be found via this link to his author page on Amazon - https://bit.ly/AndrewTownsendAuthor

Cornwall Favourites For One And All!, a lovely tour around the county, is available as an ebook on Amazon.
Cornwall Favourites For One And All!, offering a lovely armchair tour around the county, is available as a book and an ebook on Amazon. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)