TODAY we are exploring more of Newquay as we continue our serialisation of the informative travel book, Cornwall Favourites For One And All!: A Quick Guide To Good Places To Visit Across The County.

Journalist Andrew Townsend, the author of the entertaining book, says: “Our journeying around Cornwall has so far seen us travelling along the south coast to Land’s End and then visiting coastal spots in the west of the county, including St Ives and Hayle.

“For the latest part of the tour, we are following the extensive northern coast of Cornwall all the way to the Bude area.”

Newquay is the tourist hotspot of Cornwall. The resort is family-friendly but also has a lively nightlife.

Towan beach at Newquay with the tide out. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
Towan beach at Newquay with the tide out. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches, many of them within easy walking distance of the town centre.

While on the beaches, in the distance you may spot mighty military aircraft and commercial flights taking off over the sea from Cornwall Airport Newquay, near St Mawgan.

Newquay, which is on a branchline railway from the mainline station at Par, has a fishing harbour, coastal walks and a surfing vibe.

Attractions include an aquarium, a zoo, a boating lake, pleasure gardens and a skate park.

Images of the coast at Newquay in Cornwall. Video: Andrew Townsend

The resort is easy to reach by road, being only a few miles off the A30, the main route through Cornwall.

Taking the coast road north out of Newquay, you come to Porth and its lovely beach. Porth Island, beside the family-friendly beach, is reached by a footbridge.

Looking towards Porth from Porth Island at Newquay in Cornwall. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
Looking towards Porth from Porth Island at Newquay in Cornwall. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

Just a short drive up the coast is Watergate Bay which has a huge beach when the tide goes out - around two miles long - and is popular with surfers and kitesurfers. Polo competitions and other sporting events sometimes take place on the sands or in the sea here.

Fields at Watergate Bay act as the venue for the music and camping part of the annual Boardmasters festival. The steep, winding road at Watergate Bay, which requires plenty of revs to climb, has been used for motorsport hillclimbs. 

• Andrew Townsend is a journalist and writer. More details of Cornwall Favourites For One And All!: A Quick Guide To Good Places To Visit Across The County, which is also available as an ebook, can be found via this link to Andrew’s author page on Amazon - 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!, providing a lovely tour around the county, is available as a book and an ebook on Amazon. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)