Newquay and North Cornwall Beaches

Our Guide to the Best Beaches near to Happy Place Lodge

What has always drawn us to this part of North Cornwall is the stunningly beautiful life-affirming views to be seen while ambling along the coastal paths. Plus the wide open spaces of the wonderful pristine beaches and pretty little coves. There are so many new places to explore. We have been to this part of Cornwall over 20 times and we are still constantly finding new places to discover and spend time at.

For those of you that might be new to exploring this wonderful part of the world, we have some suggestions of just a few of the many beaches you’ll find easy to get to from Happy Place Lodge at White Acres Nr. Newquay. We would always recommend making a picnic and venturing out as early as possible during the summer months to make sure you miss the busy traffic and get a car parking space to explore the beach and coastal paths.

Towan Beach

5.6 Miles Around 15 Mins Drive

Towan Beach ( Town Beach ) is one of the iconic Newquay beaches close to our Happy Place Lodge. There are several ways down to the beach and are easy to use. As with most of Newquay’s beaches, there are several lovely cafes to enjoy. We have enjoyed “Gusto Newquay“, Harbour Rest Cafe and Pauline’s Creamery . Towan beach can be quite large at low tide but can disappear completely with high tides. You’ll often find small waves, ideal and ideal calm waters for safe swimming.

Porth Beach

4.8 Miles Away – Around 10 Mins Drive

Porth Beach is one of the closest beaches to our Happy Place Lodge. The beach is mostly on the flat so easy to walk to good parking and toilets and there are several lovely cafes to enjoy. We particularly enjoy “Hole In The Wall“, Gwenna Teahouse and Estrella Morada Bar de Tapas . Porth beach has a large area of flat golden sand that offers safe bathing. There is some very pleasant easy walking around Porth Island. You might even park on the beach if you are early.

Tolcarne Beach

5.4 Miles Away – Around 14 Mins Drive

Tolcarne beach is special to us as it’s where Sam’s Mum & Dad first stayed on their first holiday together in 1948. Tolcarne is quieter than the main Newquay beaches and not far from our Happy Place Lodge. Park at the train station. Local favourite eateries are “Colonial Beach Bar & Restaurant“, Butchers Bistro and Kahuna. Tolcarne is a private beach with a large area of golden sand and safe bathing too. Not the easiest access but worth it! Its steep stairs or gentle narrow road.

Constantine Bay

14 Miles Away – Around 30 Mins Drive

Constantine Bay was the first beach we really fell in love with in Cornwall. It is one of the top surfing and kite surfing beaches in Cornwall. A wide sweeping arc of gently shelved soft pale golden sands. The beach also has many rock pools to explore and is perfect for swimming and paddling. Just past the rocky point is picturesque Booby’s bay bordered by a large rocky reef. There is a cafe at the end of the beach but don’t rely on the opening times. Also a great ice cream van!!

Mawgan Porth Beach

10 Miles Away – Around 20 Mins Drive

Mawgan Porth beach is a real hot spot favourite for many beach lovers on the North Cornwall coast. The beach is BIG and great for long walks. It is a west-facing beach with plenty of sand at low tide and is very popular with surfers and families. For an hour or for the whole day Mawgan Porth offers a beautiful stretch of sandy beach and is the perfect pastie stop halfway between Newquay and Padstow. There is a large car park turn right just past the shops.

Hollywell Beach Nr Newquay

9.6 Miles Away – Around 20 Mins Drive

Hollywell beach is one of our top 5 beaches. It is a vast beach of golden sand and amazing grass-tufted dunes to walk through. It is a beautiful and iconic wide open bay ideal for paddling swimming and body boarding. It will be very familiar to “Poldark” fans as a lot of the filming was done here. Try and find the Holy Well Cave. It’s a great beach for picnics and watching the sun go down. National Trust Car park. Beware only loo’s are in the village.

Treyarnon Bay North Cornwall

13 Miles Away – Just Over 20 Mins Drive

Many people love this lesser-known treasure. Treyarnon bay and the beach are beautiful, it’s a small wide beach with easy access from the car park which is only a minute away. There are good toilets next to the beach and a nice cliff-top walk around to Constantine bay. The beach shop in the car park sells almost everything. It is a very dog-friendly beach so there are many four-legged friends. You may need loose change for the Pay and Display machine.

Watergate Bay Nr Newquay

7.5 Miles Away – Around 15 Mins Drive

Wow Wow, Watergate bay! Another of our top 5 beaches. Plenty of space here even on the sunniest days, but check your tide times. Over two miles of golden sand at low tide the vast beach stretches out towards Newquay. The sea here offers enormous waves straight from the Atlantic making it a popular surfing and kitesurfing spot. A coffee or hot chocolate looking over the beach at “The Beach Hut” or “Emily Scott Food” are both great food stops.

Porthcurno Beach

If you going to Lands End or Penzance don’t miss this one

The beach at Porthcurno is described as a paradise in Cornwall. It is an award-winning beach. Iconic white sand, turquoise water, and high cliffs on either side provide shelter, a magnificent natural oasis. One side of the large beach, popular with families, has a stream that is perfect for kids to paddle in. On the cliffs is the famous Minack Theatre, built in the 1920s by the amazing Rowena Wade and her faithful gardener.

The fascinating Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, which tells of Cornwall’s role in the pioneering days of global communications, it just before the main car park. Cables from here were buried beneath the beach and reached all over the world

Sennon Cove Beach

Agian if you are near Lands End or Penzance this is worth the trip

If you are heading to Lands end or Penzance and have the time you’ll find that just down the hill from Sennen you’ll be rewarded with one of the UK’s best beaches. Huge blue rollers sometimes make Sennen Cornwall’s most westerly surfing spot. On calm days when the tides are out there are wide golden sands for everyone to enjoy.

There are pubs, the lifeboat station and an art gallery if the sun isn’t playing ball. The cove is protected from westerly Atlantic gales, and Sennen Cove beach has been called one of the UK’s most breathtaking locations. So do try and make time for a look here. These are the beaches for an afternoon on the beach for swimming or sunbathing.