The beaches in Newquay each have a different setting and access, from surf-facing Fistral to the cove at Porth. Use this guide to compare the shorelines, facilities and routes down to the sand before choosing where to spend time by the coast.
- Fistral Beach has North and South sections.
- Towan Beach is in Newquay town centre.
- Great Western Beach has a fairly steep roadway down to it.
- Porth Beach is 2 miles from Newquay.
Fistral Beach for a wide coastal setting
Fistral Beach suits a day focused on Atlantic-facing surf and a broad coastal setting. It faces west and is exposed to Atlantic swells, making it a surf-friendly choice; the beach has North and South sections.
Fistral has restaurants and cafés, surf-equipment hire and lessons, showers and toilets. Nearby pay-and-display parking has 200 spaces, with 20 minutes of parking free. Facilities and parking details can change, so check the official site before you go.
Fistral has daily lifeguard patrols from May through September, including Easter weekend, and voluntary lifeguards on winter weekends. Patrol hours are not given, so check locally before entering the water.
Towan Beach near the town centre
Towan Beach is a town-centre beach with a shallow-slope route down to the sand and a well-known house on an island.
Access is rated fair, with a shallow slope, and Manor Road is the nearest car park. A café sits by the beach. Towan’s town-centre setting also makes it easy to combine time by the water with a walk through central Newquay; the Newquay Harbour and nearby coastal walk is another way to spend time along the coast.
Lifeguards patrol from mid-May through September, including Easter weekend. Patrol hours are not provided, so check the current arrangements before swimming.
Great Western Beach and Lusty Glaze
Great Western Beach and Lusty Glaze both involve a descent, but their access and facilities differ.
Great Western Beach
Great Western Beach is reached by a fairly steep roadway, and private parking is very limited. A bus stop is within 50 metres at the top of the cliffs. The beach has a café, public toilets, and hire of deckchairs, bodyboards and windbreaks; the café is seasonal.
Lifeguards patrol daily from mid-May to the end of September, with no patrol hours given. If you want to fit a beach visit into a day around town, the one-day Newquay itinerary on foot offers a town-focused way to plan your time.
Lusty Glaze
Lusty Glaze is privately owned and reached by a flight of 133 steps. It is ¾ mile from Newquay town centre; access is also possible from the adjacent beach at very low tide.
There is a car park at the top and a café on the beach. Since the route involves steps and the beach is privately owned, check the Newquay tourism website before setting out.
Porth Beach for a different Newquay shoreline
Porth Beach offers a long, narrow cove between Lusty Glaze and Watergate Bay, with a shallow-slope route to the beach.
The beach is west-facing and 2 miles from Newquay. A bus stop is at its north end, but not at the south end; a café is within 50 metres. Porth also has toilets, summer refreshment stands, a shop and a pub on the beach.
Lifeguards patrol from May through September, with no hours given. Porth’s position between neighbouring beaches also makes it a natural stop on a longer outing; Watergate Bay from Newquay covers another stretch of the coast.
How to choose a beach for your visit
Choose a Newquay beach by weighing up its setting, access and the facilities you want close by.
- For surf and an open Atlantic setting: Fistral faces the swells and has surf-equipment hire and lessons.
- For a town-centre location: Towan is in central Newquay, while Great Western offers beach facilities but has a steep roadway down.
- For a cove setting: Porth sits in a long, narrow bay, with a shallow-slope route to the beach.
- For a beach reached by steps: Lusty Glaze has 133 steps down from the top.
Priory Lodge Hotel is in central Newquay, about a 4-minute walk from the town centre. You can use the town as a starting point for choosing between the beaches, then check access and seasonal facilities before heading out.
FAQs
Which Newquay beach is best for surfing?
Fistral is described as suitable for surfing because it faces west and is exposed to Atlantic swells. Surf-equipment hire and lessons are available there.
Which beach has the gentlest access?
Porth has very good access via a shallow slope. Towan also has a shallow-slope route, though its access is rated fair.
Can you walk between Lusty Glaze and Porth?
Lusty Glaze can be reached from the adjacent beach at very low tide. Check local conditions before relying on that route.