Holywell Bay is a large sandy beach near Newquay, Cornwall, surrounded by cliffs and exposed to Atlantic swells. You can reach it by bus or car, then follow a sandy, sloping route down to the beach; it’s a day trip from Newquay for surfers, bodyboarders and beachgoers.
- Location: Holywell Bay, near Newquay, Cornwall.
- Bus: Route 587 from Newquay is a public-transport option; route 87 also serves Holywell Bay.
- Car park: The National Trust car park is at TR8 5DD; parking is free for National Trust members.
- Access: The walk to the beach has steps, uneven ground and slopes, and is not suitable for standard pushchairs or wheelchairs.
What makes Holywell Bay a day trip from Newquay?
Holywell Bay pairs a broad, enclosed sandy beach with cliffs and Atlantic-facing surf. Its exposed swells make it popular with surfers and bodyboarders, while the beach and dunes offer a coastal setting for a walk. Visit Cornwall gives the beach address as Holywell Bay, Nr Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 5PP.
If you’re comparing local shorelines before choosing a day out, the guide to beaches in Newquay covers options in town.
How do you get from Newquay to Holywell Bay?
You can take a bus from Newquay or drive to the National Trust car park at Holywell. Route 587 from Newquay is a public-transport option for the Holywell beach walk. Transport for Cornwall also runs route 87 between Newquay Bus Station and Holywell Bay, Treguth Inn, with a stop at Holywell Bay Holiday Park.
For the driving approach, follow the road into Holywell. The car park is signed on the left just before the road ends at Penhale.
It is a National Trust pay-and-display car park: non-members can pay by coin or through the PayByPhone app, while National Trust members park free. Don’t park on approach roads or nearby verges, which could block emergency access.
The Newquay branch line station is 5.7 miles from the starting point of the Holywell beach walk. For current bus services and lifeguard arrangements, check the official site before you go, including Transport for Cornwall’s travel information and the RNLI’s patrol information.
What should you know about beach access and facilities?
The walk from the car park to the beach is mostly on soft sand and sandy paths across the beach and dunes. Expect steps, uneven ground and slopes, including many slopes on the dunes; the route is not suitable for standard pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Toilets are available at Holywell, at Crantock beach car park and in Crantock village. The nearest café is in Cubert village, while pubs are in Crantock village, at Pentire Point and at Holywell. Dogs are welcome on the beach all year round.
For surf lessons, Holywell Bay School of Surf and Cornwall Surf Academy are independent surf schools and the only outdoor providers licensed by the National Trust to operate at these beaches.
Holywell Bay is about 4.2 miles from Priory Lodge, which offers hotel rooms in Newquay.
How should you plan around weather and tides?
Holywell Bay is exposed to Atlantic swells, so check sea conditions and lifeguard patrol information before swimming or bodyboarding. Patrols operate only at certain times of year and day.
At a lifeguarded beach, swim or bodyboard between the red and yellow flags and never swim alone. If someone is in difficulty and no lifeguard is available, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
Low tide reveals the rusting plates of a 70-year-old wreck. Anyone in the sea should stay west of this hazard and follow lifeguard flag signals. Weever fish can also be found at Holywell, particularly at low tide.
When you’re planning a coastal day from Newquay, you can also compare the route and day-out details for Watergate Bay from Newquay.
FAQs
Which bus goes from Newquay to Holywell Bay?
Route 587 from Newquay is a public-transport option for the Holywell beach walk. Route 87 runs between Newquay Bus Station and Holywell Bay, Treguth Inn.
Is there parking at Holywell Bay?
Yes. The National Trust car park is at TR8 5DD and is pay-and-display for non-members; National Trust members park free. Avoid leaving a vehicle on approach roads or nearby verges.
Is the walk to Holywell Bay beach suitable for wheelchairs?
No. The route includes soft sand, steps, uneven ground and slopes, and is not suitable for standard pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Are dogs allowed on Holywell Bay beach?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on the beach throughout the year.