Mawgan Porth

Mawgan Porth is a coastal village in north Cornwall, 5 miles north-east of Newquay, set in a sheltered valley where the Vale of Mawgan meets the coast. Its wide sandy beach has won Sunday Times awards and draws surfers, families and rock-poolers. The village is small - a handful of shops, a cafe and a surf hire - but two well-known hotels sit on the cliffs above.

Beach and Coast Path

The beach faces north-west into the Atlantic and picks up reliable surf. KingSurf and other schools offer lessons from the sand. At low tide, rock pools and caves appear at both ends of the bay. The South West Coast Path runs through the village, with walks north to Bedruthan Steps - a line of sea stacks visible from the cliff top - and south to Watergate Bay and on to Newquay. Bedruthan Steps also holds Dark Sky Discovery status, making it a good spot for stargazing on clear evenings.

Where to Stay

Over 40 holiday properties serve Mawgan Porth, from beachfront apartments to rural cottages in the valley behind. The Scarlet is an adults-only eco-hotel with a natural outdoor pool, hot tubs and a cedar-wood sauna overlooking the bay. Next door, the Bedruthan Hotel and Spa caters to families and couples, with a clifftop pool and sea views. Self-catering options range from converted barns to modern holiday complexes.

Getting Here

Mawgan Porth is on a minor road between the B3276 coast road and the Vale of Mawgan. Newquay Airport is about 5 miles south. Newquay town centre and its rail station are roughly 7 miles by road. Padstow is around 10 miles north-east along the coast road. The village has limited parking in summer, so arriving early on busy days is advisable.