Watergate Bay

Watergate Bay is a vast, dramatic beach about three miles north of Newquay, stretching for nearly two miles of golden sand backed by dark slate cliffs. At low tide the beach seems to go on forever, and even in peak summer there’s room to breathe. The bay faces west into the Atlantic and picks up serious swell, making it one of the most consistent surf spots in Cornwall — but the sheer size of the beach means it never feels like you’re fighting for waves.

The bay has become a destination in its own right, largely thanks to the Watergate Bay Hotel and Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall restaurant (now The Stable). The Extreme Academy on the beach offers everything from surfing and stand-up paddleboarding to kitesurfing and waveskiing — it’s one of the best beach activity centres in the country. The Beach Hut restaurant, right on the sand, is a great spot for lunch with a view. Despite the name recognition, Watergate Bay hasn’t been over-developed — the cliffs on either side are undeveloped and the beach feels wild.

The coast path from Watergate Bay north towards Mawgan Porth is a beautiful walk along high cliffs, with Bedruthan Steps — the famous stack-studded beach — visible in the distance. Newquay’s town beaches and nightlife are a short drive south if you want more action. But most people who stay at Watergate Bay find the combination of big beach, good food and reliable waves is enough to fill a week without going anywhere else.