Category: Coastal wonder

A Walk Through Guide to Porth, Cornwall

Porth Beach, sheltered by headlands on either side, is a popular beach with families. Boasting one of the longest tidal drops of all the beaches in Cornwall it’s a spacious, safe beach to enjoy with the whole family.

Complete with crashing surf carving into the rocks, and an island accessed by footbridge, Porth is the perfect place to grab the camera and explore.

Here’s our guide to Porth, so you can make the most of this family-favourite beach.

Visiting with a large group? Discover our large holiday homes perfect for big families or friend groups.

Starting at Porth Island we tracked the path to the footbridge taking in the views of Watergate Bay and Whipsiderry Beach, North, and Newquay, South.

Fancy staying in Watergate Bay? Check out our luxury holiday properties in Watergate Bay, Newquay.

 

During winter, Porth Island is a great place for storm-watching. At mid-tide, at the end of the island, is a blow hole that, timed right, sends the Atlantic Ocean washing over it shooting up into the air.

Hungry for an ice cream we headed back towards the beach. As Porth has such a long tidal drop the sand levels remain high far out to sea. Taking care you can wade into the water enjoying yourself without getting your hair wet.

Spotting Roo’s Beach ice cream shop we stopped for a delicious tub of Moomaid ice-cream, which we recently made into a delicious cocktail with the help of Fifteen Cornwall.

Throughout the summer Roo’s Beach are also offering artisan coffee and running a pop up Kingsurf Shop, closely linking Porth beach and Mawgan Porth.

After a bit too much retail therapy the sun began to set, drenching the village in beautiful evening sunshine.

Learn about more areas of Cornwall, such as Portwrinkle with our blog filled with expert tips to making the most of Portwrinkle.

If you enjoyed our Porth, Cornwall guide, find a retreat on our special offers page. Or, browse our beach locations to explore more of the coastline.

Walk Through – The Gannel and Crantock

Gannel

The Gannel Estuary, North of Fistral and Pentire Point, is a tidal river that you can explore by foot, kayak or canoe, bike or horseback.

No longer navigable, it was once used to pole barges upriver carrying coal, timber or sand to distribute inland. Today there are still traces of boatyards, moorings and derelict craft.

Interested in staying in our most luxurious holiday cottages? Check out our luxury coastal cottages.

Beyond the boats, The Gannel Estuary is home to an abundance of wildlife, from wading birds such as Egrets to fish such as bass and sea trout, so be sure to take your binoculars and spot the local wildlife.

Gannel

We visited The Gannel Estuary at low tide and walked towards Crantock Beach, but not before we stopped off at the Fern Pit Cafe and had a Cornish crab sandwich and some homemade cake.

Fern Pit Cafe on East Pentire headland overlooks Crantock Beach and The Gannel, boasting stunning views across the beach. It’s also home to the tropical path leading towards the ferry boathouse.

Want to stay in Crantock, Newquay near to Fistral and Watergate? Have a look at our properties in Crantock.

The ferry boathouse, at the bottom of a steep path, provides access between Newquay and Crantock Beach at high tide, between 10am and 6pm. When the tide is out there is a foot bridge which can be used free of charge.

Either way you choose to travel, you’ll arrive on the stunning beach of Crantock. Here you can sit back, relax or explore and play until the sun goes down.

The Gannel Estuary and Crantock are so close to Fistral Beach, why not visit whilst on holiday with Beach Reatreats.

Discover the scenic walk from Crantock to a mystery location, exploring hidden gems and stunning coastal vistas along the way in Cornwall.

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PROPERTIES IN FISTRAL

Walk Through St Agnes

A picturesque walk through the village and around the coast.

St Agnes is a postcard Cornish village steeped in tin mining history. Nestled on the north coast of Cornwall, the seemingly sleepy town offers a relaxing spot for a self-catering family holiday. Discover inspiring coastal walks and independent shops; including greengrocers and butchers, and an array of places to eat. Wander the winding streets to find your favourite cafe, restaurant or brewery tucked away – hidden from the crowds.

Discover more of what St Agnes has to offer and explore our St Agnes holiday cottages.

The town is only a short walk away from our properties in St Agnes. Although a small town, you can find everything you need while on holiday. From greengrocers, butchers, a spa (for recharging your batteries), and a gift shop (to take home a slice of Cornwall.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a hot tub? Check out our cottages with a hot tub for a relaxing getaway.

The Sorting Office, opposite the hairdressers, is the perfect place to stop for a morning coffee or afternoon cake. The delicious bakes are all homemade by a local family company called Rustic Cakes.

From the town, you can follow a pathway down to Trevaunance Cove. A sandy cove, with waterfront cafes, a pub and brewery, Trevaunance is popular with families, walkers and stand-up paddle boarders. On the beach, Koru Kayaking offer equipment hire and tours around Cornwall’s historic coast. Explore hidden sea caves, see the coast from a different perspective and spot a seal or two! For those who enjoy the ground beneath their feet, from Trevaunance Cove you can follow the coastal path through the gardens and up the cliff to Blue Hills.

Blue Hills still feels like an undiscovered part of Cornwall. Scattered with engine houses, chimneys and tine mines, walk in ancient miner’s footsteps as you descend the coastal path.

Take a captivating walk through Perranporth, exploring its expansive sandy beach, rugged cliffs, and vibrant seaside atmosphere along the Cornish coast.

Named after the blue and purple heather, which grows on the wild clifftops, Blue Hills provides a tranquil spot for a family picnic and soaking-up the views. At low tide, there is a small sandy cove and plenty of rockpools to explore. From this part of the coast, you can experience some amazing Cornish sunsets. Dine alfresco and discover your new kitchen on the beach with a family barbecue.

Book your self-catering family holiday in St Agnes.

Walk Through – Fistral Beach and Pentire Point

Firstly, let us formally welcome you to the first of our walk-through series. Throughout the year we’ll be taking you on a trip around Cornwall, showing you the best places to walk your dog, take your children, eat like a local and bathe on the beach.

Fistral Beach

The first stop on our walk-through of Cornwall is Fistral Beach and Pentire Point.

Fistal Beach needs no introduction, it’s the world-famous surfing beach drawing thousands of visitors and surfers from around the world each year. Aside from the year-round, fantastic surf, Fistral is dog friendly, home to some great restaurants, and starts us on our journey of Newquay.

Interested in looking at our other developments? Check out our holiday developments across Cornwall.

Fistral Beach is a great place to spend the whole day; take a surf lesson with Fistral Surf School, or bodyboard with Rob Barber for a whirlwind ride through the surf.

There is no need to take food with you, Fistral is home to great eateries like The Stable, Fistral Beach Cafe and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. But if you prefer, pack up a BBQ and cook your way through to sunset. The Stable; is a restaurant that represents the West Country to the full, showcasing cider as the main drink and serving alongside it, stone baked pizzas using locally sourced ingredients from the West Country.

Want to stay in Fistral? Have a look at our luxury holiday cottages in Fistral.

Sit in with your friends and family or choose the take out option and enjoy your pizza on the shore.

Heading South along the beach you’ll come across two of our Beach Retreats properties, Trethvor and 17 Oceangate, both with commanding views over the beach and within walking distance of Pentire Point, the headland separating Fistral and Crantock Beach.

Patience is a virtue in Cornwall.

Head west from the apartments and you’ll find the coastal path leading to Pentire Point, home to Lewinnick Lodge, a cliff side restaurant looking out over the Atlantic. Around the headland from Lewinnick is the beautiful Crantock Beach.

This blog post covers a 3 mile walk from Fistral Beach to Pentire point and back. Taking you across easy terrain it’s the perfect trail to walk with the entire family.

Fistral

– Best beach for surfing
– Dog friendly year-round
– Restaurants
– Toilets
– Coin operated showers
– Short stay parking

Pentire Headland

– Free Parking on Esplanade Road
– Coastal Paths
– Fistral on left, Crantock on your right
– Kelly’s Ice Cream
– Pitch and Putt

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PROPERTIES IN FISTRAL

Explore Egret View at Fistral, our staff pick of the month, offering stunning views and luxurious comfort for an unforgettable stay on the Cornish coast.

St Ives, Cornwall

St Ives has long been associated with art but the days of snapping up a good original painting for a pittance are long gone. What you will find in St Ives are a number of good quality galleries selling local pieces, many of which are from established local artists. The price tags of the most exciting pieces can be seriously budget-blowing, but a browse can often unearth some lovely and affordable artisan crafts. Poppy Treffry is the sweetest gallery with textiles and ceramics at reasonable prices – you’ll see hand-embroidered iPad ‘cosies’, mugs and teapots and framed pictures.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a hot tub? Check out our cottages with a hot tub for a relaxing getaway.

Worth a peek is the Art Space Gallery near the harbour. This is owned by a cooperative of local artists, all with very different styles and working in a variety of mediums. The displays change each month, so there is always new work to see.

If the art vibe of the town has piqued your interest but an original is not on the financial agenda, the shop at the iconic Tate Gallery has good reproductions of lots of the work from the famous ‘St Ives School’ of artists, as well as books, pottery and other lovely gifts. The café here has extraordinary views over the old town and out to sea; it’s a good spot for a break and if you only want to visit the shop and café here, you don’t have to pay for entry to the gallery itself.

St Ives has a growing gourmet movement and there are some excellent independent shops stocking edible treats. I Should Coco is a dangerously addictive place full of hand-made artisan truffles created in St Ives; their two week shelf life tells you how pure the ingredients are – no nasty preservatives here. The Digey Food Room is a deli/café combination that specialises in Cornish and Continental foods. You can relax with coffee and cake then take home some top-notch ingredients for dinner later. And if the seaside is making you crave ice cream, the Moomaid of Zennor parlour has the best; the milk comes from their own herd at the farm just down the road. With flavours like blackcurrant cheesecake and seasalt caramel, you might want several scoops.

To make an event of lunch, try the Porthminster Beach Restaurant. Just outside the main hub of St Ives and sitting right on the sand, the emphasis is on seafood here, although there are good choices for meat-eaters and vegetarians. The food is simple but made with excellent ingredients and the location is dreamy.

Thinking about staying in St Ives? Have a look at our luxury St Ives holiday properties.

Explore further

Art Space Gallery
The Wharf, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1PU, Tel. 01736 799744

Poppy Treffry
Drill Hall, Chapel Street, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 2LR, Tel. 01736 795494

Tate St Ives
Porthmeor Beach, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1TG, Tel. 01736 796226

I Should Coco
39 Fore Street, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 1HE, Tel. 01736 798756

The Digey Food Rooms
6 The Digey, St ives, Cornwall, TR26 1HR, Tel. 01736 799600

Moomaid of Zennor
1 Wharf Road, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1LG, Tel. 01736 799285

Porthminster Beach Restaurant
Porthminster Beach, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 2EB, Tel. 01736 795352

 

Discover the perfect romantic getaway in Cornwall with our guide to where to stay for couples.