Top 5 Beaches in Cornwall, 2009

The Marine Conservation Society has recently released their Good Beach Guide for 2009. The guide is taken from data compiled over the summer of 2008 and includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Island, as well as The Channel Islands and The Isle of Man. With many UK tourists opting to save their travel money and head to our own holiday resorts this summer, I thought I would compile my top five beaches in Cornwall. (All of the following have been recommended by the MCS as having excellent water quality).

5. Trebarwith Strand
Trebarwith lies on the north coast just over two miles from the popular destination, Tintagel.

Often regarded as one of the nicest stretches of coast in the country, the quality of water and waves make the beach a great destination for surfers. However, keep an eye on the tide times because the beach can be completely submerged at high tide, causing a high risk of being stranded on the rocks.

Map and Directions to Trebarwith Strand


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4. Mother Iveys Bay
More family friendly and just as breathtaking, Mother Iveys Bay retains its quality despite being popular with tourists.

Being near Padstow is another plus, whilst the surf is often also good. The beach gets its name after Mother Ivey, a white witch who is said to have cursed a local field in anger for Harlyn’s starving villagers.

Map and Directions to Mother Ivey


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3. Maenporth
Just around the corner from the busy harbour town of Falmouth and its beaches Gyllingvase and Swanpool, the beach at Maenporth is more sheltered and famed for its gently sloping bay.


Situated on the south coast, the area is not known for its surf but it does offer facilities that are sometimes hard to find at the nicer spots in Cornwall, such as car parking, the Cove restaurant and toilets.

Map and Directions to Maenporth


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2. Sennen Cove
Lands End is the most westerly area of mainland England, and Sennen Cove lies just north, boasting golden sands and crystal clear waters. The beach is popular with surfers and bathers but also benefits from its impressive length.




Map and Directions to Sennes Cove


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1. Porthcurno
Sheltered by high cliffs and offering a funnel shaped beach, Porthcurno is often considered number one by tourists and locals alike.

Dramatic geography and clean waters proved so beautiful, that Rowena Cade decided to build an open air theatre to overlook the bay as a backdrop. Subsequently the beach is very popular with visitors who are also drawn to the Porthcurno Telegraph Museum.


Map and Directions to Porthcurno


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Top 5 Camping Moors in England

With its abundant coastline and rolling green hills, camping in English countryside used to be something of a holiday must. However, in the pre-recession years more and more of us favoured nice hotels and the golden sands of increasingly accessible faraway countries. Well you guessed it, with international tourism officially on the decline, camping is back and if you stay in England you shouldn’t have to fork out too much for travel insurance. Here are my top five moors to camp on.

5. Bodmin Moor
Cornwall is not famed for its moorland; this is no doubt due to the great coastline that is on offer to those who visit the county and the fact that Bodmin is by no means as rugged as its peers.


However, for those who merely want the option to visit the coast but are eager to explore inland Cornwall, then Bodmin is perfect.


Such lakes as Dozmary Pool and Colliford are worth seeing, whilst the surrounding granite tors are less gruelling for the more mature holiday-maker.

4. Exmoor
Where Exmoor meets the North Devon and Somerset coast could well be regarded as some of the most dramatic coastline in the country.


3. West Pennine Moors
Moving north, the West Pennine Moors in Lancashire are known as the Little Lake District.


Perhaps most famous for its lakes, such as Anglezarke and Yarrow, the area is also notable for its architecture and many unique structures including Rivington Pike, Jubilee Tower and the many scattered lead mines. Haslingden Glene is a popular destination for walkers.

2. Dartmoor
Like the aforementioned Bodmin, most holidaymakers who travel to the South West are more interested in the coast than the inland areas.

Dartmoor, however, is even more dramatic than Bodmin and subsequently busier during the summer.

Its tors, such as Hound Tor, Rippon Tor and Hay Tor are perhaps some of the most impressive and distinctive granite tors of the country, and the area is also known for the evidence of its Bronze Age past.

1. Peak District
The Peak District in Northern England is concentrated mostly in the county of Derbyshire, and is the oldest national park in the country. Subsequently, the area is popular with tourists and is easy to access from surrounding cities such as Manchester and Sheffield.

Unlike Dartmoor and Bodmin, the area is a limestone moor, and some attractions such as Thor’s Cave are distinct because of this. The area is also associated with outdoor activities such as rock climbing and paragliding.

Cornwall Holiday Park Bargains

We have had a terrible summer weather wise, similar to last summer. Now the kids are back to school and the weather forecast for September is good, you can pick up some great bargains at holiday parks throughout Cornwall.

September is a great month to get away with the children back at school the prices are reduced and you will be more likely to find a real bargain. Cornwall is a fantastic holiday location with so much to do and see and all you need to do in get in your car and go.

Take a look around the Internet for the best deals and pick up a September bargain.

Newquay Apartment Investments

Newquay is renowned as a surfer's paradise or an A-level students holiday haunt, and is home to stag and hen parties, pensioners and friendly locals. It boasts beautiful beaches, cosy pubs, a lively nightlife, seafood restaurants and its fair share of quaint guesthouses, B&Bs and hotels. But these assumptions may not be true for much longer, as an influx of City workers into the area due to improved flight connections have boosted the local property market, bucking the national trend of dismal housing market forecasts.

According to the Guardian, a small plot of land in the area has just sold for £2.5 million to property developers keen to cater for professionals escaping for a weekend of surfing. Sold by estate agent Bradleys, Cribber Green Rooms in Newquay recorded a seven-fold increase in value over six years. This follows announcements by two airlines that they will continue to run flights to Newquay.

Both Air Southwest and Flybe have pledged their support to the area. Southwest Airlines deputy chief executive Mike Coombes told thisiscornwall.co.uk: "As the largest operator at Newquay Cornwall Airport, Air Southwest remains committed to offering customers excellent value for money with all-inclusive fares," adding: "Our Glasgow service from Newquay has been a popular addition to our route network, and means we now offer eight destinations from Cornwall year-round." Clearly, the infrastructure is in place to support increased demand from young professionals to Britain's surf capital.

Thus, there are plans a foot to turn older, dilapidated buildings in the area to swanky holiday apartments for those who want to - and can afford to - enjoy Cornwall luxury accommodation in this laidback town. Acorn Property Group is one company that is leading the way, replacing cheap hostels with penthouses. Its Azure complex boasts views of Fistral Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the local golf course. Of course, each apartment offers a terrace for tenants or homeowners to make the most of the scenery.

Chris Baxter, a director of Bradleys, told the paper why the land on which the Cribber Green Rooms is situated has been so popular with property investors. "This is a fantastic plot with views on both sides and close to Fistral beach, one of the best surfing spots in Europe. People are still willing to pay for the best sites here," he said.

While the rest of the UK property market seems to be faltering, Newquay is bucking the trend. Newquay holiday cottage are particularly popular with investors.Whether the town is merely several years behind the rest of the country in terms of rocketing property prices is unknown, it could be it will ignite a new wave of property developments in long-forgotten about seaside resorts. Either way, property investors are keen to surf the surge of success.

Newquay Surf Holiday 7 Tips

Head down to Fistral beach in Newquay any time of year and you’ll see a flotilla of board-riders out on the waves, no matter the weather. Despite the cold sea and grey skies, surfing is big in the UK and getting bigger every year. A haven for surfers in the UK and the location for major surfing competitions, Fistral, Newquay is internationally renowned and popular for consistent waves.

The well-established surf industry in Cornwall means there are plenty of surf schools offering the chance to learn to catch a wave, but there's more to the sport than simply pulling on a wet suit and heading out to the waves. If you want to be taken seriously on the Newquay surf scene this summer, there are seven golden rules:

1. Be blond and gorgeous
Strolling along Fistral Beach on a summer afternoon you have to pick your way between clusters of clone-like blue-eyed youths with sun-streaked, tousled hair and lithe, tanned bods. Have you just stumbled across a distant outpost of Sweden, or is there some weird breeding experiment happening here on the north Cornish coast, the creation of a genetically modified beautiful new race that doesn't turn lobster red in the sun and comes with pierced belly buttons, six packs and Celtic-style tattoos as standard?

The occasional herd of bloated, sunburnt stags sleeping off a hangover from the night before will remind you that, in fact, you are still in Britain. If you are not young, blond or gorgeous, don't despair. You can always opt for the 'wise old man of the sea' look - think Patrick Swayze in Point Break - which involves a small pointy beard (though not if you are female), a half peeled-off wet suit dangling from your waist, a weather-beaten face and a faraway look in your eyes. If even this is beyond your capacity, a few stitches won't go amiss, just to show you mean business.

2. Develop an Australian accent
Even if you are from Essex. All the best surfers are Australian, and all the best British surfers spend at least four months of the year perfecting their bottom turns Down Under and have the Aussie twang to prove it.

Joe Moran, Cornwall's answer to Brad Pitt, has it sussed. He works half the year on a building site in Newquay so he can spend the rest of his time surfing in Australia. He has just been offered a full-time job working as a sales rep for a surf-gear company. 'I feel it's time to put down some roots, get a mortgage, get the company car, but then again...' He trails off and gazes out towards the ocean. Don't do it, Joe.

What's even harder to fathom is why so many Aussies spend half the year surfing in Newquay when they've got all that gorgeous blue sea and sunshine back home. Forbesy is from Brisbane. He reckons that on a good day, when the sun is shining, Newquay can just about hold its own with the Gold Coast.

'But it's really the nightlife and the whole scene which brings travellers here. It's a real party town,' he adds before stumbling off into the night to find his friends.

3. Get a sponsor
You are nobody on the Newquay surf scene if you don't have a sponsor. Former British surf champion Steve Winter, who runs the Winter Brothers Surf School on Fistral Beach, is sponsored by Blackthorn Cider, which means he gets paid for wearing a sweatshirt with the firm's logo on it. Easy money. But you have to be good. He and his brothers Dean and Russell (currently ranked seventeenth in the world) are among 50 or so surfers in Newquay who are considered good enough to merit sponsorship.

If you are going to fake it, make sure you choose the right brands: the surf clothing labels Quiksilver, Billabong and Rip Curl and surfboard manufacturer Mellow Marsh Yellow are a good bet. A Peacocks carrier bag and a pair of Speedo swimming trunks aren't going to fool anyone.

4. Don't be a tourist
Forget that cosy little B&B overlooking the bay, or a visit to Dairyland to see the cows being milked. All you care about are the waves, right? Hotels are for wimps (and if you've left it until now to book you won't get one anyway - Newquay sells out in summer). Real surfers sleep in a van in the beach car park. You'll see them spilling out of their cars at first light, doubled up and bleary eyed, wrapped in a towel for warmth.

However, saying that, there has been a growing trend amongst wealthy 20 to 40 year olds who are going that little bit extra with their above average city wages and splashing out on holiday cottages in Newquay. This offers them the luxury of a modern holiday cottage close to the Fistral surf that they can share with friends.

Alternatively, you could probably find a similar level of discomfort - and hence authenticity - by opting to stay at one of the town's many so-called 'surf lodges' which are basically pebble-dashed hotels built in the Seventies which, when the coach parties stopped coming because Newquay got too rowdy, cannily decided to add the word 'surf' somewhere in their name and cram six people into a room designed to sleep two. Instant credibility.

Remember those sun burnt stags you saw on the beach earlier? They'll be staying here too because nowhere else will take them.

5. Learn the language
Don't say 'dude' or 'man' - apparently they only do that on the telly - but do say 'sick' and 'gnarly' a lot (only applies to under thirties). As in, 'That's one sick bird' (that's a compliment if you happen to be the woman in question, but if you are anywhere other than Newquay, be offended) and 'Those waves are really gnarly' which means heavy.

But if you find yourself saying things like 'Got caught in a sick pit, so decided to hang 10 but went over the falls and got ripped in a gnarly barrel. It was rad,' it's time to go home. You've lost the plot.

6. Body boarding doesn't count
'Whoever's enjoying the surf the most is the best surfer,' says Steve Winter. It helps, however, if you have a surf board. Jumping up and down in the surf going 'woohoo' just isn't going to cut it.
Nor is body boarding. Although the body boarders - or 'speed bumps' as the surfers call them because they slow them down when they go over the top of them - may seem to be having a lot more fun than their surfing counterparts, washing up on the beach face down on a piece of foam just doesn't have the same kudos.

7. Be able to surf
This is not essential but it helps. Steve reckons he can get 85 per cent of people standing up on a board in their first lesson. 'You get loads of these guys coming down here for the weekend with their beach blonde hair and surfboards stapled to the roof of their VW camper van, and they don't even go in the water,' he says.

If you've ever tried pulling on a cold, damp, sandy wet suit on a windy beach and then wading across sharp pebbles into a steely grey sea while seagulls wheel mournfully overhead to do battle with smashing waves with a long plank under your arm, you'll know why.

If, however, you can get past the first two hours of humiliation, exhaustion and frustration and just when your feet have turned blue and your legs have turned to jelly and you have swallowed six litres of salt water and are silently wailing to yourself, 'Mummy I don't want to do it any more,' but you can't stop because you don't want to lose face in front of the 25 surnburnt stags who are sharing your class (yes, them again) you will, miraculously, stand up. Just for four wobbly seconds, but it will feel like an eternity to you.

You won't win any prizes for style but you are, for one brief and glorious moment, riding a wave, and you might, just might, finally understand what all the fuss is about.

Factfile
A half-day's surf tuition at Winter Brothers Surf School (01637 879696) on Fistral Beach costs £20, a full day £30 and a weekend £55.

The Extreme Academy at Watergate Bay (01637 860840) offers tuition in surfing, kite surfing, land yachting and mountain boarding. From £20 for a half-day mountain boarding taster course.

Joanne O'Connor stayed at the St Andrew's Hotel, Newquay (01637 873556). En suite rooms with sea view start at £23 per person per night.

Blue Chip Vacations offer stunning holiday cottages in Newquay (01803 855 282) or visit their Holiday Cottages in Newquay webpage. There is also a great Luxury apartments in Cornwall blog which has information on all the hottest Cornwall apartments.

First Great Western has regular train services to Cornwall. (08457 000125). When a direct service to Newquay is not available, you can save time by taking a fast train to Truro and book Great Western's new + Bus chauffeur service (07786 310 695) from the station to your hotel in Newquay for £13 per person

Holiday Parks in Newquay Cornwall

Looking to choose a holiday in Newquay Cornwall this year? One option is to stay on a Newquay Holiday Park. The advantage of these is they are quite a cheap form of self-catering and the campsite will have facilities such as entertainment, swimming pool, shop, takeaway and activities for children.

However, when having a holiday in Newquay, if you aren’t familiar with the holiday parks available and the Newquay town layout you will need to choose your holiday park carefully to get the best position and holiday park that meets your needs, whether you are a family, a couple or a group of teens.

Newquay itself has no caravan parks at or near the beach. They are all up to 2 miles inland. Here’s an overview of your Newquay holiday park options:

Trenance Caravan Park is great for families or older people. It is the closest caravan park to Newquay town. Location wise, it is next to the Zoo and by the boating lake. If you arrive by train then it is about a 15 minute walk (weight of your suitcases depending!) but it is all downhill. Trenance Caravan Park is a family caravan park, it is very small and doesn’t have many extra facilities.

Rosecliston Caravan Park is best for singles and couples. Definitely a young crowd. Rosecliston camp site is about 2 miles out of town.

At night it is dark to walk to, along a narrow road, although I think there may be a footpath there now, it certainly isn’t a walk I’d want to do on my own, both in terms of personal safety and traffic safety.

Porth Beach Tourist Park is ideal for families. It is close to Porth Beach, which is the outer edges of Newquay but has a great beach. Town is about 2 miles away, but buses run in the summer season until about 3am as they take people to/from Trevelgue.This is a good clean site.

Hendra Holiday Park is the largest in the area. Independently run it is family-centred and very clean and secure. Again, you will find this park 2.5 miles out of town, but there is a regular bus service into town throughout the day and evening.

Trevelgue Holiday Park bills itself as a family venue, but it does have a lot of young people events that you might not wish to be a part of - so watch out that you don’t mistakenly book into those dates and expect a quiet week (e.g. Run to the Sun weekend and the Mini Rally). Trevelgue is tucked away a mile or so inland and so not an easy walk to the beach. It is about 3-3.5 miles from Newquay town centre.

Sunnyside - this was a Club 18-30 holiday campsite for singles… The campsite has now closed down and the land is being used for second homes / holiday homes in Newquay - a new development of luxury cedar cabins for the posh crowd! There is a new Sunnyside Hotel that opened in Newquay town in 2007, this overlooks Towan Beach.

Newquay Holiday Park Tips

If you are booking holiday chalets, holiday caravans, mobile homes, campsites, or motorhome pitches in Newquay, then check the actual location of the holiday camp site. Many will align themselves to Newquay, yet actually be a number of miles inland.

If a holiday park is not for you then there are many Newquay Luxury Apartments to also chose from plus many holiday cottages, hotels and bed and breakfasts so there is a wide choice. Make sure you don’t arrive by plane or train, expecting to be within a mile of town, only to find you’re right out in the countryside without even a bus service.

Have a good holiday in Cornwall!

Static Caravan Holidays in Cornwall

If you are thinking about heading to Cornwall for your summer holiday then there are plenty of Static Caravan Holidays in Cornwall for you too choose from.

A holiday in Cornwall makes an ideal break for the whole family and it's now even easier to get to with the new improved A30. With so much to do from surfing to coastal walks, wherever you base your accommodation, you won't be far from great things to do.

Book you Cornwall holiday as soon as you can as Static Caravan Holidays in Cornwall get booked up quickly so avoid disappointment and book early.

I recommend the following static caravan accommodations in Cornwall include:

• Calloose
• Riviere Sands
• Leycroft
• Perran Sands
• Trenance