Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NEWQUAY & AROUND
Bright, breezy and brash: that's Newquay, Cornwall's premier party town and the spiritual
home of British surfing. Perched above a cluster of golden beaches, Newquay's clifftop set-
ting is fabulous, but the town's become better known for its after-dark antics - it's a favour-
ite summer getaway for surfers, clubbers and stag parties, creating a drink-till-dawn atmo-
sphere that's more Costa del Sol than Cornwall. The drab, concrete-heavy town centre
doesn't do it any favours, either - but if it's white sand and wild nights you're after,
Newquay definitely fits the bill.
If you're looking for somewhere to base yourself within a stone's throw of the sand, then
you're really spoilt for choice in Newquay, from Fistral's world-famous waves to Crant-
ock's windblown dunes. Nearby Watergate Bay has become a centre for watersports, and is
also home to Jamie Oliver's beachside Fifteen Restaurant.
It's hard to imagine these days, but a century ago Newquay was a quiet pilchard port.
Until they were fished out in the early 20th century, the Newquay shoals were some of the
largest in Cornwall (one catch in 1868 netted a record 16.5 million fish). The only remnant
of this once-thriving industry is the 14th-century
Huer's Hut
, a lookout once used for spotting
approaching shoals, perched on the headland between Towan and Fistral.
