Category Archives: North Cornwall

Porthcothan beach

Season: winter

A subtle mix of grey, black and blue provided the palette for this winter visit. Lively surf, topped with bright white horses, cut through this fused vista in dramatic style. This is a deep, flat beach, so a rising tide always requires due care and attention. At the back of the beach a re-directed stream had wreaked havoc with the dune system, leaving a dangerous fifteen feet high sand cliff and removing considerable natural habitat for wildlife. A highlight of this unspoilt beach is the clash of elements as the sea arrives and claws at the stark black cliffs.

With Chris at Porthcothan in North Cornwall.

What the beach means to Rakhi and Scott, enjoying downtime in Cornwall.

The magnificent natural environment at Porthcothan Bay.

Season: winter

A rising tide greeted me for this winter visit. Clean sets of waves were completing their Atlantic journey at this most elemental of beaches. This was the last day of the year, offering bright sunshine for the reflective beach walkers. The weather-beaten black rock stood starkly against the clear blue sky and the ocean scene was interspersed with the vivid white of the rolling waves.

What the beach means to Sharon and Tristan.

New Year’s Eve at Porthcothan Bay.

Season: summer

This was a chance to enjoy some evening sun on the north coast of Cornwall. As the tide ran in the sun was framed between the headlands, with sand dunes behind. Porthcothan Bay is unspoilt and natural, as it has always been, little known and wild, a great place to come and see what the tide has brought in.

With Abby and Isaac in the evening.

Season: autumn

The best beachcombing beach in Cornwall, home to the late well-known film maker, beachcomber and fisherman Nick Darke, Porthcothan is an unspoilt North Coast beach facing the Atlantic. It attracts flotsam and jetsam from as far away as the Amazon. A deep rather than wide beach, it was being surveyed for erosion damage on this occasion. There is a shop behind the dunes, toilets and plenty of parking to hand in the small adjacent village.

A friendly chat with two proud local residents.

A chat with one of two surveyors who were collecting data for analysis of coastal erosion.

Peace and quiet at Porthcothan, with the beach all to myself.

Porthtowan beach

Season: spring

It was like the curtains had been drawn open at Porthtowan on the first clear day after a spell of low pressure and misty beaches. The beach was alive with people enjoying the sunshine at the weekend. The weather was mild and the breakers were spectacular, making fine surf for those in the sea. This beach here is a social hub with a great sense of community, all generations enjoying time together in a wonderful environment.

With lifeguard John, who explains this beach’s place in the local community.

A thriving local beach at Porthtowan on Cornwall’s north coast.

Season: autumn

What a place to celebrate the first year of manonabeach®, so thank you all for watching. Porthtowan was wild and exuberant in the morning, the power of the sea awesome. The sky reflected the cathartic nature of the moment. It’s a kind of magic, like all your hopes and fears are encapsulated in a shaft of light through black clouds, a backdrop to the racing sea and the sky against the beach.

Glynis, at home on the beach.

The magic of Porthtowan on a stormy morning.

Season: summer

The sea was wild on this occasion. Porthtowan beach is a geological treasure, the fractured rocks testimony to the relentless motion of the Atlantic against this shore. Its scale is grand, as the coastline stretches away to the west from the shoreline. The beach feels expansive on a low, ebb tide. This is a great place to reconnect with nature and our place within it.

Sarah’s perennial love of the beach.

Another Sarah, with her son Wilbur, also enjoying the natural side of the beach.

Porthtowan beach on an ebb tide.

Towan beach

Season: winter

On a cold and blustery morning in December, Towan beach in Newquay was surprisingly sheltered, protected from the prevailing south westerly wind by the harbour and Towan Head. Newquay is conveniently close at hand.

The Blue Reef Aquarium curator, Matt, explains the aquarium’s inter-dependence with the beach and the water from the sea.

The beach, as seen from Newquay’s harbour.

The tide was dropping towards low tide, giving a clear view of The Island in the middle of the beach, with its house on top and its bridge.

Season: winter

The tide was low and the sun had come out. Behind the beach, the destruction that the recent storms had brought upon this place was clear to see, with the sea wall ripped apart next to the Blue Reef Aquarium. This was a calm time between the storms though, as weekending beach goers enjoyed the magnificent surf and a view of some neighbouring Newquay beaches and the harbour.

The importance of the beach to Cesar.

The sun is out at Towan beach.

Season: autumn

Newquay is a fun place and makes no bones about it. Just put some Carl Perkins on your music machine and gaze down the bonnet of the car as you roll into town. You know that you’re going to meet people from far and wide on the beach here, such is the popularity of the town and the wide choice of beaches. On a low tide like this, you can walk seamlessly between at least three of them among the weekenders, enjoying the sheer joy of being on the beach.

The inspiration that Ela draws from the beach.

Meddwl Ela ar lan y Môr.

A weekend scene by the water’s edge at low tide.

Season: summer

The wild winds continued, coinciding with a high tide to create a storm-tossed sea that cascaded in against the town beach’s defences. The house on the island suddenly looked vulnerable rather than glamorous. Apparently solid constructions, set against the sea, are like matchwood in the face of the elements.

Almost high tide at Towan beach.

With Jonas, about to go in for a swim.

Trevone beach

Season: summer

I visited as early as possible in summer and was greeted with a beautiful, peaceful beach in the morning. Continuing high pressure subdued the waves and there were the remains of a misty dawn. This is a stunningly attractive beach and cove, one of the finest in Cornwall, deep set and surrounded by rocks at low tide.

Catherine’s affinity for the beach.

Denis and the release of the sea.

By the water at Trevone Bay on a low tide.

Season: spring

An early morning visit to the beach at Trevone Bay is always a treat, especially at low tide. On this occasion the black rocks by the water’s edge gleamed in the ebb tide and there was a fine view across to Trevose Head lighthouse. If you take the time to study the rocks by the beach on such a low tide, you see them in their topographic context and you can imagine yourself diving among them under the water. This beach is one in a string of popular North Coast of Cornwall beaches to the west of Stepper Point and the River Camel. There are fine beaches in the other direction too.

The appeal of Trevone Bay for Richard.

A view from the back of the beach at low tide.

Season: summer

Summer sunshine had attracted visitors to this beautiful beach, enjoying some leisure time under azure blue skies. The tide was coming in and the rocks on the shore glistened under the bright sun as each wave fell back. The beach is well protected by the RNLI crew, who man a cabin at the top of the beach. This part of North Cornwall boasts many exquisite beaches, with Mother Ivy’s, Harlyn Bay and Constantine Bay all close by. Trevone is also well placed for trips to nearby Padstow, itself a great visitor destination.

The beach as relaxation for David, either here or at home in Devon.

A summer day at Trevone Bay.

Season: autumn

Trevone beach was predictably empty and mothballed on this off-season visit. This village has one of the highest percentages of second homes in Cornwall. These houses are generally not let out to other visitors, as their owners are affluent. I didn’t expect to find someone to talk to, so here are just two short films of a very pretty cove and beach. There are no facilities except in July and August, when there are plenty.

Trevone Bay and the beach with crashing surf.

Here’s another view of a beautiful bay and beach off-season.

Mawgan Porth beach

Season: winter

Bright sunshine was the order of the day. A low tide and the stunning scenery here had combined to attract extra visitors down to the sea. Recent storms had left their mark on the higher reaches, but by the water the Atlantic breakers rolled benignly in. The ever-changing nature of the beach never fails to impress. Those of us lucky enough to be here today saw Mawgan Porth in all its majesty.

A romantic attachment to Mawgan Porth beach for Rachel and James.

Low tide and sunshine on the beach.

Season: autumn

It was a glorious afternoon at Mawgan Porth beach near Newquay Airport in North Cornwall. The tide was out, leaving a vast space of beach for people to enjoy. The sun is lower at this time of year and throws a different light on the sea, silver but slightly diffused. A gentle onshore breeze moderated the hot sun and added to the first wistful flicker of autumn in people’s faces.

The beach as a tonic for Joanna.

By the water’s edge with Nicole.

A full circuit of a beautiful North Cornwall beach, showing a fine face in the afternoon.

Season: spring

The sun was shining at low tide over Mawgan Porth beach. The weekend had brought horse riders, locals, visitors and the Bristol Surf Club to the beach. The Surf Club were doing a beach clean as a part of their weekend down in Cornwall.

With Catherine, who explains the beach clean.

Port Gaverne beach

Season: winter

Winter storms had cast their spell over Port Gaverne. Extensive damage to the sheds behind the beach was being surveyed and repaired. As the clean-up work continued, harbour master Richard Cook shared his passion for Port Gaverne and the beach’s role in his life.

What the beach and Port Gaverne mean to Richard.

The calm after the storm.

Season: autumn

Black and grey clouds blended into the horizon at Port Gaverne for this autumn visit. As the tide raced in across the narrow inlet, stark rocks on each side were thrown into relief. Looking back from the rocks at sea level as the tide passes inwards, you feel an intimacy with the interaction of the elements, the air, land and sea in unison.

The permanence of the coast and the beach in Judith’s mind’s eye.

Looking down the beach as the tide rushes in.

Looking back at the incoming tide from the rocks at sea level.

Season: summer

On a tide starting to fall away, the inlet at Port Gaverne was largely under water, the difference between this visit and my last one bearing witness to the twenty feet plus range of tides in Cornwall. A warm evening sun lit the sea and the beach. This village is just next to Port Isaac, but it has few visitors and little commercial activity. For resonance, it sits somewhere between the busy Port Isaac and the tranquility of Port Quin, a happy mixture.

With Ken on the beach, back from fishing in the early evening and remembering times long gone, as well as good times nowadays with his friends, including Richard, below:

…as straightforward as that.

The evening sun over a calm sea at Port Gaverne.

Season: winter

The third part of the manonabeach “Port…” trilogy, this visit to Port Gaverne allowed me to get down to the caves, nooks and crannies of the cove at low tide. There’s a great pub in the village, which itself sits just down the hill from popular Port Isaac. There was a wistful air to Mark, remembering happy childhood times on the beach. Nicola Williams sent an interesting comment, relating to this beach:

It was chiseled out, this is Teigue’s pit,(SP?, pronounced Tag) one man’s life, taking slate from the cliff face for use as local building material. Now a bathing & jumping spot for the more adventurous. As you can see, below is just sand, it’s long been a spot that the brave jump from at high tide from the grassy headland above!

with reference to the “chiseled out” part of the cliff that I mention in my blustery scene-setting film at the bottom of the page.

Memories of times gone by…

The beach and the sea, alive at Port Gaverne in January.

Daymer Bay

Season: winter

A bright, low sun greeted me at Daymer Bay for this Christmas holiday visit to North Cornwall. Visitors and locals alike were enjoying the mild, clear day. There are fine views across to Stepper Point and Padstow from Brae Hill, as well as a glimpse of the little church at St Enodoc, sheltering behind the hill on the golf course. This is an idyllic place, highly recommended.

What the beach means to Philip and Sarah.

A view over Daymer Bay from the top of Brae Hill.

Season: winter

A grey, mild morning greeted me for my winter visit to Daymer Bay, located on the Camel Estuary in North Cornwall. I went up Brae Hill and round to Rock then back via the sand dunes, a wonderful walk. The spirit of John Betjeman was in the air. He is buried at St Enodoc Church and has a statue at St Pancras station in London, pictured below. The ebb tide made the beach glisten, so I climbed through the rock pools and up towards Greenaway on the other side of the beach, where I met Elaine, who explained her attachment to the area.

A view from St Enodoc Church, looking over Daymer Bay towards Stepper Point.

Elaine explains what the beach means to her.

Summerleaze beach

Season: summer

This seasonal visit was at the height of the visitor season on a warm and sunny day. Although it was quite early, there were plenty of tourists on Summerleaze beach, mingling with the early morning dog walkers. The tide was racing in across the flat beach and clean surf had attracted some early birds with their surfboards. It was shaping up to be a typical North Cornwall day in mid-August.

With Jayne on the waterline at Summerleaze beach in Bude, reflecting on a life spent at the beach.

Looking down on Summerleaze beach in the morning.

A straightforward analysis from Janet.

Season: spring

Seasonal showers greeted me at Summerleaze beach in Bude, the weather varying between bright sunshine and hail. At low tide the beach is an enormous expanse of sand, rock and river channel. Summerleaze sits head on to the Atlantic, wild and hypnotic when you’re by the water. Bude is very hospitable and open to visitors, yet retains a proud independence. The depth of affection for Bude, plus pride and belonging to a community, radiates from all three interviews.

Ted explains the pull of the beach.

Mini, aka Martin, explains what Surf Life Saving Clubs offer from a young age into adult life.

Charlie takes us back in time.

Season: winter

I saw the wild beauty of North Cornwall at its finest during this trip to Bude. On arrival in stormy conditions half a dozen horses and riders were enjoying the surf and spray on the shoreline. The beach is extensive at low tide and easily accessible, either from the town on foot or via the adjacent car park. Everything is to hand, including a wonderful lido fed by the sea called Bude Sea Pool.

A chat with waitress Sarah at the Life’s a Beach cafe on Summerleaze beach.

Season: autumn

The tide was high at Summerleaze beach for this re-visit. Bude has one of only two sea locks in the country. The lock gates had been opened to allow the fishing boats into the safety of the inner harbour for winter. At the other end of the beach hardy dog walkers enjoyed the bracing wind and the lively seascape. The Sea Pool was full, its steps and railings taking the full force of the Atlantic, a stormy day indeed.

The appeal of the beach, part of Jason’s decision to relocate.

A wild high tide at Summerleaze beach in Bude.

Portreath beach

Season: autumn

The beach was being explored by children from the local school, here on a trip with their teachers. What sensations, awareness and inspiration for young minds, right on their doorstep! The sun had broken through and the surf was high, exploding against the harbour wall in a white crescendo. Although it was mild, the bracing wind gave an elemental feel to the beach.

Looking down on Portreath with Duncan, showing his appreciation of the nature in the area.

By the water’s edge at Portreath in the morning, next to a lively sea.

Season: summer

The clean sets rolling in against the beach at Portreath reminded me why this is such a popular surfing beach. Although it was a mild, grey morning, the sun finally broke through, as the tide started to fall away. The harbour wall was still being pounded by the sea. On top of the headland is the Pepper Pot landmark, including these words composed in 1914 by Laurence Binyon, in his poem “For the Fallen”:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

What the beach means to Mark.

Portreath beach on a falling tide in the morning.

Season: spring

The spotlight from tourist organisations and marketing companies rarely falls on Portreath, the local beach for Redruth. Like Porthallow, there are ghosts from the past here, of mining rather than fishing in this case. The Surf Life Saving Club building stands proud at the head of the beach, representing the main use for Portreath beach nowadays.

A sense of family and the beach.

By the water at low tide.

Season: winter

Portreath village is tidy and well kept, with a sense of civic pride about it as you drive through. During this late December visit, many of the houses were decorated with Christmas lights, as is the tradition in Cornwall. The car park is right on the beach, with many facilities and shops easily to hand. There’s a harbour wall at Portreath, which was taking a battering during this visit.

A brief chat with Andy, walking the dog during a visit to Cornwall.

The power of the sea on Cornwall’s north coast.

Newquay

Season: spring

The harbour at Newquay resonates with history, originally featuring a medieval quay and latterly a lighthouse on the end of the harbour wall, incorporated in its whitewashed finish between 1907 and 1932. The present design of the Victorian harbour was created by Richard Lomax in 1833 and completed by JT Treffry, a mining entrepreneur. In his interview below, Newquay Harbour Master Graham Alecock-Smith explains an ongoing initiative to reconstitute the benches and viewing area that you can see at the end of the harbour in the photo here, supplied courtesy of Newquay Harbour.

Harbour Master Graham Alecock-Smith explains the plans for Newquay Harbour.

A view of the harbour and its beach from the quay.

Season: autumn

I first filmed the harbour at Newquay from above, opposite the Red Lion pub. You’re in the centre of town here, so facilities are all around you. I also remember the seagulls being the biggest I’ve ever seen in Cornwall. Newquay is a fine town to visit. This part of town is attractive, with the gigs, lifeboats, fishing boats and beach all at hand.

With fisherman Kev on the harbour wall, voicing his concerns about the quota system.

It was very tranquil down by the water in Newquay harbour.

A view of Newquay harbour from above, opposite the Red Lion pub.

Season: summer

The harbour looked fine at Newquay, with boats sheltering on a falling tide and a TV crew filming from the harbour entrance. This is a locals’ beach and there is quite an expanse of fine sand to play on, as well as the added value of the harbour’s bustle and the pleasure boats, plus the gig rowing club and the lifeboat station.

With Yvonne at the harbour in Newquay.

Looking across from the path on the far side of the harbour.

Season: winter

It was a cold, crisp morning for this winter return to Newquay harbour. Sets of clean waves rolled in and I filmed a surfer catching a wave. The harbour was busy, with boats being repaired and maintained. I also met two dog walking ladies on the beach next to the harbour.

With Heidi and Louise on the beach next to the harbour.

The Atlantic surf rolls in to Towan beach, viewed from the harbour wall.