Category Archives: North Cornwall

Watergate Bay

Season: summer

Brilliant sunshine greeted me for this summer visit. As high tide approached, the Atlantic breakers rolled in relentlessly and timelessly, with clean sets for everyone to enjoy. The beach was packed, so the scene-setting film was taken on the cliffs above, where I met John, who added an international perspective to the appeal of Cornwall’s beaches.

John’s attraction to the beach.

Looking down at Watergate Bay on a summer evening.

Season: winter

People milled about at low tide during this visit. It was a mild, blowy weekend scene, with a bright white concentration of surf pounding onto the flat, glistening beach. As often happens here, there was a misty atmosphere as you looked towards Newquay. Extensive debris from cliff falls was strewn at the back of the beach. This beach is wild and has a primeval feel, backed by towering, imposing cliffs. Great care is needed on a rising tide, such as on this occasion.

A tonic from work and a place to call home for Ian and Lesley.

The wild beauty of Watergate Bay in the winter.

Season: autumn

My visit here was a special early morning treat, as the sun came up on a falling tide, showing the flat beach with a brilliant glassy finish. Imposing cliffs as a backdrop give a sense of foreboding, a perfect counterpoint to the violent seas crashing in to one of Cornwall’s most dangerous and exhilarating beaches. There has been extensive up-market and sensitive tourist development based around the Watergate Bay Hotel and up the valley over recent years, so if you have deep pockets you will be well catered for. The beach however will always be there for everyone to enjoy.

A quick look at the power of the north coast waves, which have eroded the cliffs at Watergate Bay.

Porthilly Cove

Season: autumn

There was another low tide at Porthilly for this visit. The weekend sun played across the beach and the bagged-up oysters, ready for collection. A couple were digging for lugworms and some people were working on their beached Cornish Shrimpers. My slightly elevated vantage point in the churchyard brought the whole vista into focus as I looked across the River Camel to Padstow and along to Rock.

Kay’s harmonious relationship with the rhythms of the beach.

A spin round Porthilly Cove at low tide.

Season: summer

A low tide at Porthilly Cove gave access to the leisure yachts and dinghies that were scattered across the River Camel on their moorings, including Pityme’s own Cornish Shrimpers. It felt almost possible to walk or wade across to Padstow on the other side of the river.

With Ann and her dog.

What one beachgoer likes about the beach.

Porthilly Cove on a low tide.

Season: winter

Porthilly Cove and its beach are tucked around a corner from Rock, on the Camel Estuary in North Cornwall, looking across to Padstow. You can park on the road near the beach and walk down a short lane to the beach. It was just past high tide for this visit, but you could still see the small church next to the beach. There is an art gallery in the adjacent hamlet of Porthilly.

My chat with Peter, the proprietor at Cornish Crabbers at Porthilly. I was able to look around the vibrant manufacturing site, where a new twelve foot entry level dinghy was being developed alongside the existing popular Shrimper and Crabber ranges.

I chatted to Tim, the proprietor at Rock Shellfish. Located right on Porthilly Cove, they harvest oysters from the Camel Estuary and carry them over Porthilly beach.

Tolcarne beach

Season: summer

There was bright sunshine over Tolcarne beach at the start of the day during this summer visit. The immaculate beach was being decorated with temporary sports courts as the sand glistened under an ebb tide. Newquay Harbour, the Atlantic Hotel and Towan Head were clearly in view as I looked out from this fine town beach.

Pam’s and Bill’s testimony to Tolcarne beach.

By the water at Tolcarne beach.

Season: spring

The sea was an hour or so short of high tide on this occasion, so there was still some space between the water and the beach huts. This town beach has outstanding views across to Towan Head and Newquay harbour, plus it’s flat, sheltered and safe for bathing and surfing. You’ve got all you need here, plus you can easily get into Newquay.

Pepe sums up the appeal of the beach to him.

Tolcarne beach in Newquay, as seen from halfway down the steps.

Season: winter

It was a bright, cold February morning for this return to Tolcarne beach. To some extent defined by what you can see from it, the beach nevertheless feels tranquil and welcoming in its own right. On this occasion some students were on their way to take an exam in a building by the beach.

A view from Tolcarne beach in Newquay.

Season: autumn

Tolcarne is the least publicised of the Newquay beaches, perhaps because of the steep steps by which the beach is accessed from above on all but a low tide. As a result, some locals use the beach for bass fishing, guaranteed peace and quiet at this time of the year. I like the views across to the harbour at Newquay and further on to the Huer’s Hut and the old lifeboat house. Facilities vary through the seasons, but are full on in the summer.

A chat with a bass fisherman, enjoying the tranquility here at Tolcarne early in the morning.

A great view across the bay to Towan Head on a sunny morning, as seen from the water’s edge.

Another view, this time looking down on Tolcarne beach.

Tintagel

Season: summer

It was wet and mild at Tintagel for this visit, but the sun eventually broke through. Recent heavy rain had swelled the waterfall and the receding tide enabled access to Merlin’s Cave. The beach was busy with European and Japanese visitors, enthralled by Sir Thomas Malory’s interpretation of the King Arthur legend. The practicality of the Haven, as Castle Cove is known, was clear to see from a shipping perspective, as it lies in the lea of the prevailing south westerly winds and has a convenient loading area, protected by a wall for deep-drafted vessels.

With Lauren on Castle beach, Tintagel, as she explains what the beach means to her.

Norwegian Geid endorses the calming effect of the beach.

Inside Merlin’s Cave, a sea tunnel under the island, as the tide starts to fall back.

On Castle beach in the rain.