A Tasty Suggestion
The Watermark Brasserie and Bar presents its patrons with the best cuisine that Cornwall has to offer fresh from the sea. The Watermark is famous for its use of local shellfish, including lobster, oyster, crab and prawns. These form the basis of the contemporary menu, which also includes dishes accompanied by sauces which are not so native to Cornwall such as salsa verde, chutneys and Thai sauces.
Attached to the Glendorgal Hotel overlooking Porth Bay, diners can enjoy their meal in a stunning setting, getting a taste of both the local dishes as well as an example of the beautiful English coastline, all from within a newly refurbished dining area that creates an atmosphere of sophistication and elegance.
The bar offers a choice of fine red, white and rose Wines as well as champagnes and cocktails. The selection includes the spicy Pinot Grigio Villa Mura to the full-bodied Bollinger Special Cuvee. Tel +44 (0) 1637 859 990 or visit www.glendorgal.co.uk
|
OCTOBER 2008: The British National Surfing Championships take place on the famous Fistral Beach. In total about 150 professional surfers take to the waves to battle it out for the title of best male,. Female and senior surfer. For more information go to www.britsurf.co.uk/
...and here are more great things to see and do in and around Newquay...
AUGUST 2008: The Rip Curl Boardmasters is Britain’s biggest lifestyle event in the year. With BMX, Surf and Skateboarding competitions held most days it attracts thousands to its beaches. Visit www.visitcornwall.com for further information.
AUGUST 2008: The Run to the Sun Festival is one of the largest VW campervan festivals in the UK. Around 10,000 turn up for the music and dance event every year at the Trevelgue Holiday Park for a weekend of fun. To find out more visit www.visitcornwall.com
DAILY: The Eden Project offers visitors the unique opportunity to experience ecosystems from around the world, all within the sites own manmade ‘Biomes’. Taking visitors an average of four hours to explore there is
plenty to see and as well the chance to discover the philosophy that underlays and
drives the Eden Project. Tel +44 (0) 1726 811 911. www.edenproject.com
Back to top
|
|
SCROLL DOWN OR CLICK ON TOP LEFT NAVIGATION LIST
A fishy festival in Newlyn
Approximately 40 minutes drive south east of Newquay there’s a great opportunity to sample local seafood in Penzance at the spectacular Newlyn Fish Festival on August 27. The event lasts only a day but there will be a large variety of seafood to purchase, cooking demonstrations, live music and, nautical displays and the traditional fish auction at 4pm in aid of retired and disabled fishermen - so grab yourself a bargain! Other events throughout the day include displays by the coastguard and a Royal Navy helicopter as well as a fishing boat competition. You can take a break from the action at the harbour by dropping in on the diverse selection of performers who will be attending the event, ranging from folk group All Folked Up to pianist Jill Abbot! +44 (0) 1736 366335 www.newlynfishfestival.org.uk
Newquay chases Cornwall's gastronomic crown
Nothing puts a town on the map as much as a celebrity name. Jamie Oliver is doing for Newquay what Rick Stein did for Padstow in the 1990’s. Fifteen Cornwall is the sweetest thing to hit the town since Cornish ice-cream, giving the town the hottest gastronomic venue in Cornwall and huge sex-appeal in one shot. Oliver’s name alone guarantees big business, the restaurant started receiving international bookings months before it opened in May.
Added to that is the reinvestment into the local economy, all profits from the restaurant go to the Cornwall Foundation of Promise, which creates career chances for disadvantaged local youngsters.
Back to top
Newquay is Cornwall’s largest and most popular year round resort with 11 excellent beaches, a spectacular coastline, top quality restaurants - Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall is the latest arrival - a vibrant surf culture and accommodation for every budget and taste. Most recently, Newquay has gained a reputation as Cornwall’s top party town with dozens of clubs and bars open well into the early hours, enticing fit, bronzed surfers and energetic holidaymakers.
For those who love water, this is the perfect spot. The Atlantic waves, warmed by the Gulf Stream, present exhilarating but safe bathing for every family member and each beach is unique, so sun-worshippers can stretch out in peace, tots can explore with shrimp nets, while at Fistral beach just up the coast, world champion surfers have their skills challenged by the Atlantic’s wave mountains.
Away from the beaches are miles of cliff top open spaces. Ramble across the acres of Pentire Head for spectacular views or stroll along the footpath by the Golf Links which leads to Towan Head, a natural promontory that shelters the town beautifully from the sharp, westerly winds in winter and makes a great spot to picnic in summer.
To explore the town of Newquay, take one of the two discovery trails, the ‘key’ to the two trails is found on the Killacourt, the Key Stone forms the starting point. The historical short trail through the town centre explains how Newquay started as a port in the 15th century, becoming extremely profitable in the 17th and 18th centuries through the export of pilchards to the Mediterranean. It went on to become a centre for clay export in the 19th century until it was overtaken by the redevelopment of Par into a modern port, and tourism took over as Newquay’s chief income source.
The myths and legends trail, a longer walk, heads north to the Barrowfields. This was traditionally a place for honouring the dead and a sacred site, it’s now used for open-air concerts and festivals and is one of the few places in the country people flock to see the total eclipse of the sun. The trail then turns east to the Gannel, a tidal river. Although no longer navigable, in the past schooners and barges plied their trade here, carrying coal, timber and sand. Come at dusk and locals claim the eyrie Gannel Crake cries out to weary travellers.
Just three miles from Newquay is Terice, a sumptuous Elizabethan manor with exquisite lawns and gardens, family activities, tea rooms and plant sales. Or take a family trip to Newquay Zoo, Blue Reef Aquarium, Lappa Valley Steam Railway, Trenance Gardens or the Cornish Cyder Farm. The area’s crammed with things to do. And for a town with a population of only 22,000, Newquay’s attractions cater magnificently for all of its 1.4 million visitors. What’s more, it has a buzz and energy that takes it seamlessly from a small historic trading port to a thriving 21st century tourist resort with as much style and vibrancy as its famous Atlantic rollers.
Back to top
With its long Atlantic breakers, surging over the golden sand, it’s tempting to simply spend endless days on the beach whether you’re a novice kid on a little body-board or a Hawaiian expert on a Malibu surf board. But if you fancy a break from the waves, there’s plenty to do.
Within a mile of Newquay centre is the Trenance valley and gardens. These formal gardens are criss-crossed by rustic bridges hanging over streams. Hire a boat and spend the morning rowing gently up the Gannel estuary, a haven for wildlife and float past the three bizarre five-foot high Newquay Willow Men sculptures and alongside the gardens, which overflow with exotic trees and plants. Then take an amble past the historic Heritage Cottages, built on the side of an old malt house, dating back to the 18th century.
For lunch, visit a local inn or relax at a bar overlooking the ocean, and watch surfers catching the waves while you feast on the freshest catch of the day. If you’re visiting in summer, there’s always plenty happening at the harbour from Pilot gigs to sailing boat races, North and South quays provide ample seating. If the tide’s in, you’ll find fishing boats landing their catch of crabs and lobsters and if you fancy an hour’s boating trip around the bay, hop on-board, there’s no need to book. If you’re in luck, you might catch some mackerel and on your return be greeted by local seals croaking for food. Then indulge in one of Cornwall’s famous clotted cream teas at a pretty Newquay tea-room.
For a quiet, village atmosphere in the evening and to walk off that cream tea, take a two-mile stroll to Porth, for a relaxing meal, but if you want to party, stay in town and dine at one of the many bars or bistros and then hit the dance floor to burn off the calories.
Back to top
|
|
Whether you’re after budget accommodation, a bright, airy suite with sea views or a surf lodge, Newquay offers bags of choice. Flybehotels offers the Great Western, Victoria – both overlooking Great Western Beach - Barrowfield and Glendorgal. Visit www.flybehotels.com
Surfers: For surfers who want more than a basic bunk, The Boarding House (+44 (0) 1637 873 258) is positioned a mere 50 metres from Fistral Beach.
Hugely popular, it’s kitted out with trendy wooden floors, a funky café-bar and large sundeck, but book ahead. Watergate Bay Hotel is owned by Extreme Academy, one of the top surf schools in town, making it ideal if you’ve booked for one of their courses.
If you’re after a ‘surf and de-stress package’, book into the Lusty Glaze Adventure Centre, master the art of surfing and then enjoy a massage and chilled champagne.
For something more traditional, check out the Headland Hotel ( +44 (0) 1637 872 21) an enormous Victorian edifice perched above Fistral Beach. Or try the Windward Hotel, for a modern, easy-going atmosphere and great sea views.
www.theboardinghouse.co.uk
www.extremeacademy.co.uk
www.lustyglazebeach.com
www.headlandhotel.co.uk
www.windwardhotel.co.uk
Back to top
By road: Newquay Airport (+44 (0) 1637 860 600) is just seven miles from the town centre. Take A30 and follow signs to Newquay. www.newquay-airport.co.uk
By bus: Westerngreyhound, tel: +44 (0) 1637 871 871, offers a regular bus service to the airport. Take bus 556 which runs from Newquay to Padstow via the airport on a coastal route. Truronian Buses operates bus T10 from Newquay to the Eden Project which also runs via the airport. Summercourt Travel operates a bus and taxi service to the airport, tel: 01726 861 108. For detailed information contact Travel line tel: +44 (0) 870 608 2 608.
By taxi: A B Hire, tel: +44 (0) 1637 874449 or 0800 169 3240. A C Taxis, tel: +44 (0) 1637 853936/+44 (0) 7968 740155. 123 Associated Taxis, tel: +44 (0) 1637 851234, charges £10 from Newquay to airport.
Car Hire: Contact Flybe’s car rental partner Avis for best available car hire rates.
www.flybe.com/avis
Back to top
Westerngreyhound, tel: +44 (0) 1637 871 871, operates a good service around Newquay and along the coastline to the beaches. The company also operates bus routes to Padstow, St Ives and Truro. And there are plenty of local taxi services (see above). www.westerngreyhound.com
Back to top
Newquay’s mix of wonderful weather during the summer and location on the coast make it an ideal destination for water sports enthusiasts.
Surfing: Newquay is well known for its surf culture and the city caters for those who want to learn through to seasoned pros. There are various schools and trainers who are willing to teach anyone from the age of eight upwards. 121 Surf Coach offers personal training for individuals and small groups, customising each lesson to each of their clients. Free Spirit English Surfing Federation Surf School provides equipment and training for those that want learn how to surf and bodyboard. Training takes place just off Fistral beach allowing beginners to start out on easy waves and gradually make the transition to more challenging waters.
121 Surf Coach +44 (0) 1637 876 765
Free Spirit English Surfing Federation Surf School Tel +44 (0) 1637 879 571
Outdoor pursuits: The coastline offers as much to do out of the water as in it. The Adventure Centre at Lusty Glaze owns it own private beach where the surrounding cliffs are used for abseiling, coasteering and zip wire rides. The centre also has its own activities such as Snakes and Ladders, essentially a vertical obstacle course as well as more traditional climbs for beginners. To relax after a day of activities the centre also offers massages ranging from head, chest, scalp or Indian head massages to full body massages.
The Adventure Centre at Lusty Glaze. Tel +44 (0) 1637 872 444 or +44 (0) 1637 878 718
Helicopter flights: British International offers visitors a unique experience. They operate flights to the Isle of Scilly and also scenic flight along the coastline, providing unprecedented views of the awe-inspiring scenery. Flights are available six days a week and last 20 minutes.
Family activities: The Blue Reef Aquarium is one of the UK’s leading aquariums, with regular feeding displays and over 40 recreated natural environments. A pushchair friendly layout means that getting around isn’t a hassle and that the aquarium if accessible to all members of your family. During the summer holidays extra activities such as face painting are available as well as an outdoor play and picnic area. Children can get a hands-on experience at the Rock Pool encounter and eye to eye with Otto the giant Pacific octopus! Tel +44 (0) 1637 878 134
Leisure Parks: The Oasis Fun Pools are packed with slides and flumes. With both indoor and outdoor pools the weather won’t prevent you from having a fun day out as a family. All ages are catered for, with a toddler’s area with its own slide, while older children have access to three flumes as well as fountains and a water cannon and for those who want to relax, Oasis also has an indoor air lounger. Oasis Fun Pools +44 (0) 1637 875 778
Skating: Wooden Waves skate park is open to those who have brought their skateboards and bmx’s with them. Safety gear and puncture repair kits are available on site but adverse weather may cause the park to be closed. Wooden Waves +44 (0) 1637 878 388
Back to top
Unsurprisingly, tourism is the town’s major employer, the town’s 22,000 population is dwarfed during the peak summer season when some 1.4 million visitors arrive. Newquay is a vibrant town, quite literally riding on a tourism wave. Successful surf schools are snapping up properties, moving into the hospitality industry via hotels, restaurants and, increasingly, spa-inspired holidays. And the desire for adrenaline-fuelled activities has only boosted the field of extreme sports, where there are now more packages than ever before to get wet (kitesurfing, wakeboarding, caving, white-water rafting), get high (high ropes, hang- and para-gliding, helicopter flights, ballooning) or go faster (tank driving, quad biking, mountain boarding, land yachting, zorbing), all of which is bringing bulging wallets into the local economy.
For more information on local businesses www.startinbusiness.co.uk
www.north-cornwall.co.uk
Back to top |
Beaches: For detailed information on all 11 beaches visit visitcornwall.com. Best surfing beaches are Perranporth, Fistral, Porthtowan, Polzeath, Porthmeor and Widemouth Sand. Plenty of surf schools offer courses, from an hour’s introduction for £10 to full-on, adrenalin-pumping residential stays complete with spas and gourmet food. Visit itsadventuresouthwest.co.uk for a list of sports, such as kitesurfing, coasteering, wakeboarding etc, or Newquay Tourist Information Centre (+44 (0) 1637 854020).
www.newquay.co.uk
www.visitcornwall.com
www.itsadventuresouthwest.co.uk
Newquay Zoo: Tel: +44 (0) 1637 873 342. Open everyday except Christmas Day with plenty of events throughout the year. Hundreds of animals here in sub-tropical lakeside gardens including monkeys, red pandas, meerkats, penguins and lions. www.newquayzoo.org.uk
Blue Reef Aquarium: Tel: +44 (0) 1637 878 134, info@bluereefaquarium.co.uk. Open daily from 10am at Towan Beach. Over 30 living displays with talks, feeding demonstrations, coral reef and spectacular underwater tunnel. www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk
Trerice: Tel: +44 (0) 1637 875 404. National Trust Elizabethan manor house with impressive interiors and gardens. Magnificent Great Chamber with barrel ceiling and new for 2006, the experimental Tudor plant beds in the formal gardens. Family activities include brass rubbing, Cornish skittles, and various events staged throughout the year.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Lappa Valley Steam Railway: Tel: +44 (0) 1872 510 317. Three miles of railway, boating lake and crazy golf in huge wooded valley. www.lappavalley.co.uk
World in Miniature: Tel: +44 (0) 870 458 4433. A small world for youngsters with enchanting gardens and Jurassic adventure world.
Cornish Cyder Farm: Tel: +44 (0) 1872 573 356. Free entry and tastings, tractor rides, guided tours, restaurant and farm shop.
Holywell Bay Fun Park: Tel: +44 (0) 1637 830 095. Go Karts, battle boats, climbing wall, plenty of activities for energetic youths.
Back to top
Trerice Manor: Just three miles southeast of Newquay is the enchanting Elizabethan Trerice manor, bus 50 runs here several times a day in summer. In contrast to the modern pace of life in town, Trerice offers a tranquil and evocative escape with its elaborate fireplaces and ceilings, bowling green lawns and elaborate gardens.
Eden Project: If you’re a fan of gardens, you cannot possibly fly to Newquay and not take the bus to the Eden Project Cornwall’s cause célèbre. The enormous three biomes were created from the dust of an abandoned china clay pit near St Austell in 2000. They comprise the largest greenhouses in the world and the project has become one of the UK’s greatest tourism success stories. Three environments have been created - tropical, temperate and desert - and inside each, flora and fauna from around the globe have been planted across a total area of about 30 football pitches. Throughout the year are a number of themes, such as bulb mania, jungle nights and ‘A Time for Gifts’ based around a gigantic covered ice rink.
Lost Gardens of Heligan: While you’re in the area, the Lost Gardens of Heligan are also well worth a visit. Tim Smit, the entrepreneur behind the Eden Project, started rediscovering the gardens in 1991, once considered to be one of Britain’s finest Victorian gardens. A dedicated team of gardeners and volunteers are helping to restore them to their former glory. Today you can admire formal terraces, flower gardens, a working kitchen garden and an amazing jungle walk through the ‘Lost Valley’.
Padstow: Just up the coast from Newquay is Padstow, a wonderful fishing village with picture-postcard harbour and pretty stone cottages. Often referred to as Pad-stein because of the overwhelming influence of resident Rick Stein, it was known as the gourmet capital of Cornwall, until Jamie Oliver’s arrival in Newquay. If you haven’t booked at the Seafood Restaurant, try Rick Stein’s Café or Stein’s Fish & Chips.
Prideaux Place: Looking over the village is Prideaux Place, an extravagant manor house built in 1592 by the Prideaux-Brune family who still live here. It may well be familiar, it’s been the setting for numerous films and TV dramas.
Bodmin Moor: About 30 minutes drive from Newquay is Bodmin Moor, the haunt of the ‘beast of bodmin’ a large, wild cat-like creature that has reportedly been frequently sighted for years. Bodmin Jail houses an exhibition of 18th century life including some gruesome but fascinating tales. Jamaica Inn sits out on the desolate moor, near Bolventor, made famous by Daphne du Maurier’s novel of the same name. Inside is a small smuggling room and an area devoted to du Maurier.
Back to top
For a town of its size, Newquay has masses of nightlife. It rocks.
The Barracuda ( +44 (0) 1637 875 800) boasts a colossal bar with a South African twist, serves food from 10am to 2am and features giant plasma screens and can take up to 1200 clubbers. www.barracudanewquay.com
The Beach (+44 (0) 1637 872 194) is open every night, located in the heart of the town’s nightlife with four bars on four floors. www.beachclubnewquay.co.uk
Berties Club ( +44 (0) 1637 872 255) is Cornwall’s biggest nightclub with two clubs under one roof and a huge music mix from hip-hop to R&B. www.bertiesclub.com
Or try Red Square (+44 (0) 1637 878 823) and dine alfresco before heading on to the Surf Rock Nightclub.
Back to top
Prince Charles’ next ideal model village is expected to be sited in Newquay and an estimated 850 homes may be added to the market. The scheme aims to keep with the area’s traditional building style and have a minimal environmental impact.
The Newquay area has excellent links with the A30 providing good access to the rest of the West Country and other regions in the UK.
Newquay falls into the type 10 category on the ACORN scale meaning that its residents are most likely to be well off, educated commuters.
As one of the most popular resorts for surfing and watersports, house prices in Newquay are considerably higher than some other parts of Cornwall. Expect to pay at least £100,000 for a one-bed flat with good access to the beach. A two bed retirement flat is around £120,000, but if you’re willing to move further out towards Bodmin, you can track down houses for about £85,000. But, as with most of the UK, any property with good access to the coast is double the price of its inland counterpart. Visit www.britinfo.net for property prices
Back to top
|
|
Aside from pulling in botanists, horticulturalists and plain old gardeners, the Eden Project has been the venue for some of the best pop and rock gigs in the UK. Since 2002 the likes of Amy Winehouse, Pulp, Moby, The Doves, Supergrass, Air and former Beach Boy, Brian Wilson, have performed in the shadow of the biomes, spectacularly lit by night. It’s also been the setting for the WOMAD World Music Festival.
In a masterstroke, the Eden Project has pulled off a piece of marketing magic - simultaneously attracting the youngest and hippest and the greatest and wisest. And you can’t get a broader visitor mix than that.
Back to top
|
|
