Newquay is surrounded by beautiful scenery wherever you go. If you are looking for either beach or countryside walks Newquay has it all! 

South West Coast Path 

Newquay is on the South West Coast Path overlooking seven sandy beaches with spectacular sea view walks all along the coastline.

The coastal path follows the cliffs which border most of our beaches so in many cases you can choose to either walk the paths or on the beach. When walking on the beaches special care must be taken to know your tide times. Most of Newquay’s beaches have steps or roadways down to them but some sections in between the main beaches can be cut off by the tide - even when it is only part-way in.

The coastal path follows the cliffs and walking north of Newquay you can walk virtually uninterrupted to Padstow and beyond, passing through typical Cornish villages on your way. The coastal road between Newquay and Padstow follows the coast path fairly closely so it is a popular option to use the bus service as a way of returning from a walk or vice-versa.

Walking the South West Coast Path south of Newquay requires crossing the River Gannel Estuary. There are several bridges that can be crossed at an hour or two on either side of low tide (this varies due to tide heights) with a seasonal bridge and ferry crossing run by the Fern Pit Cafe. The seasonal crossing operates from mid-May to September and if the bridge cannot be used then they run an ‘on-demand’ pedestrian ferry.  The coastal path then continues to Holywell Bay, Perranporth and beyond.

Newquay Discovery Trail Map

Newquay town itself has two fascinating town walks marked out on the Newquay Discovery Trail Map.  There are fourteen large round stone circles embedded in the ground and each one is numbered. On the map, each number has interesting facts associated with it, either about the immediate area or landmark you can see. It’s just like having a guide with you while you walk around. One of the routes takes you mostly around the coast and the older part of Newquay including the Huer’s Hut and the historic harbour. The other route takes you through Trenance Gardens and Boating Lake and the Trenance Cottages and Tearooms.

The Newquay Discovery Trail Map is available to purchase from the Visit Newquay Tourist Information Centre, TR7 1BD. 

Walking and Hiking Books 

There are many coastal and circular walks in Cornwall and numerous books have been published covering them. Visit Newquay Tourist Information Centre stocks a wide range of these so pop in when you’re here to make the most of your stay.