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Beach Accessibility
Newquay has many sandy beaches with differing levels of access. The following is intended to assist in your decision on accessing a beach. In many cases beaches can be accessed on the sand from the adjacent beach. However, most beaches are cut off from adjacent beaches at high tide (or even partial high tide) so please be aware of the tide times. Tide Timetables are available at Newquay Tourist Information Centre. Please note this information is for guidance only.
Wheelchairs suitable for use on beaches.
Currently, Fistral Beach, Towan Beach and the Harbour Beach are offering this service: MORE DETAILS
Mobility Scooters & Powered Wheelchairs
It is not advised to used Mobility Scooters or Powered Wheelchairs on our beaches. All our beaches are of a fine sand and this surface is entirely unsuitable for standard Mobility Scooters or Powered Wheelchairs. Whether the sand is wet or dry you will likely get stuck and the powdery sand can damage and clog up the mechanics of powered mobility vehicles. All our beaches are tidal and the entire beach can be covered by the sea at very high tides.
Overview of accessibility for Newquay beaches
Fistral Beach. (¾ mile / 1 km from town centre)
One of Newquay’s main surfing beaches. Bordered by dunes, with some access from the Fistral Beach Complex.
Access : Fair, via a shallow slope & dunes
Parking : Within 50 Metres (55 yards)
Dogs : All dogs allowed, all year
Bus : No nearby bus stop
Cafe : Within 50 Metres (55 yards)
Newquay Harbour Beach (Central Newquay)
Newquay Harbour and beach is surrounded by cliffs, with a very steep roadway and steps down to the beach and harbour. The steep roadway can be difficult for those in wheelchairs and those with limited mobility. The steep slope is also unsuitable for some low-powered Mobility Scooters. There is some parking available, including 2 disabled places. These cannot be reserved and availability cannot be guaranteed. No beach wheelchairs are available.
Access : Fair to Poor, via a steep slope or many steps
Parking : 2 disabled parking spaces normally available
Dogs : All dogs allowed, all year
Bus : No nearby bus stop
Café/Restaurant : On the beach, down at the harbour.
Towan Beach (Central Newquay)
Our town centre beach, with a fairly shallow roadway slope down to the beach.
Access : Fair, via a shallow slope
Parking : Pre-arranged disabled parking only. Next to beach and within 20 Metres (22 yards)
Dogs : All dogs allowed, all year
Bus : No nearby bus stop
Café/Restaurant : By the beach.
Great Western Beach (Central Newquay)
Close to the town centre, with a fairly steep roadway slope down with no steps
Access : Via a fairly steep roadway
Parking : Very limited private Parking
Dogs : All dogs allowed, all year
Bus : Bus stop with 50 metres at the top of the cliffs
Cafe : Seasonal
Tolcarne Beach (Central Newquay)
A central beach, surrounded by steep cliffs. This is privately owned, but with public access, beach chalets, a restaurant complex and a hotel. There are also steep steps and no beach wheelchair hire.
Access : Fair, via a steep roadway or steep steps.
Parking : Private parking (rules apply) next to beach
Dogs : Dog ban Easter to Oct. Dog walkers can pass by the beach at the waterline during these times. Guide dogs, Hearing dogs and other assistance dogs allowed
Bus : Only at the top of the cliffs
Cafe : Next to the Beach
Lusty Glaze Beach. (¾ miles / 1 Km from town centre)
Lusty Glaze beach is a privately owned beach. It is currently not open to the public most of the time. It is only accessed by extremely steep steps or surrounding beaches at low tide.
Access : None. Via steep steps only or adjacent beach at very low tide
Parking : At the top of the cliffs
Dogs : Dogs on leads all year. Guide dogs, Hearing dogs and other assistance dogs allowed
Bus : No nearby bus stop
Cafe : Next to the Beach
Porth Beach. (2 miles / 3 km from Newquay) with a Car park on the beach
Another large, expansive beach without cliffs on the road side. The car park on the beach at the South end is currently closed until further notice. There is a larger car park over the road at the other end of the beach.
Access : Very good, via a shallow slope or parking on the beach (South End).
Parking : Currently, (Jan 2023) the Car Park on the beach is not open until further notice.
Dogs : Seasonal dog restrictions: 1 July – 31 August, 10am - 6pm. Guide dogs, Hearing dogs and other assistance dogs allowed
Bus : Bus stop at North end but not South end where the beach parking is.
Cafe : Within 50 Metres (55 yards)
Watergate Bay. (4 miles / 6 km from Newquay)
A very long beach with fairly good access via a slope at the Beach Complex near the centre. The beach has steep cliffs at each end.
Access : Fair. Via a steep roadway or steps
Parking : Next to Beach
Dogs : Dogs allowed all year
Bus : At the top of cliff
Cafe : Within 50 Metres (55 yards)
Crantock Bay & the Gannel. (2.5 miles/ 4km from Newquay)
Another large, expansive, beach 2.5 miles (4km) from Newquay town centre. It has a small car park with the main access to the beach over steep sand dunes from the car park. There is no access for wheelchairs and very poor mobility access. The Gannel river flows into the sea via Crantock beach and is also an estuary. This has no accessibility.
Access : Poor, via a steep dune slope
Parking : Within 50 Metres (55 yards)
Dogs : Dogs allowed all year
Bus : No nearby bus stop
Cafe : Within 200 Metres (300 yards)
Please note the information regarding our beaches and the level of access (which is subjective) is for guidance only. Private businesses opening times and availability are subject to change without notice. Restrictions due to rock falls, weather conditions etc may change the level of access. Bus stops are no guarantee of an operating bus service (particularly during the winter) so please check routes and times.
Last updated 26/01/24
