Newquay (a surfing town on Cornwall’s Atlantic coast)

Fistral, Whistlefish

Newquay is England’s capital for sustainable surfing, with over 11 sandy beaches and a summer population that swells to 100,000 (the local population is just 20,000) as people come to ride the waves.

Always follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. Keep dogs away from steep banks, mushrooms (and toxic plants/trees) and on leads near birds, barnyard friends and wild ponies.

At the coast, keep away from nesting birds and never walk on sand dunes. Learn how to keep dogs safe by the seaside (check beach bans before travel).

Fistral Beach (home to Surfers against Sewage)

The charity Surfers against Sewage (which campaigns for cleaner beach waters and better sewage treatment) was founded on this beach, a suburb of Newquay. Known for its powerful Atlantic swells and 30ft waves, the treacherous currents and waves make it difficult for ships to land.

The Victorian hotel that overlooks the beach from a cliff, was built in 1900.

Created to make ships safe

In the 15th century, Newquay was a small village called Towan (the harbour name translated as ‘blown dunes’. The wind and sand made it a problem to land ships, to funds were raised to build the present harbour.

A rich smuggling history

The town contains ancient hidden caves, which were used to hide smuggled goods, back in the day. If you like the band Hue & Cry, know their name is from the old legal term for witnesses to alert to a crime being committed (in this case smuggling in Newquay from the 14th century Huer’s Hut).

Mankinis are banned!

Newquay became the first place in England, where mankinis (male bikinis!) were banned. The law was brought into effect in 1990, to improve the town’s image. If you wear one, you’ll be sent back home by the police, to change!

Newquay has a lot of young people, and this means rowdy hen and stag parties (and ‘nights out for surfers’) with fancy dress costumes are often the norm. Hence mankinis were popular here, before the ban!