Fistral North
National iconThe northern half of Fistral Beach at Newquay, the best-known surf beach in the country, with a wide sweep of sand and reliable Atlantic swell
Fistral is the surf beach most people in Britain have heard of, a broad west-facing sweep of sand on the edge of Newquay in Cornwall. Swell rolls straight in off the Atlantic, so the waves are consistent and powerful and there’s a permanent crowd of surfers; this northern end runs up towards the headland, with Fistral South at the far end of the bay. Big surfing contests are held here most years.
Even if you don’t surf it’s a fine beach to walk, with clean sand at low tide and water rated Excellent for quality. The dunes and the South West Coast Path run behind it, and the sheltered town beaches like Towan are only a few minutes away on the other side of Newquay if you want calmer water for a paddle.
Because Fistral faces the open ocean, the surf and rip currents can be strong, and it’s not a gentle paddling beach. RNLI lifeguards patrol in the main season and mark a supervised area with flags, so swimming between those flags and checking the conditions before you go in is the sensible plan. Parking and surf hire are up behind the beach.
