Watergate Bay

A vast two-mile stretch of sand north of Newquay, home to surf and watersports schools and beachfront hotels - one of Cornwall's biggest surf beaches.

Beach & safety

Water quality: Excellent

Lifeguard: Summer (RNLI seasonal patrol)

Hazards: Strong rip currents; Powerful shore break; Fast-incoming tide across the flat sand

Amenities: Large car park · Cafes/restaurants · Toilets · Surf/watersports schools · Extreme Academy

Dogs

Unofficial source: View the supporting source →Not an authority; check current signage.

Family

Huge expanse of flat sand is great for families, kite-flying and land yachting.

Fishing

Watergate is a classic open surf beach. Bass patrol white-water gutters after manageable onshore conditions; dogfish and small-eyed ray use the clean sand after dark; turbot and flatfish are possible in calmer spells; winter brings whiting, and summer bait fish can draw mackerel, scad and garfish close.

Species reported: Bass, Lesser-spotted dogfish and small-eyed ray, Turbot and flatfish, Whiting, Mackerel, scad and garfish

Crabbing

unknown — No stable family line-crabbing edge was verified on the open surf beach.

Access & parking

Level path/ramp from the large clifftop car park onto the beach Sat-nav: TR8 4AA. Get directions →