WHY NEWQUAY - Newquay Bed and Breakfast

For over one hundred years Cornwall's favourite holiday destination has welcomed visitors to the splendour of its coastline, glorious beaches and magnificent vistas.

While these natural attractions have remained constant, Newquay has always responded to the expectations of its visitors and now this bold and beautiful resort, loved by so many over the years, is being transformed big time.

You cannot fail to notice that alongside the old favourites there's a new wave of accommodation already being constructed and in the future the town centre can look forward to a complete revamp whn cutting edge facilities so right for the 21st century will be created.

Although the thought od losing the face of an old friend may be of conern to some, be assured the fundamental appeal of Newquay will remain the same.

The opportunities for the young and young at heart to enjoy the natural environment and the wealth of entertainment and leisure activites, right on their holiday doorstep, will never be lost.

The miles of golden sand, washed twuice daily by the Atlantic, are playground for all. Rock pools brimming with weird sea creatures and wonderful plant life will enthral the children, while the crystal clear waters will delight the adults. Kick off your shoes, shed your socks and feel the magic of the atlantic ocean work as you walk through the gently lapping waves or give in toi the temptation of swimming in the sea or enjoy the fun or challenging activites available in this all-embracing resort - in, or on or under the waves.

On dry land there are hundreds of acres of public spaces, fantastic cliff tops and sub-tropical gardens to explore. Visit the town's harbour where the walls provide stunning views of Newquay and make an excellent vantage point to watch local pilot gig crews race or practice.

For those who wish to party, Newquay is in a class of its own but, by contrast, the more sedate visitor might prefer a turn around the transquil gardens of Trenance Leisure Park, followed by a traditiional Cornish cream tea or lunch/dinner by the lake.

Newquay Harbour, a peaceful haven and the town's best-kep secret, nestles under the cliffs where it's sheltered from the prevailing westerly wind. This picturesque port also gave the twon its name when, in 1439 premission was givem to improve a natural; cove in the settlement known as Towan Blystra by the builkding of a new quay. Today it remains a busy anchorage with a small fishing fleet which works alongside skippers offering leisure trips, heart pumping powerboat trips, or, for those seeking a gentler experience, a pleasure boat ride around Newquay's beautiful bay. A specialist dive boat is alo available for scuba enthusiasts.

The North and South Quays offer plenty of seating to relax and watch harbour life. From the walls the views are stunning and they are an excellent vantage point to watch the pilot gigs race or crews practice every evening bar Saturaday. You may also be lucky enough to spot one or more dolphins that can appear at anytime of year.

Grey seals are regular visitors to the harbour and always keen to share the fishermans catch.

The public slipway is available for visiting crafts. details of weather and tidal conditions are available from the Harbour Master's Office - 01637 872809 - together with charges for launching and trailer parking. Jet skiing is banned all along the North Cornwall coast.

There's a long stay car park but, because the area can be very busy, arrive early to find a space, especailly in high season. If you walk down to the harbour, the spectular views will take your mind off the return up the steep ascent.

If the bustle of the town centre gets too much, head inland to Trenance Valley where a floral oasis awaits you in Trenance Gardens. This attractive garden offers a relaxing and sheltered are with a display of sub-tropical plants and quaint rustic bridges over streams running into the boating lake. This pleasibng peaceful location where you can stroll around the two lakes, criss-crossing the streams that feed them, until you find that perfect spot, to sit and quietly contemplate. If you are lucky enough to be there when the roses are at their most fragrant, then that's a real bonus.

Although the gardens are tranquel there's the opportunity for some family fun on the water too. Free entretainment is often provided by the resident wildlife but, if you are kind enough to feed them, please remember they do not flourish on a diet consisting solely of white bread.

Trenance cottages iconic symbols of Newquay's heritage, can be found justr across the road almost within the shadow of the magnifiicent viaduct.

These lovely old buildings are being sympathetically restored under the stewardship of Tranace Coattges Community interest company to provide inetrest for visitors ansd the local community.

For those that are interested in nature at its most natural head to the Gannel Estuary - a very special conversation area, teeming with wildlife. Please be aware of its ecological sensitivity and be respectful. The river is tidal and a dangerous place to swim or wade and you need to avoid high tide in order to walk right around the estuary. During the summer a passenger ferry will take you across to the Crantock side from the Fernpit Cafe in Riverside Crescent.

Shifting sands and mud and changes in salinity make the Gannel a hosdtile placefor all but a few specialised plants. There are several area of salt marsh on both sides of the main river channel and at Penpol Creek includingh pioneer communities with only a sparse covering of green algae as well as well developed vegetation. During the pring these areas are alive with fragrant survy grass, thrift sea aster and sea purslane from painted edges to the channels of mud where the wading birds feed on shellfish worms and crabs. Towards the sea on Penrtire Point cliff vegetaion takes over and spring squill, kidney vetch and wild carrot provide displays of colour.

Up to 5000 birds have been recorded here sheltering from harsh, northern winters including dunlin, ringed polvers, redshank, whimbrel, grey plover, greenshank, godwits, curlew, widgeon and teal. The different bill shapes and lengths allow the different waders to feed on their own particular favourite animal living in the soft mud.

There is much historical interest on the Gannel with evidence of mans occupation from the bron ze Age to the present day. At Tretheltan Farm a Bronze Age village once existed that has revealed much information on life at that time whilst overlying the site was na uiron age burial ground that also provided many interesting finds. Also at Trethallan a lead mine operated until about 1860 whilst on the southern shore there was alead and silver smelting works. Iron ore from the Great Perran Iron Lode was brouyght to the Gannel for shipment to Wales whilst Welsh - for the truro smelting works was unshipped at Trevemper and Penpol. The old packhorse bridge still exits at Trevemper, the tidal limit of the setiary, having been rebuilt with one arch in the last century. Reeds Boatyard The old boatyard area of Tregunnel is nowa delightfu;l spot to stop a while and enjoy the view. In the 1800's you would have seen ships of up to 250 tons being built there, lauyncheds took place in the evening on a spring tide and were great events locally. Toiday smaller boats are still moored and repaired in the area. Penpol Creek was once known as the Port of Truro, good were brough into the Ganel and taken up the track leading from the by cart or packhorse, remains of the quay are easily visible as are the remains of a lime kiln where limestopne was unloaded and burnt before being psread on the land to improve soil quality. Today the Creek provides a home for wildlife - great spotted woodpecjkers and can be 'drumming' in the spring, whilst in recent years has seen the graceful little egret, a large whirte wading bird from the continent feeding here at low tide. Treingy Round is an iron age round surrouneded by earth banks and ditches. Crantock is a delightful old village with a fasinationg church, great beach and sand dune system. Takes its name from St Carantoc or caratocus a welsh or irish bishop who studied under St Patrick the village dates back to 460 AD when a group of irish hermits founbded an oratory there. The Gennal Crake is the name given to a terrioble sound heard on the Gannel at different times of the day and the night. Some say the call of a vizen or perhaps an unusual bird whil others say it is the cry of 'atortured human soul'. A man said to have heard it in the 1800's said 'it was like nothing on earth, like a thousand voices pent up in misery, with one long dying away in the distance' Who knows what this strange phenomenon could be.

There are numerous walks to be enjoyed around the estuary including the two circular walks. Follow the way martked routes as some paths are permissive and exist only through the goodwill of the landowning community. A delightful day out is a walk around the setuary to Crantock where a cream, tea provides a welcome refreshment. For horse riders there are rides daily from Tranance stables that use the bridle ways and in the parts of the foreshore. try to avoid riding on areas of the vulnerable salt marsh as it takes many years to re-establisgh if badly churched up.

Almost all of Newquay's spectacular beaches are within walking distance of the Croft Newquay b & b hotel and the town centre. This is useful because, although there are many car parks there never seems to be enough spaces to go around. However, if you leave your car at The Croft Newquay B & B car park you need never worry about finding a car parking space, just leave your car and venture by foot or jump on the Surf Train - see places to visit. But if you must drive either arrive early or use an in-town car park. At Tregunnel Hill there is a long-stay car park and you can walk or get a bus to the beaches. However, if you stay at The Croft Newquay B & B hotel you don't have this worry.

The beaches around Newquay and the Atlantic Coast of Cornwall are simnply the finest in western Europe, some would argue, the world. That specvial combination of crystal clear Gulf Steream waters and pale sand gives ther local beaches a 'tropical' quality - usually only glimpsed within the pages of exotic travel brochures. Standing on the cliffs overlooking any one of the many beaches and sand dunes wheere the distance stays out of reach; intimate secluded beaches known only to a few locals; psarkling rock pools - the stuff opf childhood memories; beaches where wet-wuited surfers gather like seals above the breakers; shimmering sun-bleached beaches. accessible family beaches with ice cream and sand castles, secret beaches approachable only by the sea and wind swept winter beaches guranteed to clear away any cobwebs.

Newquay's excellent beaches have played a major role in establishing the town as Cornwall's largest holiday resort. The quality of surfing due to the westerly aspect of Fistral beach has ensured that Newquay ha sbecome the home of the UK's durfing scene. All of Newquay's beaches (Lusty Glaze, Tolcarne, Great Western, Towan, Harbour and Fistral) are within easy access of the town's central car parks and close to Tghe Croft Newquay b & B hote on Mouont Wise This guide to the beaches will help you find the right beach for your holiday, whether it is a secluded cove to relax in, or a safe family beach or just a beach you would like to surf on.

Just a short walk from The Croift Newquay B & B. The UK's most famous surfing location is always worth a visit. Whether you want to ride the Atlantic rollers or enjoy the more conventional seaside pursuits, this popular west facing beach is dune-backed with a long stretch of golden sand and will not disappoint. It hosts a number of national and international surfing competitions but, be aware, those held during the summer montth draw thousands of spectators creating a real buzz on the beach. Fistral is just 2 minutes by car from The Croft Newquay B & B hotel and just 15 minutes walk from The Croft Newquay B & B hotel Fistral is Newquay's most popular beach located to the west of Towan Head. Fistral is Newquay's largest beach noted for its fine golden sands and surfing. The west facing beach is almost a milke long - backed by steep sand dunes which can provide a degree of shelter. The westerley aspect cr#eates some of the best surfing conditions in Europe. It has lifeguards petrolling the beach during the summer months.

Is Newquay's smallest beach. It is a small area of sand covered at high tide.Itis Newquay's historial port which is a small but perfectly formed beach. The beach is popular with families due to its safe sheltered bathing and easy access. The beach has a beach shop, cafe and toilet facilities. Boat trips depart from the beach during the main holiday season along with fishing trips. The RNLI launch seas rescues from this area and their headquarters are adjacent to the beach. Just a short walk from The Croft Newquay bed and breakfast.

3 Minutes walk from The Croft Newquay bed and Breakfast. Towan beach is the closet to the town centre where it can be accessed by steps down from the Killacourt or via a short but steep incline at the end of Beach Road. It's central posiiton dictates a busy beach especially for those seeking a more traditional beach holiday. It is referred to as the 'Town Beach' as it is the cloest to the town centre. When the tide is out, like most of Newquay's shoreline, children can spend hours investigating the multitude of rock p[ools, searching the fascinating creatures and plat life. The beach has a small sea filled swimming pool for families to use in the summer season. The island, fou7nd on Towan Beach, provides a wonderfully unqiue location for the private residence that is perched on its top. This rocky outcrop is linked to the mainland by a suspension bridge and is probably the best known and most photographed feature in the area.

The beach is overlooked by The Newquay Sealife Centre, situated on the promenade and Towan Beach is next to the harbour entrance, which means it is very sheltered. The beach has all facilities close by with a Lifeguard in the summer months.

Just a short walk from The Croft Newquay b & b. Newquay's Great Western beach is a popular family beach, comprising of several west facing sandy coves, backed by towering cliffs, sheltering it from the elements. Great Western has a wide range of facilities, inlcuding surf and deck chair hire, refreshments, shop, toilets and showers. The beach has a private lift which descends through the cliffs from the Great Western Hotel. At low tide beach users can walk past the Island to reach Great Western beach but when the tide is in, this area can be approached from Cliff Road down a steep slope next to The Great Western Hotel. The cliffs backing this beach give shade in the afternoons.

Is a west facing beach with a large area of sand backed by 150 foot cliffs. The beach is one of the most popular family beaches in Newquay. It's westerly aspect makes it a good surfing beach. It is a short walk from the town with a long descent - over 200 steps - down the cliff. Tolcarne has brightly coloured beach huts for h9ire. This crescent shpaed bay offers more than just golden sand and easy swimming there is also family fun to be had with surf equipment and wet suits for hire, plus year roumnd surf lessons and the unique 'Tolcarne Wedge' ideal for boogie boarding. Just a short walk from The Croft Newquay bed & breakfast.

The name lusty glaze is derived from the Cornish for 'A place to view blue boats'. This beautiful cove is naturally sheltered by high cliffs and provides a safe environment for all the family to enjoy all year round. Lusty Glaze is a privately owned cove and is open free of charge , all year to the public amd is now the headquarters of the National Lifeguard and Rescue Training Centre, a training school with an international reputation for its involvement with the training of Emergency Serviice and Rescue Personnel. Reached by a steep flight of steps, it offers an almost infinite selection of water, cliff and landbased activities for the adventurous with something for all ages and abilities. Fior the rush of a lifetime, dare you try Europe's longest, highest and fastest zip wire ride across this lovely horseshoe shaped cove. The Centre also hosts a stunning floodlight surfing battle at the end of June and over August Bank Holiday you can cheer on the competitors in their beach rugby festival. Just a short waljk from The Croft Newquay b & b.

Crantock is a popular north west facing beach with a large expanse of golden sands. The main stretch pof the beach is over a mile long and is backed by a mass of dunes. The beach is named after the nearby village of Crantock - 2 miles walk along the coastal path from Newquay's town centre. At the north end of the beach, is the rivery Gannel esturay which separates it from the beach and Pentire Headland. Crantock Beach is very popular destination for the locals, due to its remoteness and relative calm during the peak holiday season. Crantock Beach has a car park and toilet facilities, run by the National Trust. A small beach shop/cafe serves refreshments during the peask season. Level access to the beach.Lifeguard durin the summer months. A short drive from The Croft Newquay bed & breakfast.

Porth is popular with visitors with walking difficulties as it is a levle beach with a road which allows you to park on the beach. This is an ideal beach for families as it offers safe bathing and a sheltered location. It is a large expanse of golden sand with a spectacular feature of the beach is the blow hole at the end of the island which can be seen at mid-tide - especially on windy days. The area around the beach is well developed with all amentities - beach shops, mini market, toilets and cafes. A shoirt drive from The Croft Newquyay bed and breakjfast.

This is quiet beach but is quite a hike down the steps. Right next door to Porth but because of all the steps down to the beach is usually quiet and of course is a steep hike up to the shops and amenities of Port. A short drive from The Croft Newquay b and b

Watergate is a large open bay west facing bay with a two mile long stretch of golden sands. It is located at the bottom of some very steep cliffs though there are several paths down to the beach, the easiest access is via the car park. You will need your wlaking boots, or a scenic bus to reach Watergate Bay. The glorious stretch of golden sand is home to the Extreme Academy, which offers an abundance of beach based activites aimed to thrill the most jaded adrenaline junky. A short drive from The Croft Newquay bed & breakfast.

Hidden amongst the dunes by Holywell village, this large sandy beach is ideal for families. The west facing beach has a lrage area of golden sands, which make it popular with boht locals and holiday makers. The beach is surounded by a sand dune system, which makes access for wheel chairs and push cahirs difficult. A shallow river crosses the beach at its southern end. Holywell Bay has a beach shop, toilet facilities and St Pirans Inn (freehouse). Be aware however that these are a a reasonable walk from the beach. A short drive from The Croft Newquay bed and breakfast.

Porth Joke is an attractive north west facing cove with good quality sands. This attractive little bay, known locally as Pooly Joke, is generally less busy than the neighbouring beaches in part due to the 10 minute walk from the West Pentire car park. The path to the beach is unmade, but fairly accessible for pushchairs. A short dsrive from The Croft Newquay b & b.

Water Safety

Cornwall's beaches can be the highlight of a holiday in Cornwall.
But each year the summer season is marred by news of
fatal accidents on Cornwall's coast.

Rip currents can make bathing hazardous. There are often warning signs at the beach if there are dangerous currents but sometimes
there are no warning signs.

Fifeguard Flag Photo
A flag warning system is used by Lifeguards

In summer many of the more popular beaches have a lifeguard and there is a flag system in use to indicate safe areas for water use.

When you are on the beach do not get too close
to the cliffs as they can crumble.

When walking on the coast path keep well away from
the cliff edge. Some sheer cliffs having warning messages,
but some do not.

Newquay and The Croft bed and breakfast hotel is delighted to welcome you to its many spectular beaches and Atlantic rollers. Thrill-seekers have been riding our waves for very many years but it wasn't until the early 60's that the sport became organised.
With excellent surfing conditions anbd the formation of Surf Life Saving Cluybs, Australian lifeguards and other surfing explorers were drawn to the town and, with the support of local board manufacturers, Newquay's surf culture was born.

Since then a phenomenal industry has established itself around surfing and Newquay, the UK's surf capita;, is proud to host many high profile national and international surfing competitions. There are many other adrenaline charged sports availabl;e close by but why not start with surfing? Look on this site under surfing for more details.

The magnificient cliffs, miles of beaches, two estuaries, farm land, minerals, shell fish, sea fish and safe havens for seafarers have always attracted visitors to Newquay.

Newquay (Cornish: Tewynn Pleustri/Towan Blystra) is a town, civil parish, seaside resort and fishing port on the north Atlantic coast of Cornwall, Great Britain. It is bounded to the west by the River Gannel and its associated salt marsh, and in the east by the Porth Valley. The town has been expanding inland (south) since it was founded. In 2001 the census recorded a permanent population of 19,423.

There are some pre-historic burial mounds and an embankment on the area now known as The Barrowfields. There were once up to fifteen barrows, but now only a few remain. Excavations here have revealed charred cooking pots and a coarse pottery burial urn containing remains of a Bronze Age chieftain, who was buried here up to 3500 years ago. In 1987 evidence of a Bronze Age village was found at Trethellan Farm, a site that overlooks the River Gannel. The first signs of settlement in the Newquay area consist of a late Iron Age hill fort/industrial centre which exploited the nearby abundant resources (including deposits of iron) and the superior natural defences provided by Trevelgue Head. It is claimed that occupation of the site was continuous from the 3rd century BC to the 5th or 6th century AD (a Dark Ages house was later built on the head).

The curve of the headland around what is now Newquay Harbour provided natural protection from bad weather and a small fishing village grew up in the area. When the village was first occupied is unknown but it is not mentioned in the Domesday Book although a local house (now a bar known as "Trenninick Tavern") is included. By the 15th century the village was called "Towan Blystra" — "Towan" means sand hill/dune in Cornish — but the anchorage was exposed to winds from the north east and in 1439 the local burgesses applied to Edmund Lacey, Bishop of Exeter for leave and funds to build a "New quay" from which the town derives its current name.

The first national British census of 1801 recorded around 1300m inhabitants in the settlement (enumerated as a avillage under St Columb Minor parish). Newquay Parish was created in 1882.

After the arrival of passenger trains in 1876, the former fishing village started to grow. Several major hotels were built around the turn of the 19th century, including the Victoria (in East Street), the Atlantic and the Headland.

Growth of the town eastwards soon reached the area around the railway station: Station Road became Cliff Road around 1930, and the houses beyond, along Narrowcliff, were also converted into hotels. Narrowcliff was first known as Narrowcliff Promenade, and then Narrowcliff Road. On some pre-war maps it is spelt Narrowcliffe.

At the time of the First World War the last house at the edge of the town was a little further along present-day Narrowcliff, and in more recent times this building became the Garth Hotel. Post-war development saw new houses and streets built in the Chester Road area, accompanied by ribbon development along the country lane which led to St Columb Minor, some 3km away. This thoroughfare was modernised and named Henver Road, also some time in the 1930s. Development continued in this direction until World War 2, by which time much of Henver Road had houses on both sides, with considerably infilling also taking place between there and the sea.

It was not until the early 1950s that the last houses were built along Henver Road itself: after that, there was a virtually continuous building line on both sides of the main road from the other side of St Columb Minor right into the town centre. The Doublestiles estate to the north of Henver Road was also built in the early 1950s, as the name of Coronation Way indicates, and further development continued beyond, becoming the Lewarne Estate and extending the built up area to the edges of Porth.

Other areas also developed in the period between the wars were Pentire (known for a time as West Newquay) and the Trenance Valley. Other streets dating from the 1920s included St Thomas Road, which provided the approach to the town's new Cottage Hospital at its far end, to be followed by others in the same area near the station, such as Pargolla Road.

Up to the early 20th century, the small fishing port was famous for pilchards and there is a "Huer's Hut" above the harbour from which a lookout would cry "Heva!" to call out the fishing fleet when pilchard shoals were spotted. The town's present insignia is two pilchards. The real pilchards have long gone, but a small number of boats still catch the local edible crabs and lobsters.

More recent development has been on a larger scale: until the late 1960s a passenger arriving by train would not have seen a building by the line (with the exception of Trencreek village) until the Trenance Viaduct was reached. Today, the urban area starts a good 2km inland from the viaduct. Other growth areas have been on the fringes of St Columb Minor and also towards the Gannel. More development beyond Treninnick, south of the Trenance Valley. has taken the urban area out as far as Lane, where more building is proposed. The Trennnick/Treloggan development, mainly in the 1970s and 1980s, included not merely housing but also an industrial estate and several large commercial outlets, including a major supermarket and a cash and carry warehouse.

New plans include further substantial development inland, which if allowed would extend the urban area towards Chapel. Places like Trencreek, Porth and St Columb Minor have long since become suburbs of Newquay: it is possible that by the 2030s, should present development trends continue, the edges of the town could be approaching and perhaps encompass Quintrell Downs 5km from the town centre. It also seems likely that the recent conversion of the town's airport at St Mawgan into a fully commercial operation Prehistoric period.

Newquay St. Michael's, a large church in the Cornish style designed by Sir Ninian Comper, was built in 1911. It was destroyed by an arson attack on 29th June 1993 but has since been reopened. Most of Newquay was in earlier times part of the parish of St Columb Minor.

Newquay has been a major tourist destination for more than a century now, principally on account of its beautiful coastline and ten long and accessible sandy beaches. These include the famous Fistral, which could claim to the best-known surfing beach in the British Isles. Perhaps 22,000 people live in Newquay, but the population can increase to 100,000 or more in the summer because Newquay has a large stock of holiday accommodation. The town is rather larger, therefore, than the size of its resident population might suggest.

Newquay has even been referred to as the "Blackpool of the West Country", but although it is undoubtedly an entertainment town some substantial differences remain between Lancashire and Cornwall.

Established in sections throughout the 20th century, Trenance Leisure Gardens are sited in a wooded, formerly marshy valley on the quieter edge of Newquay, stretching down to the Gannel Estuary. From the Edwardian era it provided recreation for tourists with walks, tennis courts and a bowling green, all still popular today. In the gardens, which are spanned by the arches of the stone railway viaduct, visitors have long been able to enjoy a stroll through the beautiful Trenance Gardens with their mature trees and heritage cottages, leading to the Boating lake. This was dug during the depression of the 1930s as a work creation scheme. In the late 1960s, further enterprises were established by the council, including mini-golf, a swimming pool, the "Little Western" miniature railway and Newquay Zoo, which opened in 1969.

An interactive map of Newquay launched in 2009 features a self guided walking tour, focusing on local history, heritage, wildlife and public transport links - available in print form and online: see external links.

Newquay is also known for the "Run to the Sun" event, which always takes place during the public holiday on the last weekend in May at Trevelgue Holiday Park. Multitudes of people descend on the town in Volkswagen camper vans, Beetles and other custom cars.

The resort is 'The Surfing Capital of Britain'. Newquay is firmly establiushed as the centre opf the surf industry in Britain with many surf stores, board manufacturers and hire shops in the twon.

At the centre of Newquay's surfing status is Fistral Beach which has a reputation as one of the best beach breaks in Cornwall. Fistral is capable of producing powerful, hollow waves and holding a good sized swell. It even has the bonus of being sheltered enough and sufficiently north-facing in places that it can get away with a south westerly wind. Fistral Beach has been host to international surfing competitions for around 20 years now, most recently the Rip Curl Boardmasters.Newquay is also home to the legendary big wave sport, The Cribbar. Breaking at up to 20ft, the Cribbar was until recently rarely surfed as it requires no wind and huge swell to break. It was first surfed in 1967 by Jack Lydgate, Bob Head and Rod Sumpter. The recent explosion in interest in surfing large waves has seen it surfed more frequently, most notably by South African born Chris Bertish who during a succession of huge clean swells in 2004 surfed the biggest wave ever seen there.Towan, Great Western and Tolcarne beaches nearer the town and nearby Crantock and Watergate Bay also provide high quality breaks. Towan Beach is also the location for the proposed Newquay Surfing Reef, a controversial project which has caused a fierce local debate.

Newquay railway station is the terminus of the Atlantic Coast Line from Par. The railway was originally built as a mineral line in the 1840s to provide a link with the harbour. A passenger service followed on 20 June 1876, and from then on the town developed quickly as a resort. The station is close to the beaches on the east side of the town centre. Two of the three former platforms were taken out of use in 1987, but Network Rail is planning to restore one of the disused platforms, to improve capacity. This will assist in particular with the operation of the daily Newquay to Paddington direct First Great Western service introduced in 2007.^[7]. Newquay is also served by through trains to the Midlands and North on summer Saturdays and Sundays -- it is the only branch line terminus in Britain still handling scheduled intercity trains.

An active local user group is campaigning for the line to be upgraded, not merely with at least one additional platform to be provided at Newquay, but also for passenger trains to run from St Dennis (near St Columb Road on the Par line) to Burngullow, on the Cornish Main Line west of St Austell. This would require the restoration of several kilometres of track, and also the improvement of a china clay line which still operates between Parkandillack and Burngullow. This route was proposed in 1987 as a possible replacement for the line to Par, much of which could then have been closed. However, although the British Railways Board obtained the necessary legal powers, this plan was not carried out.

The goods line which developed into the Newquay and Cornwall Junction Railway was opened in 1846 from inland clay mines to the harbour, worked by horses. Parts of the old line from the present station to the harbour are still in existence: the most obvious section is a broad footpath from opposite the station in Cliff Road to East Street, known locally as the "tram track", and complete with a very railway-style overbridge. From East Street, the line continued towards the harbour along the present-day Manor Road.

The last trains ran through to Newquay Harbour in about 1924, but general goods traffic continued to reach Newquay station until 1964. The goods yard then closed as part of much wider changes on British Railways. However, the passenger station and its approaches were enlarged more than once, with additional carriage sidings being built at Newquay in the 1930s. The originally wooden viaduct just outside the station, which crosses the Trenance Valley, was rebuilt in 1874 to allow locomotives to run over the structure and then again after World War 2 to carry double track, which extended until 1964 for approximately 1.5km to Tolcarn Junction. The line is now single throughout again, but the width of the viaduct is still obvious.

Tolcarn Junction itself was the point where a second passenger route diverged from the Par line between 1906 and 1963. This branch ran to Chacewater, west of Truro, via Perranporth and St Agnes, and provided through trains to Truro and Falmouth.

The surviving branch line from Par, which includes other viaducts -- mainly in the Luxulyan Valley -- and also numerous level crossings, still brings many visitors each year from the junction at Par (on the Cornish Main Line) to Newquay. From the 1890s until 1947 the branch was owned by the Great Western Railway, then becoming part of British Railways Western Region until the late 1980s, when it was transferred to the Provincial sector of BR. This sector was renamed Regional Railways at the start of the 1990s.

After BR passenger services were franchised in 1996 and 1997, the line was operated by Wales and West (originally South Wales and West) from October 1996. W&W was a franchise owned by Prism Rail, but Prism did not stay the course: it was taken over by National Express in early 2001 and the W&W franchise was then divided, its south west of England area becoming Wessex Trains. This situation lasted until April 2006, when the Wessex franchise was absorbed by the new Greater Western contract, which is owned by FirstGroup and branded First Great Western. Thus, the wheel has largely come full circle since 1948: Newquay is now a Great Western station once again.

Newquay Cornwall Airport [1] provides links to other parts of the United Kingdom and increasingly now to foreign destinations. Until 2008 the rapidly growing airport shared its runway with RAF St Mawgan, but in December the Ministry of Defence handed over the entire site to the recently formed Cornwall Airport Limited, and the transformation into a fully commercial airport will continue

The handover, which should have taken place at the start of December 2008, was delayed for almost three weeks because of problems in obtaining the essential Civil Aviation Authority licence, which was withheld until further work had been carried out. The airport was forced to close for the first three weeks of December, as the RAF declined to stay any longer. It reopened on 20 December, but airline Ryanair protested at the problems and will not restore its flights to Newquay until March 2009.

Private jets, charters and helicopters are also served by nearby Perranporth Airfield. Altogether, Newquay (NQY) now offers more than twenty routes.

National Express runs coaches from various parts of Great Britain to Newquay. Newquay has a good local bus network: the principal operator is Western Greyhound [2], but some services are provided by FirstGroup and Summercourt Travel. The bus station is in Manor Road, which runs parallel to the main shopping area of Bank Street.

Newquay has one higher education campus, Cornwall College Newquay, which is a member of the Combined Universities in Cornwall Partnership. It offers foundation degree courses in Zoological Conservation, Marine Aquaculture, Animal Science and Wildlife Education and Media. Appropriately, the campus is close to Newquay Zoo in the Trenance Valley. There are also two secondary schools: Newquay Tretherras School is a state-funded specialist technology college and Treviglas College [ is a specialist business college not far from St Columb Minor.

Among many schools evacuated to Cornwall (notably Benenden girls school), 240 boys and 20 masters of Gresham's School were evacuated to the town from Holt, Norfolk, during the Second World War, between June 1940 and March 1944.

1934 the first firm to provide acommercial passenger service to Cornwall was Provincial Airways which in April opened a route between July and August. Provincials service included another Cornish stop, at Newquay the landing being located at Trenelzue Big Field. 1939 8 may Western Airways opened a route from Swansea to Penzance via Barnstaple and Newquay Western used the Trebelzuer Biug Field which by then had become am AA Landing Groumd. 1941 Trebelzue became a satillite landing ground to RAF St Eval and supported squadrons engaged on anti-shipping and U-boat patrols.1943 The name of RAF St Mawgan was adopted on 24 February. From 1943 when the current runways had been built, to the end of the war, heavy long range American bombers transited through St Mawgan en route to all theatres of war. 1949 During 1949 and 1950 Plymouth and District Aero club adopted the Trebelzue end of St Mawgan for charter and pleasure. Fingland's Airways Ltd commenced a tourist route between Ringway and St Mawgan in June employing Ansons, however, the Air Ministry repossessed St Mawgan in 1951.Fingland Aviation was formed in Manchester in September 1948 and in the spring of 1950 obtained an associate agreement with BEA permitting a tourist route to Newquay, connecting Ringway with St. Mawgan. This operation commenced on 24^th June using Ansons G-AKFM and G-ALFP, and ceased on 30 September. However, the Air Ministry was reluctant to back commercial use of St. Mawgan at that time, and proceeded to reinstate a military presence there during June 1951.Consequently Newquay Council was forced to seek an alternative airfield with which to fulfil tourist services for the coming 1951 season, and succeeded in de-requisitioning and re-licensing Perranporth within a period of four weeks. However Perranporth didn't really fit the bill in terms of its geographical proximity to Newquay and also its inadequate roadlinks. 1951 Piley Air Service secured an associate agreement with Britsh Eage Aviation for the 1951 season, this agreement permitted a Brirtsol Exeter Newquay and Lands End however, the service terminated after one season. The school of Maritime reconnaissance began flying from the airfiled in June. 1955 St Mawgan became a Master Diversion Airfield in November. 1959 In June of 1959 Starways opened a direct service between Liverpool and St Mawgan with their Skymaster G-APEZ. By this time the air Ministry had become more flexible regarding the use of St Mawgan for civil purposes resulting in the Starways flights operating every weekend over the summer period for the enjoyment of tourists. Starways broadened their portfolio of routes later in June with the addition of a flight between Liverpool, Exeter and St Mawgan flown each Saturday using a DC-3 G-AMPO. At St. Mawgan the handling of the Starways Aircraft was initially dealt with by RAF personnel on the understanding that Newquay Council would assume that responsibility as soon as possible.1960 Starways developed their service in 1960, connecting St. Mawgan and Exeter with Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle, using G-AMPO and G-AMSN, another DC_3. Later, services were provided connecting ST. Mawgan with Leeds and London. Overseas Airways' Heron visited St.Mawgan several times during the 1960 season. 1961 In March Mayflower Air Services was formed at Plymouth its first flight, to St Mary's was made on 13^th June .The company made successful inroads into the tourist trade and more routes were added, terminating at St Mary's from Bristol, Cardiff and Newquay. 1962 April - Exeter-based Westpoint Aviation opened its first scheduled service using DC-3 G-AMDB between Newquay, Exeter and Heathrow and saw an opportunity to expand across the Duchy with an acquisition proposal for Mayflower – this overture was declined but, in December Scillonian Air Services acquired Mayflower.A portion of RAF St Mawgan became known as Newquay Airport (RAF St Mawgan) this year and a modest civil terminal was built. 1963 November – the newly renamed British Eagle International Airlines signed an agreement with Starways (in effect a take-over) under which they inherited a number of routes –including the summer services in Newquay. 1964 Summer-British Eagle International Airlines continue with flights as set out in November 1963.British Westpoint continued the services to St Mary's from Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Newquay and Plymouth, whilst Exeter and Newquay provided onward links to Heathrow using the DC-3s. 1965 The 1965 season brought the introduction of the first flights by British Midland Airways between Castle Donington and Newquay, notably by DC3 G-ANTD. 1966 Scillonia commenced a service employing Rapides between Newquay, Land's end and St Mary's in June.Over the summer months British Midland flew between Castle Donington and Newquay, again using DC-3s and also an Argonaut - which was later made redundant in favour of Viscounts.July- by now British Eagle was using BAC 1-11s on its Newquay Route, the first commercial jets to operate there-these were resumed for the 1967 service. 1969 May-Dan-Air commenced a Gatwick – Newquay service, a route formerly operated by British Eagle which had ceased trading in November 1968, but using elderly DC-3s and Ambassadors rather than British Eagle's more attractive BAC One-Elevens and Viscounts. Unfortunately the route didn't perform as well as anticipated possibly owing to the nature of the aircraft used, and the service ceased after just one season of operation.Westward Airways made their debut in July with their first aircraft, Islander G-AXFC, began a daily Newquay –Plymouth-Gatwick –Heathrow service, which saw the aircraft returning via Gatwick to Newquay for the night. During August a second Islander ('XHE) was acquired and a Gatwick –Plymouth-Newquay-St Mary's route was flown. Westward Airways had been formed at Newquay during late 1968 by Captain Howard Fry, an ex BOAC pilot their flights proved increasingly popular and by the end of the year passenger figures had risen to over 5000.Westward continued operating these routes over the winter months thus becoming Newquay's first operator to do so. However, by the autumn of 1970 that company too had ceased trading. 1972 Brym