Towan Beach

Whilst the name of this beach is Towan, many people mistakenly call it 'Town beach' as it is so close to Newquay's town centre. Set a the bottom of the aptly named Beach Road, Towan beach is a stretch of the same fine golden sand found all along Newquay Bay.

Sitting in the lee of Towan Head to the west this is Newquay's most sheltered beach and nestles up against the town's harbour. This makes it an ideal family beach with the waves here being generally small in all but the stormiest conditions.

Perhaps the beach's most iconic feature though is 'the Island', or Jago's Island to give it the correct name. This tall stack of rock at the eastern end of the beach seems an improbable place for a home, but that's exactly what it is. There has been a house atop this island from the turn of the twentieth century. Built in 1901, its various illustrious owners have included Alexander Lodge, the inventor of the spark plug whose entertained guests such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.

These days the house is a luxury holiday rental which can be yours for the week for a small fee...

At low tide the sand at Towan connects with that of Great Western beach and the rest of the beaches in Newquay Bay to make a continuous 2 mile stretch of beach. As the tide comes in though, Towan shrinks markedly becoming a cosy little cove.

Running along the back of the beach is a raised promenade which leads to the grassy clifftop lawns of Killacourt. Positioned right on the beach-front is the Blue Reef Aquarium, one of Newquay's most popular tourist attractions.

As well as being located on the town's doorstep there are plenty of facilities on and around the beach. Disabled access is facilitated via the sand chair hire scheme and there is a lifeguard service during the summer months.