Coastal Valley Camp and Crafts

Although it’s a tad tricky to pick a ‘best north Cornwall beach’, the sands and waves of Watergate Bay are a first stop for many visitors to this part of the coast, whether they want to bake gently on the sand or hit the surf with kit from one of the surf shops. Whipisderry beach, on the north coast road, is another early port of call for visitors, and was named one of the best 20 beaches in Europe by beachcombers at the Sunday Times. At low tide, dig into the rockpools, or take a torch and explore the caves including the Cathedral Cavern and its tunnels, the Boulder Cavern and the Banqueting Hall. (Whipisderry isn’t lifeguarded, so check the tide times carefully.) Once out of the water, there’s lots to do on land too: acclaimed Newquay Zoo and the Blue Aquarium Reef, Newquay Golf Club and its spectacular views over the Atlantic, sea fishing and boat hire all along the coast, and family days out at Buccaneer Bay (aaaarrr) or Dairyland Farm World. The famed Eden Project is about 15 miles away.