Crantock Beach (pictured right) is on the South side of Newquay at the mouth of the Gannel Estuary which splits Newquay from the village of Crantock.

The beach offers over a mile of golden sands sandwiched between sand dunes, the sea and the tidal river. Crantock is a popular family beach with plenty of rock pools and caves to explore at low tide.

The beach is accessible through Crantock village (follow signs for beach), from West Pentire and also East Pentire (Newquay) via the steps at Fern Pit. There is a National Trust Car Par at the bottom of the village road and the charge is around £4.00 for the day (free to members) and also a private overflow CP. There is a flat route onto the beach from the trust car park. There are also pay and display car parks at the end of both Pentire headlands.

At the Newquay end of the beach there is a kiosk that sells a range of ice creams, hot & cold drinks as well as snacks and sandwiches (peak times only). You can also hire windbreaks, deckchairs, parasols and sun beds from the kiosk. The kiosk is generally open every day during the season between 10am and 5.30pm weather permitting.

 

Further out accross the beach is Crantock Surf Hire (click for more) where you can also hire the above plus surfboards, bodyboards, wetsuits and boots. There is an ice cream truck that covers the rest of the beach selling ice cream and canned drinks.

 

 

The surf hire shack over the sand dune from the car park.

Crantock has an RNLI Beach Lifeguard service that operates from May through til September. There are various signs around the beach with regard to where you can swim, dangerous areas and times of tides. Swimming and bodyboarding is allowed between the red and yellow flags on the main beach with all surf craft allowed between the black and white chequered flags. If the red flag is flying then there is strictly no bathing at all. In the river due to strong currents there is strictly no bathing apart from when the tide is out (when the footbridge is in use). There is a roped off area marked by orange buoys opposite the ferry boathouse where you can swim whilst the tide is in (whilst ferry is running) but extreme caution should be taken whilst doing so due to strong currents and deep water.      

For more info on beach safety visit the RNLI Beach Safety website.