If you’ve driven, park up on the beach in one of Newquay’s many car parks.  I would recommend the Pentire Head car park – it’s close to the beach and far enough away for you to get a good walk in, and the Fistral Beach car park is also close to the beach.  There are oodles of coastal walks around Newquay; I like to start at the Pentire Head car park and zig zag along the coast past the gorgeous building that is the Headland Hotel (read about it’s fascinating history starting in the late 19^th Century here), stopping to admire the view from Towan point.

Keep your eyes open for the wildlife on your coastal walk; I have seen a kestrel hovering just metres away from me, seals in the bay, oysters catchers in the rocks on the cliffs, and plenty of sea creatures in the rock pools (courtesy of my husband).

Head inland to the heart of Newquay for some lunch.  With loads of cafes and restaurants in Newquay, you are bound to find somewhere you like.  I always prefer to support local, independent establishments, like Café cloud or the Beached Lamb Café. I am always on the lookout for a good cream tea wherever I am and when in Cornwall and Devon, heart of cream tea land – in my books, it is a must!

Play on the beach after lunch.  For me, coming from the midlands, its always a bit of a novelty to be by the sea and I love heading down the sea to feel the sea breeze on my face, experience all the different smells and play on the beach, which for is ironic as I don’t actually like sand, but I can just about cope if I am doing something to keep my mind of the sand!  My husband can spend hours looking in the rock pools – there are some good ones on the Southern part of Fistral beach.  If you need a break from rock-pooling (as I did), there is a café, again at the South end, in the clifs, called Bodhi’s café, which do uh-maazing acai bowls.  If you’re brave enough, go for a swim in the chilly Atlantic; watch out for the beach flags though as there are strong tides around Newquay, so don’t go in the water if there is a red flag up (Get to know your beach flags here)

Walk back to the car viathe Lewinnick Lodgefor a pre-dinner cocktail, watching the sun go down.