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"We were walking, both together, in a fragrant seaside glen"

Newquay Great Western Beach

Cornwall, England


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Newquay Great Western Beach is a popular destination for surfers and beachgoers alike, offering a sheltered sandy beach surrounded by high cliffs on the north coast of Cornwall.

Great Western Beach is located in Newquay Bay, approximately 250 metres wide, and is backed by cliffs and the town of Newquay. The beach is fully tidal and completely covered at high tide. It is a beautiful sheltered sandy beach that is popular with surfers who want to avoid the heavy swells at Fistral beach. It is also quieter than the neighbouring Towan beach.

Great Western Beach is situated in the heart of Newquay and is reached by a steep slope from nearby Cliff Road. Access to the beach is also available via a steep winding path by the 3-star Great Western Hotel. Additionally, the 3-star family-run Trebarwith Hotel has private access to Great Western Beach.

The beach offers lifeguards on patrol from May until September, providing a safe environment for beachgoers. Great Western Beach is dog friendly all year round, making it a great destination for pet owners. At low tide, visitors can walk along the wide expanse of golden sand as the beach joins up with Towan and Tolcarne beach. There is also disability access to the beach via a private lift.

Sand

Weather and tides for Wednesday 16 September

Tonight
Chance of rain 85%
Min temperature 16°C
feels like 16°C
Wind 19mph
Tomorrow (Thursday)
Chance of rain 97%
Max temperature 17°C
feels like 17°C
Wind 20mph
Max UV Index

The tide at Newquay Great Western Beach is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 9:04 PM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 3:21 AM tomorrow.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Other beaches nearby

Location: Newquay

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: SW814619

Coordinates: 50°24'59"N 5°4'42"W

Mapcode: GBR ZD.8TD0

What 3 Words: mallets.spearhead.dreading

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

Country: England

Local Authority: Cornwall

Parish: Newquay

Nearest postcode: TR7 1SW

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Visitor information for Newquay Great Western Beach, Cornwall, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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216.73.217.16 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:18:31 +0100