Perranporth

Perranporth is a seaside village on the north Cornwall coast, between Newquay and Truro. Its 3-mile sandy beach is one of Cornwall’s longest, backed by sand dunes and with Chapel Rock - a distinctive stack - marking the southern end. The Watering Hole, the UK’s only bar built directly on the beach, has been a family-run fixture since 1978, serving food, local ales and live music most weekends.

Beach and Surfing

Perranporth’s beach faces west into the Atlantic and picks up consistent swell, making it popular with surfers of all levels. Surf schools operate from the beach in season, and lifeguards patrol through the summer months. At low tide the beach opens up to reveal rock pools and a wide expanse of flat sand. Perranporth’s surf culture dates back to the 1920s, when some of Cornwall’s first surf clubs formed here. The annual Tunes in the Dunes festival, born from live music events at the Watering Hole, brings several thousand people to the beach each June.

Things to Do

The coast path north from Perranporth leads to the remains of St Piran’s Oratory, one of the oldest Christian sites in Cornwall, buried in the dunes. Perranporth Airfield sits on the cliff top above the beach. Inland, the village has a small selection of pubs, shops and cafes. Truro is about 8 miles south-east, and Newquay roughly 10 miles north-east.

Where to Stay

Around 45 holiday properties serve the Perranporth area, with a mix of beachside apartments, bungalows in the dunes and converted farm buildings on the outskirts. The village is compact enough to walk to the beach from most accommodation. Perranporth station closed in the 1960s, so access is by road - the B3285 connects to the A30 about 4 miles inland.