One of Cornwall’s premier watersport’s and beach front destinations.
Polzeath (Cornish: Polsegh, meaning dry creek) is on the eastern bank of the mouth of the River Camel.
Polzeath is predominantly split into two parts – the old and the new, both overlooking a gorgeous stretch of golden sand between Pentire Head (Cornish: Penn Tir, meaning “headland”) to the north and Highcliff to the south west, with views out to Newlands Island, Stepper Point and Gulland Island further west.
These views around the bay were a favourite for the late poet laureate Sir John Betjeman. The tranquillity of the area is regarded by many as inspiration for his poetry and is often referenced in his work.
The beach itself, often referred to as Hayle Bay (Cornish: Heyl, meaning estuary) is a delightful, gently shelving sandy beach, which is also one of Cornwall’s most renowned surfing destinations. Its westerly position lends itself to producing some fantastic surf and water conditions for all recreational water users to enjoy as well as some amazing opportunities to witness some of Cornwalls best sunsets.
Whether its surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, coasteering or kayaking, Polzeath has something for everyone. There are RNLI lifeguards on the beach during the daytime in the summer season so families can enjoy the water knowing they are in a safe environment.
The South West Coast Path cuts across the beach offering a relatively easy walk to neighbouring Daymer Bay and onwards to Rock and Padstow.
Further to this Polzeath has a wonderful array of bars, cafes and restaurants to enjoy. Kick back and enjoy some fine local produce whilst watching the sun go down shoulder to shoulder with friends and family.
We’d Recommend
- Watching the sun go down at the Atlantic Bar in New Polzeath with a local beverage and a sharing pizza and tapas
- Make a splash and take a surf lesson with one of the local surf schools
- Walk to the top of Pentire point and take in the breathtaking views of the Camel Estuary and the entire North Coast
