Pictures of Newquay
About Newquay
What a rare blessing Newquay has in its mile upon mile of sheltered, golden beaches that offer a safe haven for sun-worshippers and surfers alike. For these are the delights that each year cause Newquay to be thronged with thousands of visitors from all over the British Isles and beyond.
Like so many other famous Cornish resorts, this little town can trace its roots back to the Bronze Age and this is evidenced by the number of barrows found in the area. Newquay was, for many centuries, a small fishing village known for a good catch of pilchards. The occupations of fishing and smuggling provided the main source of income for many families and to this day, old yarns and legends telling of the plunder of ships wreched on these shores, are swopped nightly in the pubs and inns of local coastal villages. One such story surrounds Huer's House which stands high on a cliff above the harbour. It is said that this house provided a look out point in the 18th and 19th-centuries when the seas were often awash with great shoals of pilchards. The lookout kept watch for the fish and guided the boats towards them by roaring instructions down a horn said to be 1 yard long! Legend tells too, of catches worth in excess of twenty thousand pounds and of fish enough to load a thousand carts. What stirring times these must have been.
During the 16th and the 19th-centuries Newquay prospered from the opening up of the Cornish mines. Newquay produced Lead, Silver and Copper and this brought a measure of stability to the town and it's people. The other great advent for Newquay was the building of the rail line in 1875. The line was built to carry goods back and forth to major towns and cities throughout the country but word soon spread of Newquay's vast sandy beaches and tourists of the Victorian era quickly found their way to what until now had remained a largely undiscovered area. There was an increase in building activity, splendid houses and beautiful hotels were built. Newquay, has never looked back, it is England's foremost surfing resort and as such drawers visitors from the world over, including international surfing champions. It also remains Cornwall's largest seaside town with no less than ten beautiful beaches of which the most sheltered is south facing Towan beach. In contrast, a walk through the west facing Fistral beach reveals sand dunes and a golf course.
Apart from the pleasurable activity of surfing, the summer sees increased activity in yachting and Gig racing. This commemorates a time when gigs powered by teams of oarsmen piloted vessels to the safety of the harbour. It is an enjoyable sport that has a derservedly increased following.
Trenance Gardens are a continual delight with a wealth of colourful flowers, interesting plants and shrubs. The gardens are situate to the rear of the town in a pleasant tree lined area.. Other attractions include indoor and outside swimming pools, an aquarium and a museum. Fishing trips can be arranged for all kinds of fish including shark and there are pleasure boat trips from which to enjoy the magnificent scenery of this fine coastal resort. To watch the great atlantic rollers from the headland above Newquay's picturesque old harbour is one of life's great joys, it is a never to be forgotten experience that will live long in your memory.
