Cornwall - any recommendations for a surfing holiday?

[PollyannaInExcelcis]

I have got 4 children - eldest will be 8 next summer and he really wants to go surfing. Does anyone have any recommendations of good places to stay (hotels or self-catering)?

I love cornwall, but also love North Devon too, where you can do some equally great surfing. I dont know where you live, but with a carful of children it's nice not to have to drive quite so far as well.

Saunton/Croyde/Putsborough area is my fave area for surfing and really beautful. Just an idea! As I said Cornwall is lovely too.

I've usually camped so no recommendations for accom.

St Ives always has lots of surfers and 3 beautiful beaches (though only one you can surf on). The town is amazing as well.

St Ives Holidays \link{http://www.stivesholidays.com/} specialises in holidays in the area. We have rented two properties from them which were excellent, just as described.

St Ives Holidays

Try again

thanks for that link Gegs - I will have a look.

I hadn't considered North Devon - where is good to stay near Croyde? (i'm not sure I'm up to camping, but which are the good campsites near there?).

St Ives is Fab. Porthmeor beach is the best for surfers.

In fact going to St Ives again next year - for the 4th year running.

Croyde itself is lovely - small with nice thatched family friendly pubs - and there is rental accomodation there. Woolacombe is just along the coast and offers much more in terms of accomodation but the town itself, although right on the beach doesn't have as much charm.

I'll try to find a link!

Here's a good site for 'surfcams'of all the beaches there and has some links to accomodation in the area.

eyeball surfcheck

I love St Agnes. If you stay anywhere in the Newquay (horrid), Truro, Cambourne area you're within striking distance of some of the most lovely beaches in the world.

Polzeath beach is perfect for surfing (esp children) they have a very competitive surf school. DS1 was 8.5 in the summer and learnt there. If you want selfcatering try john Bray

Web cam

We went to Polzeath years ago, great beach and surfing but terribly ugly, all bungalows etc. Cuter places nearby though eg Port Issac

There are a couple of places such as Ruda campsite in Croyde which does large mobile homes - right on the beach for surfing as well.

There is also Woolacombe sands which I think rents some apartments or chalets.

Both are sort of caravan park type places - so it depends if you want something like that, but are ideal for proximity to surf and cheaper options than renting a house independently.

We stayed in St Ives here www.star-gazy.co.uk in October. It was 50 paces to the beach and about 100 paces to the town. It had three bedrooms with a bunk set in one and two singles in another and double bed in third. Living areas were nice but not very large - gorgeous, comfy leather suite in lounge. Really thoughtfully decorated - ds (4 yrs) wanted to relocate there.
Not too pricey at the time we went. Lots of surfers on the beach. Hope you have a great holiday.

I agree with dophus - St Agnes very cute little bay and village.

Polzeath good surfing but watch out for drunken public school children in halfterms and holidays!

Watergate Bay is the best place for a family surfing holiday - but pricey. They do have some self catering, Beach is lovely and lots of different watersports not just surfing.

Alos Jamie Oliver has opened a FIFTEEN restauarant.

Thanks - I have emailed some of the places. ~Watergate Bay has got back to me already - over £4000 It does look nice though

I'll post later Pollyanna as I'm off tap dancing. I know a lovely place to stay in Polzeath and will let you know my favourite places. I just wanted to post so I can find this later .

ooh thanks - will check in later too! (I wouldn't mind taking up surfing myself...)

We stay at the Bedruthan Steps every year - people surf on the beach there (mawgan Porth) and there is a surf school or it is just a short drive to Watergate Bay. Our kids love the hotel but wouldn't go without children.

Thoughly second bedruthan steps have excellent facilities for children expensive but worth every penny and excellent grown up resturant for adult (dh is a foodie and was salivating at every meal)

I've stayed here loads. The villas are great and some have outside showers. When I've been there we change into wetties at the villa, jump in the car and go to the beach (2 mins), then do the same when we get out of the sea and change outside the villa under the shower .... then head off to the jacuzzi and sauna. I used to go in October though, so it was really easy to park on the beach.

Polzeath is my favourite surfing beach, and I can recommend the Surf's Up surfing school. It does get really, really busy in the summer on the beach though.

Watergate Bay is fab too and much bigger so you there's more space for everyone. I haven't stayed here , but these are the cottages owned by the people whose hotel we stayed in. The hotel is no longer there - as you can see on the web page - they've knocked it down to build apartments, and if we win the lottery I'll be the first to buy one of them, they're in a fab position.

Newquay gets ridiculously busy in the summer holidays, especially if you go when the Rip Curl Surf Masters is on, but there's a great atmosphere about the town, but the traffic/parking can be a nightmare.

Perranporth and Bude are also good for surfing, as is Sennen Cove.

If I think of anywhere else to pass on I'll come back to this. If I'm looking for somewhere new to stay I normally start here .

English Country Cottages have lots of cottages at Sennen Cove/Whitesand Bay - this is one of them - but they get booked up very early for the whole of the summer holidays, often with repeat visitors - this one is available for most of June, any chance of taking the kids out of school...?

This lists all their cottages for 5+ in S Cornwall including all the Whitesand ones.

Oh bloody hell, I do hate links that fail after you've checked them!

The one I linked to was property ref GUR (homepage has "search by property ref" box on RH side) or if you just put your party size and S Cornwall in the quick search boxes it will bring up all the possibilities.

bedruthan steps has quoted me &7000 for 2 weeks in August. , Watergate Bay looks cheap in comparison! (this is definitely one of the disadvantages of a large family )

Thanks for the other links - I will take a look later one.

Hi there

Much cheaper to go a little inland or away from the main surfing spots, you can drive to Watergate and park for £5 per day, which is way cheaper than staying there - and apart from one pub and the hotel (and Jamie's overpriced place of course) there's not much there anyway.
I have just booked a house in Mawgan Porth (slightly scruffy but friendly place half way betwen Bedruthan and Watergate) for £750 total in September, sleeping 10 people with a hot tub and games room - much cheaper option! The beach here is fine for paddling but for surfing you need to go to Watergate really as there's a bit of a rip.
Lovely village a bit inland is St Mawgan - 10 mins drive to watergate, but a bit quiet if you have older kids. Lovely for youngsters though, not so much traffic and a river to paddle in.
Have a great time!

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