- Best for
- Families, lessons on suitable days
- Break
- Town beach, more sheltered than Fistral
- Lifeguards
- Seasonal
- Dogs
- Allowed all year (local guide)
- Parking
- Town car parks, then walk
- Landmark
- The Island and its bridge
Cornwall beach guide
Towan Beach at a glance
Towan is the flat, sandy beach right in the middle of Newquay, at the bottom of a steep hill below the town centre. Newquay Harbour sits on its western side and gives it shelter, which is why Visit Cornwall calls it the town's most sheltered beach. At low tide the sand runs on to Great Western and Tolcarne, and the coves join up into one long stretch you can walk along.
The landmark here is The Island, a rocky outcrop with a house on top, linked to the mainland by a suspension footbridge built in the early 1900s and set high above the beach. Before the house, the island was sold at auction in 1838 and later had a tea room. Today the bridge is privately owned and the house is a holiday rental, so enjoy the view from the sand.
Because the harbour keeps the waves down, Towan is more of a paddling and play beach than a surf spot for most of the year. That makes it a good choice for young children and for days when Fistral is too big. It's a walk-in beach with no parking at the bottom, and the station, shops and cafés are all within easy reach on foot.
Surf guide
Surfing Towan Beach
Towan is tucked in behind the harbour and sheltered from most Atlantic swell. The RNLI notes it only really gets surf in stormy conditions, and local surf guides describe it as often flat in summer. When a big winter storm is hammering Fistral, though, smaller, more manageable sets can reach Towan, which is when it comes into its own as a gentle, sheltered option.
Most importantly, the RNLI says surfing isn't allowed on Towan during the summer season while lifeguards are on duty. In those months, use the red and yellow flags for swimming and bodyboarding, and head to Fistral or another beach if you want to surf. Rocks surround parts of the beach, so take care at either end.
No surfing in summer patrol hours
The RNLI says surfing isn't allowed while lifeguards are on duty in the summer season. Swim and bodyboard between the red and yellow flags.
Storm-day shelter
Sheltered by the harbour from most swell. It can have small, mellow waves when bigger beaches are blown out.
Long RNLI season
For 2026 the RNLI listed Easter holiday cover, then daily patrols from 2 May to 27 September, plus some October dates, 10am–6pm. Check this year's dates.
Learn & hire
Surf lessons and hire at Towan Beach
The RNLI doesn't allow surfing on Towan while lifeguards are on duty in the summer season, so check with the school where lessons run during those months.
Surf schools marked 'Listed on Surfbooker' have profiles on this site with lesson formats and current-price guidance; Surfbooker passes enquiries on but has not reviewed them in person.
Parking, facilities & safety
Know before you go
Town car parks
There's no parking on the sloping road down to the beach. Use a town centre car park; the Cornwall Beach Guide points to a Towan Beach car park reached via the mini-roundabout at the end of Tower Road.
Town on the doorstep
Toilets are nearby and cafés and shops are a short walk up the hill.
RNLI patrol
Swim and bodyboard between the red and yellow flags. No flags means no lifeguards.
Allowed all year
The Cornwall Beach Guide lists dogs as allowed all year, and Towan isn't in Cornwall Council's restrictions table. Check signs on the day.
Newquay station
Newquay is the end of the Atlantic Coast Line from Par, and the station is close to the town centre and Towan.
Accommodation
Where to stay near Towan Beach
Central Newquay
Hotels, guesthouses and apartments within walking distance.
On Surfbooker
The Headland Hotel and Spa
The Headland is a large hotel and spa on the headland right beside Fistral Beach, about half a mile from Newquay town centre. Alongside hotel rooms it.
View accommodationFistral Beach Hotel and Spa
Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa is an adults-only hotel a couple of minutes' walk from Fistral Beach in Newquay, with the town centre about 15 minutes away on.
View accommodationThe Esplanade Hotel
The Esplanade is a family-oriented hotel looking straight over Fistral Beach in Newquay, a few minutes' walk from the sand. It has couples and family.
View accommodationAtlantic Hotel Newquay
The Atlantic Hotel stands in central Newquay with views over Newquay Bay and the harbour. Alongside a range of hotel rooms, including family rooms and.
View accommodationPentire Hotel
View accommodationThe Lewinnick Lodge (rooms)
Lewinnick Lodge is a restaurant with rooms on the clifftop at Pentire headland, just outside Newquay. Rooms range from doubles to oceanside superiors and.
View accommodationThe Fort Inn (rooms)
View accommodationNewquay Beach Hotel
View accommodationSurfbooker only marks a stay as reviewed when we have stayed there ourselves. Other listings are researched or owner-supplied; check rates, board storage and cancellation terms directly.
Beyond the surf
Things to do around Towan Beach
Newquay harbour
Fishing boats, boat trips and seafood stalls next to the beach.
Travel
Getting to Towan Beach
Newquay station
A short walk from the station.
Worth the short drive
Nearby beaches and places
FAQs
Towan Beach: quick answers
Can you surf at Towan Beach?
Not in summer while lifeguards are on duty: the RNLI says surfing isn't allowed then. Outside those times it's sheltered and often flat, though it can have small waves when storms make Fistral too big.
Can you visit The Island at Towan?
The bridge is privately owned and the house on The Island is now a holiday rental, so treat it as private property and enjoy the view from the beach and harbour.
Is Towan good for young children?
Yes. The harbour shelters it, so the water is usually calmer than at Newquay's more exposed beaches. Stay between the red and yellow flags.
Are dogs allowed on Towan Beach?
Yes, local beach guides list dogs as allowed all year, and Towan isn't on Cornwall Council's restrictions list. Check signs when you arrive.
Sources
How we checked this guide
Surfbooker desk research, checked October 2026. This guide is based on official and operator sources listed below, not on a personal visit. Parking charges, lifeguard dates, dog rules and opening times change — always check the latest information before you travel.
- RNLI — Towan Beach
- Visit Cornwall — Towan Beach, Newquay
- iWalk Cornwall — Towan Island
- Cornwall Beach Guide — Newquay beaches
- Cornwall Council — dogs on beaches (restrictions table)
- The Surf Atlas — Newquay surf
- Wikipedia — Newquay railway station
- The Beach Guide — Towan Beach
- RNLI — find a lifeguarded beach
Photo: Proper Handsome, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. All image credits.