Watering Hole

North Cornwall


Generations of Cornish youth have passed through this venerable beach bar, and it's still going strong, despite nearly being swept away during recent storms. It's a bit shabby, but good for a morning coffee or an evening beer as the sun goes down. It also has regular live music – Tom Jones and Snoop Dogg have played shows here.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby North Cornwall attractions

1. Perranporth Beach

0.4 MILES

Perranporth's huge, flat, sandy beach is a favourite for everyone: dog-walkers, bucket-and-spade families, kite-buggiers and surfers alike. Its main draw…

2. Blue Hills Tin Streams

2.34 MILES

A mile east of St Agnes (signed to Wheal Kitty) is the rocky valley of Trevellas Porth, home to one of Cornwall's last tin manufacturers. You can watch…

3. Trevellas Porth

2.38 MILES

This former mining valley near Trevaunance Cove is locally known as Blue Hills, a reference to the vivid blue heather that grows here in summer. There's a…

4. Trevaunance Cove

2.74 MILES

St Agnes' main beach is great for paddling and rock-pooling, and has old-fashioned beach huts where you can get changed. Koru Kayaking runs trips from the…

5. Holywell Bay

3.18 MILES

Two miles southwest of Newquay as the crow flies (but more like 5 miles by road), Holywell is a wonderful expanse of white sand, dotted with tidal pools…

6. Porth Joke

3.88 MILES

Not quite the off-the-radar secret it once was, Porth Joke remains a good spot to escape (most) of the crowds. Known as Polly Joke to locals, its best…

7. Beacon

3.91 MILES

If you're feeling energetic, climb up to the area's highest viewpoint. The panorama from the top of the Beacon stretches across most of Cornwall on a…

8. Crantock

4.28 MILES

Around Pentire Head lies this big, broad shelf of golden sand, backed by grassy dunes and set alongside a river called the Gannel. It's one of the most…