Things to Do Near Mawgan Porth: Your Complete Guide

Lighter evenings and longer days welcome plenty of things to do in Cornwall, especially here in Mawgan Porth.

Whether you're here for a week or a weekend, for surfing and adventure or stillness and spa days, this guide covers everything within reach of Mawgan Porth, starting right here on the bay.

Mawgan Porth is one of the best dog-friendly beaches on the North Cornish coast, open to four-legged guests year-round.

RNLI lifeguards patrol the bay from Easter through to late September (with weekend cover into October), and sand wheelchairs are available for hire from Betty's News and Kingsurf Surf School on the beach.

There's level access from the car park, public toilets nearby and the Merrymoor Inn and Beach Box café just steps away.

Kingsurf

Learn to ride waves with Kingsurf's expert tuition. They offer beginner, group, private, family and intermediate lessons suitable for all ages and abilities.

Based just a short walk down the coast path from us, find them on Mawgan Porth beach where you can expect consistent surfing conditions throughout the year.

Newquay Activity Centre

Newquay Activity Centre offer surf sessions alongside a variety of fun sea activities such as coasteering around Newquay’s hidden coves, paddleboarding, bodyboarding, kayaking and more.

Lizard Adventure

Lizard Adventure offers a large variety of adrenaline fuelled water sports. From kayaking to coasteering, make a day of it and explore everything the Cornish coast has to offer.

Mawgan Porth to Bedruthan Steps

Heading north from the beach, the coast path climbs steadily to the beautiful view of Bedruthan Steps. The National Trust has a car park, café and shop at Carnewas, and the coastal views stretch as far north as Trevose Head on a clear day.

Continue north past Park Head (the location for several scenes from BBC's Poldark) to reach the peaceful cove of Porthcothan. The longer circular walk back via the valley to Porthcothan Mill is a beautiful way to spend a half day.

Mawgan Porth to Watergate Bay

Follow the coast path south, and within a mile or two you're looking down over Watergate Bay. The walk is roughly four miles return and takes in some wonderful cliff scenery over Beacon Cove and Trevelgue Head.

North to Padstow (For the Ambitious)

For those with a full day and a good pair of boots, the coast path north from Mawgan Porth eventually leads, via Porthcothan, Treyarnon Bay, Constantine Bay, Booby's Bay, Trevose Head lighthouse, Mother Ivy's Bay, Harlyn Bay and Trevone, all the way to Padstow. From there, catch the bus back to Mawgan Porth or the ferry across to Rock for a sundowner.

Padstow (10 miles, ~20 minutes)

Padstow is the obvious day trip from Mawgan Porth. The harbour is best in the morning before it gets too busy. The National Lobster Hatchery on the quayside is brilliant for young marine enthusiasts, and Prideaux Place is one of the finest cafes in Cornwall.

Newquay (5 miles, ~15 minutes)

Newquay really does have plenty to offer. Fistral Beach offers world-class surf, Blue Reef Aquarium is one of the better small aquariums in the South West, Newquay Zoo is a great half-day for families.

St Ives (around an hour)

A little further afield, St Ives is a perfect location for a day trip with its hustling and bustling atmosphere and plenty of art galleries. The Tate St Ives and Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden are essential, while the harbour beaches are genuinely lovely.

On the beachfront, the Merrymoor Inn is an honest, unpretentious pub serving good food with views over the bay, brilliant for post-surf suppers, with a large beer garden and a warm welcome for dogs. The Beach Box café is the go-to for coffee and a bacon sandwich on your way to the water. Catch in Mawgan Porth is a great option for seafood lovers, with freshly caught oysters, lobster and more served all summer.

At Bedruthan, Wild Café and Ogo serve seasonal menus driven by Cornish growers, farmers and fishermen, simple and contemporary food made with extraordinarily good ingredients. Whether it's a flat white on the terrace at sunrise or a long dinner watching the sun drop into the Atlantic.

And if adrenaline-fuelled water sports and hiking isn't for you, take some down time at our coastal clifftop spa. Detox in our sauna, eucalyptus steam room or Roman-style caldarium before an Ayurvedic-inspired treatment. Step outside and experience our sensory spa garden amongst fresh botanicals and crisp sea air.

From surfing to spa days, the possibilities are endless when it comes to this stretch of Cornwall's glorious coastline. We hope this guide gives you a head start, but we suspect you'll find a few things worth adding to it yourself.