Fistral Beach (Newquay)

© Tony Atkin and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Half a mile west of Newquay, Fistral is considered to be the UK's leading surfing beach. Commonly split into two halves, North Fistral and South Fistral, the beach is long, straight and sandy, backed by steep sand dunes and overlooked by the iconic Headland Hotel. The Cribbar, a reef at the northern end, is widely considered to be Cornwall's top big wave spot, with rideable waves reaching forty feet.