WATERGATE BAY

This 2-mile stretch of golden sand is one of North Cornwall’s most popular surfing destinations, and surfing isn’t the only thing on offer here: the Extreme Academy has classes in a range of waterborne activities including some I’ve never heard of – waveski or hand planing anyone? The big event of the year at Watergate Bay is the Boardmasters Festival, which this year starts next week on the 10th August. As well as a major surfing competition, the festival includes a music arena featuring a range of bands. Skateboarders are also catered for, with the Canna Ramp hosting a Skate and BMX ramp contest. Like all good festivals, there is camping available and a host of eating, drinking, shopping and other goodies on offer. Let’s hope the weather cooperates so that all this hedonism is accompanied by some of Watergate Bay’s legendary sunsets.

Anyone who has been around as long as I have will remember the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour, some of which was filmed in Cornwall. As an avid Beatles fan growing up in Cornwall, I remember being ridiculously excited at the prospect of bumping into them, a vain hope needless to say. The Fab Four arrived in the area in September 1967 during the Cornish leg of the tour, and while filming there they stayed at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay, just along the road, but some of the filming took place at Watergate Bay.

Live streaming webcam view of the bay, courtesy of the Watergate Hotel.

Map of the area.

Watergate Beach - geograph.org.uk - 1759873. Photo by Derek Harper, via Wikimedia Commons.