The clean, firm and gently shelving golden sands of Newquay’s stunning beaches are washed twice daily by the Atlantic Ocean. There are enough to allow you to chose a different spectacular stretch of sand to lay your towel every day of the week, with some to spare.

Rock pools brimming with weird sea creatures and wonderful plant life will enthral the children for hours, while crystal clear waters will delight the adult eye and energise their soul.  Kick off your shoes, shed your socks, and feel the magic of the ocean work as you walk through gently lapping waves along a magical Newquay shoreline.

Newquay’s gorgeous beach, coastal or country walks, diverse visitor attractions, sporting activities, retail therapy and places to eat and drink are easily reached on foot. So do the unthinkable - abandon our car, stretch your legs, fill your lungs with fresh Cornish air and take the time to appreciate the spectacular scenery that normally flashes by unnoticed.

Ask at your accommodation for a copy of the Essential Mapguide Newquay which shows arcs representing five-minute walking distances radiating from the town centre to see how quick and easy it is to get to all facilities within the town.

If your heart craves excitement but your body is content with the couch - pull a beach chair and get ready for thrills and spills while you watch the many sensational spectator sports and special events schedule for 2011 in Newquay.

For visitors of a more gentle disposition there are fetes, festivals and fun days organised by Newquay’s community and services.  Tap your toes to talented town bands which play on the Killacourt throughout the summer and choral evenings, arranged by Newquay’s churches, will provide music to your ears. Don’t miss a thing - from sandcastles to singing or rugby to rowing - Newquay has it all.  Keep checking Newquay’s Events calendar.

The weather could not have been kinder for the Grand Carnival Parade which took place in Newquay on July 3 led by the Mayor of Newquay, the President of Newquay Lions Club and the Town Crier. The theme was Rock & Roll and there were representatives from Newquay's schools; local groups - young and not so young; local businesses and visiting Carnival Princesses.

Starting at 6pm choirs from all over Cornwall will lead a celebration of the beach, of song and of midsummer at Watergate Bay on Tuesday, June 21. Born out of the Darke Visions Festival, which in 2010 celebrated the life and work of Cornish playwright Nick Darke, The Big Sing draws together choirs, brass bands and dancers for a packed evening of diversion.

Once again all roads will lead to Newquay when teams from all over Europe will be competing in the 2011 Newquay Surf 7’s Rugby Tournament on July 2 and 3. Tournament Director Andy Hawken has announced that the tournament is full. Over the weekend, a tournament record 112 teams will vie in what is now regarded as one of Europe’s top Rugby Sevens Tournaments.

It was a true celebration of the start of the Big Summer Break, at Wadebrige on July 24, 2011, but sadly the sun was missing.   This did not however diminish the wonderful atmosphere at this great family fun day - organised by Cornwall Hospice Care - and the miles of smiles around the Royal Cornwall Showground definitely compensated for grey skies.

On Saturday, August 6, hundreds of visitors, mostly families ... and a few dogs... took the chance to join friendly fire fighters for a look behind the fire station’s big red doors.

The MUST-DO summer event kicks off on August 10 bringing you the UK's BIGGEST surf, skate and music festival ever witnessed on the North Coast of Cornwall. Newquay hosts a bulging line-up of heavyweight acts and world class surf - with six stages offering the best live music, great beach gigs and all-action sports - here waiting for you.

Tuesday, August 9:  Fistral Beach, Newquay – England. One of the ASP 6-Star Relentless Boardmasters in assoc. with Vans was held in tricky 3ft shifting peaks at Fistral beach on a day which saw the strongest international field of athletes in many years at the Boardmasters put on an outstanding display of performance surfing in front of a highly appreciative public. Deteriorating conditions and sun glare forced a halt to proceeding late in the afternoon following heat nº20.

Thursday, August 11:  Fistral Beach, Newquay – England. Strong onshore winds, rain and 4-5ft peaks thundered into Fistral beach for Day 3 of the ASP 6-Star Relentless Boardmasters in assoc. with Vans where Wiggolly Dantas (Ubatuba, BRA) 21, highlighted a day filled with excellent surfing displays despite the tough conditions.

Celebrating thirty years of surfing at Newquay, Cornwall, another amazing year of the fabulous Boardmasters Festival has come to close with some epic memories.

Ahoy maties, buccaneers - BIG and small - were invited to buckle their swashes and get on down to Trenance Gardens to strut their stuff at the Pirates in the Park Day on August 28. Under glorious sunshine, families came to enjoy another great event organised by the Friends of Trenance Cottages to raise funds for the restoration of some of Newquay's oldest and beautiful buildings.

The twelth truly quirky Cornish Bale Push Championships took place in Crantock Village on September 9. This must-see - must-do - event kicked off in a warm and supportive ambience as the first team of children took their places behind the specially prepared bale. By the time the adults stepped up to the ocky - behind a proper job BIG straw bale standing at 4'6" and weighing 420 lbs - the atmosphere was electric. You don't have to be mad to take part in this event - but it certainly helps!

The opening of the first ever British Surf Film Festival takes place on September 22 And 23 at the Lighthouse Cinema in Newquay, the festival has an epic line up of award-winning UK Premiers, pioneering Directors and Homegrown talent. It's the last chance to buy your tickets!

Adrenaline junkies who love the buzz of water sports but prefer to stay on the shore should head for Fistral Beach, Newquay, on September 30 and October 1, and be prepared to be stunned by the fast growing sport of Zapcat Racing.

Traveline, a partnership of transport operators and local authorities, can help you link to public transport information for your journey to Newquay and around Cornwall:

After very wild weather and a large swell on Saturday, the second day of the 34th Ladies County Pilot Gig Championships, September 4, was much calmer with sunshine in the morning and rain holding off until just before the final race.

The 2011 Joe Way Paddle for Life event takes place at Newquay Harbour on September 15, starting at 4pm, followed by a party at the Newquay Rowing Club from 8pm. Be there! 

More than 400 of Cornwall's top rowers and coxwains gathered at Newquay Harbour on October 8 and 9 to take part in one of the most fiercely contested events in Newquay's Men's County Gig Championships 41-year history.

Buccaneer Bay invites you to Cornwall's most frightening Hallowe'en 2011 event - The Revenge of the Killigrews - the only fully interactive SCARE experience in Newquay.

For all those people who enjoy taking their canines to the beach, here’s something for you, and all dog enthusiasts, not to miss. The Funday Dog Show is returning to Fistral Beach car park on Sunday, October 23.

A Newquay event that takes the - dog - biscuit! The second Newquay Funday Dog Show, held at Fistral Beach on October 23, proved to be a huge success. Over 100 dog lovers and 50 canines came along, some with family and friends to lend support, and the crowd was swelled by passers by curious to see what was going on!

The Bucca Fest – to be held over three days at Tall Trees Newquay – brings you the best of Cornish music - LIVE, Cornish ale and delicious local foods! This almighty show is the opening gig to pave the way for live music festivals throughout the winter.

"Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la. Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la. Don we now our gay apparel, fa la la, la la la, la la la. Troll the ancient Yule tide carol, fa la la la la, la la la la". And so it was at Newquay RNLI Christmas Concert at the Bristol Hotel on December 8, 2011.

The stirring sounds of brass and traditional carols filled the air on December 17 when Towan Blystra Lions brought Christmas to Newquay's pedestrian precinct. Although bitterly cold and with a strong wind blowing, both Newquay Town and St Newlyn East bands warmed up the hearts and minds of shoppers with festive favourites.

Newquay was alive with the sound of music and laughter as the old year was replaced by the new.

Friends of Carly Taylor – a local 22 year-old athlete who was left paralysed after a tragic accident - invited one and all to their fund raiser on Saturday, February 11 at Crantock Village Hall.