How big is Perranporth?
Perranporth is a medium sized family-friendly seaside resort, with a population of 3066. In addition to souvenir shops, surf shops, cafes and ice cream parlours there is also a doctor’s surgery, pharmacy, launderette, post office, and two small supermarkets.
Where is Perranporth in Cornwall?
Perranporth is on the north Cornwall coast halfway down the county, nine miles south of Newquay, four miles north of St Agnes, and nine miles west of Truro.
How far is Perranporth from…
Plymouth: 55 miles
Port Isaac: 32 miles
The Eden Project: 27 miles
Padstow: 25 miles
Falmouth: 17 miles
Newquay: 9 miles
Truro: 9 miles
Land’s End: 36 miles
How long is Perranporth beach?
Perranporth beach, looking out to the Atlantic Ocean, is a glorious three miles (5 km) of golden sand at low tide. It is a wide flat beach with soft sand, although at high tide most of it becomes covered by the sea!
Who owns Perranporth beach?
The Parish Council owns the beach at Perranporth. There is a car park right on the beach front, and toilets, shops and facilities all at the entrance to the beach.
What’s on in Perranporth?
There are events and activities going on all year round in Perranporth, with regular live music at The Watering Hole, folk nights at The Bolingey Inn, and the three-day early summer festival Tunes in the Dunes.
Perranporth Carnival will be held on Saturday 28th July this year, with local businesses, schools and community groups donning fancy dress and joining in the procession through the streets. There will also be a tug of war, duck races, and activities on the inner green. Duchy Holidays will be joining in the fun – pop in and see what theme we’ve chosen for our staff and office this year!
The world acclaimed Perranporth Extreme Surf Triathlon is 31 years old this year, and is consistently voted one of the best small triathlons in the UK. To be held on Sunday 2nd September 2018, the race consists of an open sea swim of 1.5km, followed by a 38km cycle, and finished off with a 7.5km race over beach and cliff paths. A fantastic spectacle for spectators as well as competitors!
Perranporth: where to eat?
The Waterfront for burgers, beer and a fabulous selection of gin. Vegetarian options, sea-view beer garden.
The Watering Hole for nachos, fish dishes and ciabattas. Located right on the beach.
Del Mar for Italian pizza and pasta.
No4 Bistro for breakfast, lunch, dinner plus coffees, cake and cream teas. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options available.
Massala and Jaipur for delicious eat-in or takeaway Indian cuisine.
Wetherspoons for inexpensive food and outdoor seating.
Roots for incredible vegan street food.
The Tywarnhayle pub for a suntrap garden.
Pickwicks for hearty breakfasts.
Haddock’s End, and Browns for fish and chips.
Mei Kitchen (Chinese), Piran Thai, and The Shack for epic takeaways.
Where to stay?
Duchy Holidays has a large selection of self-catering properties in Perranporth and the surrounding areas. Choose from beachside apartments, large family houses and rural retreats.
The Seiners is a beachside bed and breakfast with its own restaurant and bar, and uninterrupted views of the beach and sea.
There are also campsite and camping options including Tollgate Farm and Anchor Barrow.
Where to park?
The beach car park is directly in front of the beach, by the promenade.
Wheal Leisure car park (TR6 0EY) is a reasonably level walk to the shops and beach (two minutes’ walk).
Droskyn car park (TR6 0EY) is at the top of Cliff Road, a steep walk down to the beach (less than five minutes’ walk down, 10 minutes’ walk back up!).
What is Perranporth famous for?
For a little Cornish village, Perranporth is pretty well known for its famous past residents. Donald Healey, the English car designer, rally driver and speed record holder was born here in 1898, and opened a garage in Perranporth in 1920. The Healey family now own and run Healey’s Cyder Farm where Cornish Rattler is made, and some of Donald Healey’s cars are on display.
Another notable resident was Winston Graham, author of the Poldark series of novels which have since been adapted for TV. When the first of the acclaimed novels was written in the 1940s, Winston Graham lived in a rented bungalow above Flat Rocks, in the dunes over Perranporth beach and although the bungalow is no longer standing, visitors to the site can still enjoy the same view from a memorial bench in Graham’s name.
What is there to do in Perranporth?
The beach provides the biggest playground! Lifeguarded in the summer, visitors can enjoy surfing, body boarding, kite surfing, dog walking, rock pooling, and barbecues and picnics on the beach and in the undulating dunes.
A boating lake, putting green, ducks and children’s play park offer lots to keep the children entertained. Perranporth also boasts a beautiful tennis club with six grass courts, three floodlit hard courts and an historic club house.
Other activities in the area include the bowls club, Perranporth’s championship golf course overlooking the beach, skydiving from the local airfield, and beach rides with Reen Manor Riding Stables.
For surfing lessons there are a couple of surf schools to contact:
Best places for family days out
There are numerous attractions within easy reach of Perranporth, including (but not in the least limited to!):
The gorgeous National Trust properties and gardens of Trerice, Trellisick, Lanhydrock and Glendurgan; Holywell Bay Fun Park; Newquay Zoo, Land’s End, a stunning train ride from St Erth to St Ives; Paradise Park, Camel Creek Adventure Park, cycling the Camel Trail, Lappa Valley Railway, and Tintagel Castel.
Rainy day activities
If the weather isn’t all you’d hoped for there are still plenty of places to enjoy family days out, such as:
The Eden Project biomes; Newquay Waterworld swimming pool; The Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay, the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth; and The Tate in St Ives.
The best places to spot seals and dolphins
Dolphins have been spotted in Perranporth, the best vantage point being from up on the cliffs. Other places where you have a chance of seeing these incredible animals in the wild are Lands End and Pendennis Point in Falmouth. There is a seal who regularly visits Newquay harbour, and a large seal colony lives at Godrevy and can be viewed from the cliff. Basking sharks, the beautiful giants of the sea, can sometimes be spotted swimming at Porthcurno in warm weather.
If you want to experience all that Perranporth, and Cornwall, has to offer, let Duchy Holidays find the perfect holiday accommodation for you. Browse our properties here or call our friendly and informative team on 01872 572971.
