What to do in Mawgan Porth in North Cornwall

Family-friendly activities for a week by the sea

Loved for its vast expanse of sand and excellent surfing conditions, Mawgan Porth is one of North Cornwall’s most loved destinations. Sitting around the corner from Watergate Bay and Newquay, a stay here places you within easy reach of some of the county’s best surf schools, visitor attractions and dog-friendly restaurants. To help with your holiday itinerary, we’ve rounded up our top five recommendations for what to do in Mawgan Porth:  

Enjoy a beach day

With soft sands, endless rock pools and impeccable surf, Mawgan Porth Beach is one of the county’s most popular dog-friendly beaches. Low tide reveals a large expanse of sand, perfect for shell seekers and marine life explorers, while high tide promises perfect conditions for surfers and bodyboarders. Access onto the beach is flat, but there are sand wheelchairs available from Betty’s News and Kingsurf Surf School for those who need them.

Betty’s Surf Shop sits on the edge of the bay and provides suit and board hire, as well as deckchairs and parasols for sunny days. Find a spot on the sand to soak up the rays, with refreshments on standby from the beachside cafés and delis. Beachbox offers toasted sandwiches, cakes and smoothies, but if an al fresco picnic is on the cards, head into Cornish Fresh for artisan loaves, local cheeses and salad bowls.  

Supper by the sea

© Left: Ogo at Bedruthan. Right: Scarlet

Loved for decadent seafood menus and fine dining restaurants, Mawgan Porth delivers when it comes to dining out. Having opened its doors in 2024, Ogo at Bedruthan is a fairly recent addition to the cove but it’s already proving popular. The menu showcases the very best local produce with one fish, meat or veg dish to choose from per course. They keep their options simple, allowing the menu to change daily depending on what’s in season and the fishermen’s catch, so you can expect vibrant, beautifully presented dishes.

Sitting on the water’s edge is Catch Seafood Bar and Grill. Arguably one of Mawgan Porth’s most recognisable restaurants, it's located footsteps from the beach and enjoys an ocean lookout from the terrace. Family and dog-friendly, it’s a go-to for fresh fish dishes and wood-fired pizzas after days spent in the sun.

And if you’re looking for something a touch more sophisticated, head to the Scarlet for an adults-only dining experience. Enjoying an elevated position above the beach, it's great for wave-watching and sunset viewing. The menu changes seasonally, but highlights include John Dory in champagne butter and venison served alongside black truffle. Loved by our team, we also recommend stopping by for one of their famous afternoon teas. Sit on the balcony and while away the hours over pots of Earl Grey and sweet patisseries.

Indulge in a spa day

© Scarlet

There’s nothing like spending the day at the spa to relax and destress you, and Mawgan Porth has two to choose from. For groups of friends and families, we recommend heading to Bedruthan. The outdoor spa facilities are second to none, with a heated pool, wood-fired saunas and bubbling hot tubs. Allow little ones to splash in the pool as you make your away around the sensory spa garden, taking in the sea views as you go. If you’d prefer to escape for a treatment instead, they offer massage, facials and hammam.

For couples, make a reservation at the Scarlet's spa. Undeniably romantic, their spa sits amongst the clifftop and overlooks Mawgan Porth’s beach. A natural pool invites heavenly swims between the reeds, while a hot tub and wood-fired sauna encapsulate the ritual of Nordic bathing. Find the perfect spa day to suit you, with options including bathing experiences, shared rhassoul, afternoon tea and guided meditation.

We’d also recommend the Aqua Club in nearby Newquay. Sitting in the grounds of the historic Headland Hotel, there are five pools in total as well as a sauna and sea-view terrace. It's perfect for laid back summertime sessions with heated outdoor pools and sun loungers overlooking Fistral Beach. Sip cocktails and stay for a Mediterranean-inspired lunch at The Deck.

Alternatively, our spa-like home Red Cove in Mawgan Porth comes complete with everything needed for a dose of relaxation. From morning lengths in the outdoor pool to soaks in the bubbling hot tub and sessions in the sea-view sauna, it's the perfect place to unwind and ground yourself amongst nature. Feeling extra indulgent? Our Concierge team can arrange a massage therapist or beautician to complete your home spa experience. 

Give watersports a go

© Newquay Activity Centre

Whether it's surfing, kayaking or coasteering, there are an abundance of activities to get you out and about on the water. Kingsurf in Mawgan Porth have been delivering lessons on the bay for nearly 30 years so always come highly recommended by our guests. They adapt their lessons depending on age and experience, so little ones will love their first taste of the waves while adults can perfect their technique. They also offer coasteering which is great for older children and teenagers. Following a series of cliff jumps and cave swims, the tour lasts around an hour and is well-suited to thrill-seekers.

Newquay Activity Centre also offer a range of experiences to suit your group. Alongside surf lessons and coasteering, you could try a gentle kayaking tour, paddleboarding and snorkelling. From their base in the centre of Newquay, the expert instructors provide suits, boots and all the equipment ready for your adventure. Depending on your booking, you may begin by exploring the shallow nooks of the Old Lifeboat House or by paddling out along the Gannel. If you’d prefer to explore at a more leisurely pace, hire everything you need from the centre - from wetsuits and boards to fins and kayaks.

Walk the South West Coast Path

Renowned for its incredible ocean vistas, this stretch of coastline is best seen to be believed. Weaving past National Trust sites and hidden coves, the pathway promises great wildlife watching opportunities and idyllic picnic spots. At low tide, Watergate Bay is truly breath-taking. Continue your route along the sand and allow dogs to run the distance to the water’s edge or head into one of the beach’s cafés for lunch with a view.

You can vary the distance depending on your walking style, but continuing the route over to Newquay provides plenty of opportunities for beach hopping and seafood lunching. Peppered by several stretches of sand, you can choose to rest your legs at Porth, Lusty Glaze, Tolcarne, Great Western or even go as far as surfer's paradise, Fistral.

Food-wise, be sure to stop off at Newquay Harbour. There are pubs and cafés dotted along your route, but The Boathouse provides hungry walkers with an array of foodie pop-ups to choose from. Expect delicious steamed mussels, stone-baked pizzas, zesty fish tacos and Cornish ice cream on offer from the summertime vendors.

Sheltered from the incoming surf, the harbour also provides idyllic conditions for swimming and paddling paws. Seals have also been known to pop their heads above the harbour’s waters, while Porth is the place for spotting choughs and nesting fulmars. If your walk takes you into the early evening, catch one of the north coast’s incredible sunsets as you follow the path back to Mawgan Porth where the comfort of your holiday home promises to soothe weary limbs.

And on rainy days…

Although we like to think the sun is shining year-round in Cornwall, we know rainy day activities are high on the list when it comes to back-up plans. In Mawgan Porth itself, Bedruthan’s sea-view lounge provides a cosy hideaway on drizzly days. Hosting ‘crafternoons’ and home to its very own soft play area, an afternoon spent here will be cherished by little ones.

Also not too far away is Atlantic Lanes bowling alley and in nearby Newquay you’ll find Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay Zoo, Lappa Valley and Pirate’s Quest Adventure Golf – perfect for keeping everyone entertained, no matter the weather.

Where to stay

Left to right: Panorama, The Hideout, The Lookout, Prennek House, Red Cove and Trevenek.

Our homes in Mawgan Porth enjoy beautiful sea views and come complete with swimming pools, hot tubs and/or games rooms.  Whether it’s an architectural gem like Red Cove or Panorama that takes your fancy, or a family-friendly escape like Headlands or Owls to suit your holiday plans a little better, we have nine exquisite beach houses to choose from.

From the moment of booking your Mawgan Porth holiday, our Concierge team will be on hand to curate a tailored itinerary for you. It could be arranging surf lessons for the whole family or a private chef for a celebratory meal, we’re on hand to ensure your holiday is a memorable one. Contact us on info@perfectstays.co.uk or 01208 895 570 to find out more. 

Image credits: Ogo | Scarlet | Newquay Adventure Centre | All other images are our own.