A short 3 km south west of Newquay, across the Gannel River Estuary, sits the charming North Cornish village of Crantock. It is a village that is steeped with history, dating back to 460 AD, with a delightful assortment of thatched and granite cottages nestling among a quaint network of narrow streets. For those looking to encapsulate the delight of the North Cornish coast, a holiday in Crantock provides a convenient and attractive base camp for exploring the area.
The village has everything required for those choosing a self-catering holiday in Crantock, with two pubs, a convenience store, two tea rooms and a surf hire shop. The older of the two pubs, the Old Albion Inn, dates back 400 years and houses the entrance to a mysterious smugglers passageway that once ran under the village. The Inn also has an original pasty oven, and until recently drew its water from a deep well under the bar. Directly across the road from the Old Albion Inn sits the more modern Cornishman pub, which also offers an assortment of fine foods and ales.
While enjoying the village heritage, why not visit St Carantocus church, residing on an ancient 5th century holy site. The church is home to an intricately carved wooden screen, and still provides home to the now redundant village stocks.
However, the true pride of Crantock is surely the magnificent local beach which emerges from the mouth of the Gannel River onto the Atlantic ocean, where it sits flanked and sheltered between two headlands. The beach provides over a mile of glorious sand, adjoining turquoise seas that are popular all year round for surfers, kayakers and kite boarders. For those wishing to try their hand at water sports, both surf board and canoe hire are available from the beach, and the local surf school provides expert lessons on surfing, body-boarding and paddle boarding.
The beach is one of Cornwall’s finest, and in the summer months is a haven for beach lovers, who can enjoy the excitement of swimming in the waves, or even snorkelling during calmer seas. The beach is backed by a deep ridge of rugged sand dunes that are excellent for the family to explore, and provide an ideal dog-friendly walking area for those planning a pet-friendly holiday in Crantock.
While visiting the beach, take the opportunity at low tide to view the 1920s rock carving of a local woman complete with an inscribed poem. Folklore has it that the poor lady was caught by the tide on her horse and came to an unfortunate end, with the carving being created in her memory by a distraught lover.
The nearby Beachcomber café provides an excellent dog friendly location for catching a bite to eat or a cream tea during your day out at the beach.
If you are looking to roll a walk into your day at the beach, then why not press on along the coastal path heading south west to the unspoilt neighbouring beach of Porth Joke (or Polly Joke). This serene and tranquil cove has remained unchanged for centuries, and provides a delightful blend of sand and rock pools for the whole family to enjoy.
A trip to Porth Joke will take you close by the West Pentire Headland, a National Trust area that has been designated as an SSI. The West Pentire Headland is a delight for nature lovers, and has become home to some of the most endangered wild flowers and rare plants in the country.
A holiday in Crantock places you on the doorstep of spectacular coastal scenery and local heritage, all within a convenient stone’s throw of the buzzy neighbouring resort of Newquay.
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