Trevose Head juts out on the north Cornish coast between Padstow and Newquay. The most famous beach on this stretch is the east-facing Harlyn Bay due to its fine sands, extensive space and excellent safety factor. Almost as famous but a little less recommended for swimmers and novice surfers is the west-facing Constantine Bay due to it not being as safe. However, it’s still one of Cornwall’s emperors when it comes to beaches.
Constantine Bay is only a few miles across Trevose Head from Padstow. Surfers love it here as it has some awesome waves to catch but it also has some strong rip currents, so it can be unsafe for swimmers and novice surfers. Lifeguards are on hand throughout the summer months but do take notice of the flags if they’re out. That means unsafe currents abound and you may be better off at Harlyn Bay.
Having said all of that, though, Constantine is nevertheless an awesome beach for those not out swimming and, of course, for serious surfers. The sands on this large crescent are soft and pale to golden, and there are plenty of rockpools around for the kids to explore, as well as large sand dunes at the back of the beach. For walkers, there are paths around the headland from here so you can discover the beauty of Trevose Head and its marvellous vistas for yourself. St Merryn isn’t too far away either and there are some great pubs and eateries in the village.
If you have enough of Constantine Bay then Booby’s Bay is connected to it at a thin rocky point and this is a decent little beach to explore. But our advice is to head to Constantine if you’re a surfer looking for fab waves or you’re just looking for a shallow dip and a day on soft sands with some majestic views all around. Be an emperor for the day.