Attractions in Newquay

If the weather is grey and you can tear yourself away from the seaside, there are other, enjoyable ways to spend your day, including a visit to Trerice – Newquay’s nearby Elizabethan manor house with its surrounding gardens. Plus it’s only a four-minute drive from our Newquay (Quintrell Downs) hotel, so hop in the car and transport yourself back to the olden days.

The estate has been owned by the National Trust since 1953, so if you’re a member, you can enjoy free entry. If not, it’s under a tenner for an adult ticket, or less than £25 if you’re visiting as a family. As you’d expect from a popular National Trust location, the grounds are exceptionally well-maintained, particularly the knot garden. You’ll be given a wealth of information and history about the house, and there are even hands-on exhibits, such as playing with the armour. After you’re finished, you can enjoy a bite to eat in the Barn restaurant – the lemon meringue pie is particularly delightful.

You can see Huer’s Hut from far more than a mile off – the distinctive white building has been watching over Newquay harbour ever since the 14th century, when it used to be home to the huer. If perhaps you don’t know what a huer was, it was his job to watch the seas for shoals of pilchard. When they’d arrive, he’d bellow from the cliffs for the townsfolk to get a-fishing. He’d also use the cliff-top vantage point to guide the ships towards their catch.

You can get to the Huer’s Hut in just a 10-minute drive from our Quintrell Downs hotel – there’s not that much to see from the building itself, but you will get some fabulous views of the harbour.

Go towards Newquay Airport if you’re looking for a bit of peace and tranquillity. No, really… a little over a mile away from the airport – and just a 15-minute drive from our Newquay (A30/Fraddon) hotel – is The Japanese Garden. It’s a wonderful spot to visit when you just need to relax and unwind. The meditative garden was built entirely from scratch by the family that owns it. It’s a real labour of love, where everything – plants, water features, walkways and all – has carefully been thought through. You’ll see for yourself that the gardens aren’t very big – it really won’t take you very long to walk around. But, that’s not the point. Simply take your time and relax in your surroundings. Plus, it’s a specialist bonsai nursery, so if you’d like, you can buy one of their tiny trees to take home with you.

Another beautiful place where you can soak up the scenery is Trenance Gardens and Cottages. Dating back to the 18th century, the cottages here have a lot of history. It’s only fitting then that today, they’ve become museums dedicated not only to their rich heritage but also to that of Newquay and how it has grown over the last hundred years or so. A word of advice, try and visit on a sunny day – walking around the rose gardens and the boating lake while the sun is shining is something to really savour.