Newquay has always had a special place in my heart. Although it was quite a few (well many) years back now, it was the place I took my first holiday away with just friends and it was a dreamy two weeks filled with long sunny days, combi van lined cliff tops, surfer spotting from fine white sandy beaches and enough trips to dance clubs it could have easily given Ibiza a run for its money. Possessing an almost Mediterranean holiday vibe, when the sun is shining it’s a place you can’t quite believe exists in England. So when Vauxhall challenged us to see how much fun we can have in 48 hours in their new MokkaX, it wasn’t a hard decision to decide where to go – I had wanted to make a return nostalgia trip for many years now. The car’s motto is “it’s your life go drive it” so accompanied with Gary the team videographer, a boot packed to its full capacity, and tank topped up with fuel we hit the road and did just that..
The car itself is an easy-on-the-eye highly spec’d SUV and filled with so much tech – an in-car wi-fi hotspot, destination download and Apple Car play for example – its gadget lover’s dream. Its 4×4 capability made it perfect for an adventurous and outdoorsy road trip and the spacious interior made the four and a half hour journey from London to Newquay so comfortable it seemed like a just a short trip down the road.
Perched in superb position on a knuckle of cliffs overlooking fine golden sands and Atlantic rollers, Newquay’s glorious natural advantages have made it the premier resort of north Cornwall. The town centre is a parade of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs from which lanes lead to ornamental gardens, cliff-top lawns and envy-inducing glass fronted beach apartments. Although easily the main attraction of Newquay is the beaches and their long strides of untamed, frothy waves which attract surfers by the bucket load.
On our arrival the wind blew at a bracing 23mph but mercifully, the sun was shining and the skies were as blue as our shiny new car. We spent a few hours exploring the main beach Fistral, clambering over rocks to watch hardy surfers brave the huge swathes of swollen tides as seagulls soared and spiralled high in the clear bright sky.
We ended the evening at the cutely name Lusty Glaze beach located on the outskirts of Newquay, a place not for the lazy beach go-er – its entrance was a long descent down 133 raggedy stone steps. The reward made it worthwhile though, Lusty Glaze is a spectacular horseshoe shaped bay framed by wooden stilted restaurants on one side and a crescent of powder blue beach huts on the other. We watched as the foamy waves spilled and crashed against themselves over and over as the glowing amber sun slowly disappeared behind the cliff leaving an extraordinary palette of pinks, purples, blues and oranges imprinted on the sky.
Our temporary home for the evening was The Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa, a relaxed spa hotel blessed with sweeping views over Newquay’s famed surfer’s beach. Their stylish sea-fronted restaurant made the perfect setting for an evening meal and the sound of crashing waves against the bay’s rocks was surprisingly lulling and conducive to a restful nights sleep.
Rising early the next day, we journeyed through lanes which criss-crossed through patch work fields and farms to arrive at the shining jewel in the crown of the east Cornwall coast – the Polperro Heritage coast and then Polperro itself. A place so picturesque it was once voted the prettiest village in England. Preserved from the ravages of time and tide by its surrounding cliffs, Polperro is an otherworldly fusion of hobbit-esque cottages, sea-battered pubs, secret coves and narrow streets lined with quirky gift shops, fisherman swapping seafaring yarns and increasingly brave, hungry seagulls.
With a steely determination to make the most of the some of the finest scenery in England, on our journey home we took a detour through Dartmoor National Park – Devon’s wild heart. The vast moorland dotted with dense green forests, babbling brooks, moss-smothered boulders, grazing sheep and ponies wandering the craggy landscapes at will, made an idyllic cinematic backdrop to our journey’s video.
With a heavy heart we left the storybook scenery of some of England’s most beautifully preserved villages and landscapes and headed back to London. As the journey ended it was sad to leave the fresh air, idyllic scenery (and the car!) behind but in the 48 hour trip, we honestly wouldn’t have done even the tiniest thing different.
This post was brought to you in partnership with Vauxhall but all our opinions are our own. Find out more about their new MokkaX here. All words and Polperro, Fistral Beach and Blue beach hut images by Becky, all other images, stills and video by Gary Nunn.
47 Comments
Penny Travels
22 May, 2019 at 9:05 amWe’ve just got back from a short trip to Cornwall – around the Looe area – but Newquay is a part that I don’t know at all well. It sounds like I ought to engineer a return trip and explore it a bit more.
ARNAB
23 April, 2019 at 4:41 amyour photos are so beautiful. What a landscape! Thanks for sharing. I LOVE this video and the editing style is great.
Rosalind Cuthbertson
8 November, 2018 at 5:15 amFantastic road trip of an area I have long planned to visit. Thanks for all the wonderful information. 🙂
Paula Deen
17 October, 2018 at 9:02 amtravelling, finding beaches laying there. I think this is the best thing i am doing lolz… Nice Post Becky
Sheju
22 August, 2018 at 10:56 amBecky Moore
Wow! your photos are very nice madam! Every single click is so good madam! your photography so good madam thanks for sharing good memories with us madam. Jiwirooms are Indian travel agency madam started a few months back. Share your memories like this madam. thank you for sharing madam once again.
Shahla Zaheen
8 August, 2018 at 6:03 amSea view, roads, hotels, spas Awesome Becky, looks like you have really enjoyed it!
prakash puri
5 June, 2018 at 10:23 amRoad trips are enjoyable as per my experience I’ll share all my travelling experience in this!
incessanthoughts
7 April, 2018 at 6:15 amTruly outstanding! 🙂
Nha Trang
27 March, 2018 at 4:36 amWow, absolutely beautiful. Love the pictures and the video!
LF
27 March, 2018 at 4:08 amWhat a fun looking trip!
Nha Trang
27 March, 2018 at 4:05 amVery inspiring post and video, wow, wow, wow!
Dan Copping
25 March, 2018 at 9:20 amI used to love heading down to Cornwall with my school friends.
Each beach has its own character and you can go to a different one every day.
Dan
Bicky
6 December, 2017 at 1:32 pmPerfect looking road trip, Newquay is a fab place to visit brings back happy memories!
S.E.
4 December, 2017 at 2:21 pmBeautiful post and video!
Eddie B. Feaster
8 November, 2017 at 8:31 amAmazing video & post….great work!
Cheers!
Sharif Uddin
21 August, 2017 at 2:11 pmLoved the post. Looks like you had an amazingly beautiful experience with photos to match!
Randay
15 August, 2017 at 8:08 pmI love this post you had a truly beautiful experience with photos to match!
http://www.randayapp.com
Matt Burns Travel
15 August, 2017 at 4:14 amDamn, you just made me a little homesick with this one 😉
Absolutely love Newquay! We used to holiday down there every year when I was growing up. The whole Cornwall and Devon area is pretty awesome though. Had a lot of good summer times down there. Especially if you get one of those rare English sunny days. Perfect 🙂
AHMED IJAZ
13 August, 2017 at 1:33 pmGreat post and beautifully crafted. You have awesome photography skills, good luck for future travels.
Gabby
10 August, 2017 at 8:23 pmI LOVE the video and the editing style you used! It was great!
-Gabby
Agra
2 August, 2017 at 12:54 pmFantastic post and video, what beauts!
Sophia Charles - Discount Airfare
14 July, 2017 at 7:52 amI enjoyed this video sooooo much!clever post I’ll follow your advice thanks.
Becky Moore
16 July, 2017 at 8:33 pmAhh thank you, so pleased! 🙂
Maria
29 June, 2017 at 1:22 amOh, this place both looks and sounds amazing! I would love to go there some day.
Maria || http://www.everythingiread.com
Becky Moore
16 July, 2017 at 8:35 pmYou wouldn’t regret it I’m sure – the summer would be even more special (although a lot more crowded)!
Tina dutta
29 April, 2017 at 10:52 amVery pretty indeed – both video, photos, writing and the scenery (and the Mokka of course too 😉
Becky Moore
30 April, 2017 at 1:58 pmThank you Tina!
Cortes de Cabelo
29 April, 2017 at 10:50 amVery cool, love your blog!!!
Becky Moore
30 April, 2017 at 1:58 pmThank you! 🙂
Lais Silva
29 April, 2017 at 10:27 amOh my god that drone footage is incredible and the beach and sunset shots – just wow! Well done guys 🙂
Becky Moore
30 April, 2017 at 2:00 pmThank you, we were so lucky with the weather down there so Gary (our videographer) managed to get some great footage – just had to battle with the wind a bit! 😉
Nitin Wadwa
29 April, 2017 at 10:26 amBeautiful!!! I want to come and visit one day!
Becky Moore
30 April, 2017 at 2:00 pmVisit soon! 🙂
Matthew Kopka
29 April, 2017 at 10:25 amWow cool sunsets shot and awesome video, Cornwall is a beaut! 😉
Becky Moore
30 April, 2017 at 2:00 pmSure is 😉
Marc
16 April, 2017 at 5:23 pmWow, those images are really stunning and it looks like a great road trip, thanks for sharing!
Becky Moore
30 April, 2017 at 2:01 pmThanks Marc, was an incredible road trip – definitely chose the right destination!
Agness Walewinder
12 April, 2017 at 11:52 pmBecky, your post really made me wanna go on a road trip with Cez. I don’t have a driving licence but Cez does and he loves driving, especially across Europe. We are moving back to Poland this summer and we’re planning to rent a car and travel to many different European cities, including the UK so your tips will definitely help. We’ve travelled to few places in England but never visited Cornwall. Lovely pictures and I’m glad you’ve enjoyed your ride!
Becky Moore
30 April, 2017 at 2:02 pmThanks Agness, oh you guys will love it! Make sure you come and say hello when you’re in the UK! 🙂
Cecilia
12 April, 2017 at 11:26 pmWow, your photos are stunning! Every single one is beautiful! What a landscape! Thanks for sharing. I just started following you on Twitter 🙂
Becky Moore
30 April, 2017 at 2:03 pmThanks Cecila, will make sure I follow you back! 🙂
Pixie
12 April, 2017 at 7:03 pmGreat road trip in a lovely car! Love the photos and the video 🙂
Becky Moore
30 April, 2017 at 2:04 pmThank you!
Suze
12 April, 2017 at 5:45 pmI’ve been to Lusty Glaze beach! That’s a good looking car, I see that it coped well with the sand. Do you have a drone?
Becky Moore
30 April, 2017 at 2:05 pmIsn’t it adorable! Loved that beach, hope to return in the summer. Yes Gary our videographer has a drone – great for coastal shots!
Miriam - londonkitchendiaries.com
12 April, 2017 at 4:27 pmRoad trips are such fun especially in a nice car like the MokkaX! Stunning images of Newquay!
Becky Moore
30 April, 2017 at 2:06 pmThanks Miriam, I love road trips! Definitely one of my favourite way of travelling and yes the Mokka was perfectly set up for long road trips – I loved all the gadgets!