Tranquil seaside town named best hidden gem in UK for one reason
A tranquil seaside town which is sandwiched between two very busy tourist spots has been crowned Britain's best hidden gem.
Mawgan Porth and it's accompanying village of St Mawgan is near to the ever-popular Cornish towns of Padstow and Newquay, however it's much less crowded.
During the summer months, thousands of tourists travel to Cornwall to enjoy the endless coastline and stunning rugged cliffs. The area can become overcrowded at peak season, something which is putting people off visiting. This has led to travellers hunting for more tranquil spots and Mawgan Porth has made it to the top of that list.
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Last year Conde Nast Traveller said the area was of England's best seaside location. They claimed locals had 'kept the hidden gem under the radar for many years."
And it's not hard to see why residents wouldn't want to keep it to themselves, reports the Mirror. Mawgan Porth's information page dubs it the "perfect location for a peaceful, relaxing and wonderfully memorable holiday here in Cornwall."
Despite it being, perhaps, less busy than its more famous neighbours, it does still attract visitors year after year. One major factor has to be its immaculate coastline, which was a Sunday Times award winner. The beach itself allows dogs all year round and there's surfing, shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants catering for everyone.
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TripAdvisor reviews of its picturesque beach are also glowing. One visitor said: "Beautiful beach . Great vibe . Lovely sands & blue sea . Fantastic cafes yards from the sands . Dog friendly & parking close by." Another added: "A lovely wide clean sandy beach. Excellent for surfing and during day hours manned by the RNLI life guards. Good facilities. Parking at a premium but nothing less than you would expect for a busy tourist area."
Visit Cornwall describes the town as having a "laid back atmosphere" and an ideal place to start out with surfing. Walkers are also in for a treat as the South West Coast Path is in reaching passing directly through Mawgan Porth.
"Walking northwards brings you to the legendary Bedruthan Steps, supposedly named after the giant Bedruthan who used the rock stacks as stepping stones, Visit Cornwall said. "The landscape is synonymous with shipwrecks and smugglers but there's also evidence of people living in the area 4000 years ago."
The path climbs up to Berryl's Point and towards Watergate Bay, where there's plenty of places to stop for a bite to eat before catching the bus back.
How to get there
With Mawgan being just four miles from Newquay, there is a bizarrely unusual way to arrive at the seaside town - and that's by flying, Cornish Secrets says. Humberside, Gatwick and Heathrow all offer direct flights to Newquay, operated by Eastern Airways. Although these are put on seasonally. BA, easyJet and Loganair also offer such services.
Otherwise, people can access the seaside town via the M5, A30, A39 towards Newquay and then by following road-signs to Watergate Bay and Mawgan Porth. Visit Cornwall tells people using the train to board the Newquay Branch Line at Par, with Newquay being the closest station. Buses and taxis offer services to Mawgan thereafter.
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