It’s not just Atlantic swells that make Newquay the surf capital of the UK. It boasts numerous beaches which, apart from offering all kinds of waves for surfers, are some of the most beautiful in the country. Sandy expanses, rocky cliffs with grass and bushes clinging to the top, rivers arriving from the Cornish interior, and much more provide a unique background to a ride on the waves. But if it’s your first time on a board, you might spend more time in the water with spray in your face than enjoying the views. Well you wouldn't be the only one, and this frustrating experience might be what’s behind the explosion in popularity of surfing’s less extreme cousin: paddleboarding.

A paddleboard is larger than a surfboard and built for stability. The sport is also known as Stand-Up Paddleboarding, SUP, because you can easily get upright on the water, and even take steps around the board, while propelling yourself through the water with a long paddle. It’s all very easy to learn, so when it comes to exploring the Cornish coast and enjoying the views of Newquay and the surrounding area from a different perspective, there’s nothing like SUP.

Where are the best places to go paddleboarding in Newquay?

• Newquay harbour: For first time paddleboarders, this is the perfect place to take your first steps onto a paddleboard, and your first tentative paddles through the water. The seawall protects the harbour from waves, so you’ll feel safe and secure here as you get the hang of the technique and you’ll be ready to go exploring in no time.

• Newquay Bay: The bay is made up of numerous beaches which, though united at low tide, are separated by rocky outcrops. From the harbour, you can take your SUP past Towan, Great Western and Tolcarne Beaches, before getting to Lusty Glaze in the lee of Porth Island at the far end of the bay.

• Watergate: Leaving to the North, you get to Watergate Beach. This is one of the longest beaches in the area and it could take a while to paddle the entire length, but the cliffs at the North end are undeveloped and wild, so they make the journey worthwhile.

• Fistral Beach: In the other direction, you can paddle past the dramatic headland South of Newquay Bay, past Cribbar Point where the most daring surfers catch waves from an underwater reef, to Fistral Beach. Facing West to the Atlantic, this is the most popular beach in the area for surfers, but staying beyond the breakers you can find calm waters and enjoy the scenery.

• River Gannel: Another headland - Pentire Point - interrupts the smooth expanse of Fistral Beach to the South. On the other side, the River Gammel meets the sea in a tidal estuary. With sandy shores and still waters, this is a great place for a paddle - you can even use the tide coming in and out to carry you up and down the river.

• Crantock Beach: This is another popular surfing and SUP spot, bordered on one side by the Gannel estuary and cliffs on the other. There’s a carving of a woman’s face in the rocks at one end of the beach - supposedly carved by a young man whose lover got caught out by the tide and died here over a hundred years ago.

• Holywell Beach: The next stop along the coast is Holywell, a broad sandy beach with dunes behind and rocks out to sea. Chick Island and Gull Rock sit on either side of the bay and, as their names suggest, are nesting sites for seabirds so this is a great place to do some wildlife watching from a SUP.

Options for organising an experience

- This is the fastest growing watersport in the world, and Newquay is part of the wave of popularity which paddleboarding is experiencing. There are numerous companies in the town centre and at beaches in the area, that want to share their passion for SUP with you. If you’ve never tried it before, we recommend that you start with a lesson with an experienced and enthusiastic instructor, who’ll show you the technique and help you build confidence on the board in a session that lasts between 1 and 2 hours. Once you know what you’re doing, the best way to see what the area has to offer is by taking a tour with a local guide. They can lead you to the best places to see the most stunning scenery - and maybe some wildlife too - on a trip that lasts from 1.5 hours to 3 or 4. Of course, it’s possible to rent a paddleboard if you already know what you’re doing and go on a voyage of discovery or your own, this can be done by the hour.

- The basic design of a paddleboard means that it can be modified and used for different purposes. Why not try SUP surfing in the surf capital of the country? You’ll use a smaller board, sometimes fitted with an underwater foil, to allow you to catch the waves and ride them towards the shore. Or bring your mates and climb aboard an enormous 18 foot Monster SUP together to go on an adventure as a team.

- You can also combine this sport with other activities to organise a fun-packed day out. One option is SUP Coasteering, in which you use the paddleboard to find the best bits of the coast around Newquay to climb the rocks and dive back into the water. Your SUP can also be a personal diving platform, to have a unique snorkelling experience. Or, you can arrange a paddleboarding trip with a dry land picnic in a beautiful, secluded spot.

Requirements to do this activity

Being so simple and intuitive to control, these boards give the whole family the opportunity to enjoy the Newquay coastline. There are special sessions for children as young as 5 years old, using smaller equipment and staying in calm waters. To use a normal size board, and go a bit further from the sea shore the kids might need to be 8 or 10 years old, and tours which involve more travelling are best for teens and adults.

When it comes to Monster SUPs, you can fit 10 people on one board, so invite your friends! Like with the normal, the difficulty depends on the area, so if you’re going to potter around the bay it’s suitable for 8-year-olds, but going further out, or even catching some waves is an option for those over 12 years old. Finally, SUP surfing might look easy from the shore, but you need to know what you’re doing - we recommend it to experienced paddleboarders, or people who are pretty confident with normal surfing.

Come on in! The water’s warm and the views are spectacular. We’re waiting for you to make a reservation.