Fistral Beach
Fistral Beach is in Fistral Bay on the north coast of Cornwall. It is situated half-a-mile west of Newquay at SW797620.
The name "Fistral" is recorded as Fistal in 1813, coming from the Cornish Porth an Vystel ("Cove of the foul water"), from bystel meaning foul water. This name is probably in reference to the waves making it an unsuitable landing site.
Fistral Bay is bounded by two promontories, Towan Head to the north and Pentire Point East to the south.
The straight sandy beach faces west-northwest onto the Atlantic and is approximately 800 yards long. It is backed by steep sand dunes and is overlooked by the Headland Hotel.
Surfing
Fistral Beach is best known for surfing. Its west-facing aspect exposes it to Atlantic swells ensuring consistent waves suitable for surfing. The beach is the venue for major international surfing competitions and a competition suite for judges and competitors has been built at North Fistral along with a surf museum.
The British Surfing Association, Newquay Surf Life Saving Club and the Newquay Boardrider Club are all based at Fistral Beach.[1][2][3]
The Cribbar, a reef at the north end of the beach, causes waves to break when the swell is high. It is considered to be Cornwall's premier "big wave" location with wave faces as high as 40 feet.
On 21 September 2006 Fistral Beach hosted the British Surfing Association's invitational Gold Rush Big Wave Competition. During the competition the surf was over eight feet high because of the effect of Hurricane Gordon.
The Boardmasters Festival is also held at Fistral Beach.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Fistral Beach) |
- Map: 50°24’59"N, 5°6’8"W