Facing The Atlantic

Newquay is about more than surf and sun: award-winning photographer David Chapman reveals another side to the area around this ancient harbour town

- David Chapman

Continuing my photographic exploration of Cornwall’s coastline in this article I find myself heading up the north coast between Holywell Bay and Newquay.

Most of Cornwall’s rugged north coastline belongs to one of seven Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) found along the coast between the moors of West Penwith and the border with Devon just north of Bude. Interestingly the coast between Perranporth and Mawgan Porth does not belong to an AONB and yet there are some wonderful places to be found.

I begin my exploration at Holywell Bay, one of my favorite photographic locations in the whole of Cornwall. The distinctive twin peaks of Carter’s Rocks (or Gull Rocks), made famous in the opening scenes of Poldark, lie just offshore and provide the perfect focal point for a sunset or a shot of the wonderful rolling dunes.

Timing is everything with coastal sunsets. In October it should be possible to stand on the beach and photograph Carter’s Rocks with the sun setting behind them; visit in June or December when the sun sets at a different angle and this might not be possible. The best way to photograph the sunset is to visit at low tide and walk out onto the wet beach. This beach is usually pitted with a wonderful selection of pools and ripples which provide patterns of reflected light from the sunset giving twice the color. Conditions underfoot are not easy so wellington boots are an advantage and if you are using a tripod, which I would recommend, watch out for it sinking into the sand and causing camera movement.