Living in Newquay gives us the privilege of being close to some of Cornwall’s most stunning coastal walks—and one of the most breathtaking natural displays each summer: the wild poppy fields between Crantock and Polly Joke.

On 13 June, my husband and I decided to take a walk to see the poppies in bloom. We knew they were nearing their peak, as we’d spotted the vivid red fields from the East Pentire side of Newquay earlier in the week.

Sadly, the weather had other ideas, and we got absolutely drenched in a torrential downpour! Still, despite the rain, it was wonderful to get up close to the flowers again, and it reminded us how lucky we are to have them on our doorstep.

We’re sharing our route, what we saw in Crantock village, and a little about the incredible natural history behind these protected wildflower fields.

Starting Our Walk from Newquay to Crantock

We set off on foot from our home in Newquay, heading out towards Crantock. The route is scenic and very familiar to us, taking in views across the River Gannel, which you can cross on foot or by the seasonal ferry at high tide from the Fern Pit cafe, when running.

Once we reached the other side, we decided to explore Crantock village itself first before making our way to the coastal poppy fields. We’d driven through Crantock many times over the years, but never properly explored it on foot.

This time, we wanted to take a look around, especially with an eye on finding more vegan-friendly eateries in Newquay for a future visit!

Crantock Village: A Beautiful, Traditional Cornish Village

Crantock is a charming Cornish village just south of Newquay. It’s full of character, with old stone cottages, traditional walls, and beautifully kept gardens in bloom. It offers a peaceful escape from the bustle of Newquay while still being close enough to walk or cycle between the two.

The heart of the village is home to some interesting historic features, beautiful traditional architecture, and a few places to eat and drink. We were pleased to discover three eateries we’d like to return to on a sunnier day:

• Jam Jar Café – A cosy café by day and pizzeria by night, with clearly marked vegan options.
• Old Albion Inn – A picturesque thatched pub building full of character.
• The Cornishman – Another traditional pub with a classic Cornish look.

Unfortunately, we passed through in the morning before opening hours, so we didn’t get to check out the menus at the pubs. But we’ll definitely return to try them in the future.

At the end of the main street sits St Carantoc’s Church, a building with history dating back to the 6th century. It’s been added to and restored over the years, and today still holds daily prayers and weekly services. The old gravestones and architecture make it a peaceful and historic spot to visit as part of your walk.

Cutting Across to the Coast and the Wildflower Fields

We had planned to spend more time in Crantock and perhaps stop for lunch, but the weather had other plans. Dark clouds rolled in, and light drizzle turned into heavy rain.

We cut across a public footpath from the village to the open grassy area known as Rushy Green, then joined the South West Coast Path heading west towards West Pentire. From here, the views are stunning, even on a gloomy day.

You can look back over Crantock Beach, across the estuary to East Pentire headland and the far edge of Newquay.

We could see the red hue of the poppy fields ahead, standing out vividly even under grey skies. Unfortunately, this was also the point where the rain became relentless, and we were completely soaked through by the time we reached the fields.

Discovering the Wild Poppy Fields at West Pentire

Just before reaching the main poppy field, we passed through an area of mixed wildflowers. This first field was full of soft colours – pinks, yellows, whites, and reds – and gave us a little preview of what was to come. It’s managed as part of the wider nature-friendly farming at West Pentire, and it’s a lovely place to pause and admire the flowers.

As we reached the top of the footpath into the West Pentire headland, we finally arrived at the spectacular poppy fields, the ones we’d come to see. Even through the pouring rain, they looked incredible—bright red swathes stretching across the fields with purple wildflowers dotted throughout.

These fields are owned and managed by the National Trust in Cornwall, and they are not to be walked through, but viewed from the paths. This is to protect the delicate balance of nature and ensure the flowers can bloom undisturbed each year.

We didn’t stay long due to the downpour, but we managed a couple of quick photos on our phones before heading home soaked through!

Luckily, being so close by means we can visit each year. We have managed to visit previously, although I never wrote an article about it at the time. Here’s a great picture from that visit which my husband snapped and I shared on my Instagram:

Why the Poppies Here Are So Special

The wildflower fields at West Pentire are some of the most unique in the UK. Here’s what the National Trust says about them:

“The farmland here is managed specifically as a nature reserve for plants and wildlife associated with arable cultivation and is not commercially farmed.
The fields are ploughed to encourage wildflowers to grow—we don’t plant them or put wildflower seeds in the fields; it’s all natural, every single one of them.”

The fields support a wide range of wildlife and plants. Each field is divided in two. One half is ploughed and left fallow to encourage rare arable wildflowers, while the other is sown with barley, providing food and nesting shelter for birds like skylarks and mammals such as brown hares.

This natural approach is a throwback to older, non-intensive farming methods, working in harmony with nature. This area is now one of the few remaining examples in Britain where traditional arable plants still flourish like this.

Planning Your Own Visit to the Poppy Fields

If you want to see the poppies yourself, the best time to visit is typically late May through June, depending on the weather. The display can extend into early July in some years. It’s worth checking recent photos online or via local blogs to see how the blooms are progressing.

To protect the poppies, please remember:

• Stick to designated footpaths
• Don’t trample the wildflowers
• Keep dogs on leads if they stray into the crops

You’ll get the best views by peeking over the hedgerows or from the coastal path—there’s no need to enter the fields themselves.

A Perfect Date Day… Despite the Weather

Even though we got absolutely soaked and didn’t stay at the fields for long, we still really enjoyed our walk. The poppies were as striking as ever, and we love that we can visit this spot each year while the kids are at school for a peaceful date day walk.

Hopefully, next year, we’ll catch a sunny day and bring the camera instead of relying on rain-splattered iPhone snaps!