Constantine Bay

A scattered coastal settlement around one of Cornwall's finest surf beaches. Holiday homes, surf culture, and Atlantic horizons define this place.

History: Constantine Bay (Cornish: Porth Custentin) takes its name from Constantine, a 6th-century Cornish saint (possibly King Constantine of Cornwall, who supposedly abdicated to become a monk). The bay itself is a magnificent curve of sand on Cornwall's north coast, popular with surfers since the 1950s. Constantine was never a traditional village – just scattered farms and clifftop holdings. In the 20th century, holiday development began, with beach chalets, bungalows, and later more substantial holiday homes built along the coast. Unlike some resort areas, Constantine Bay never had a commercial center or dense development. It remains a collection of holiday properties and a handful of year-round residences, focused entirely on the beach and the sea. The area is renowned for its surf breaks and its spectacular clifftop walks.