Hire a car from Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY) to kick off your adventure in England’s scenic south-western county. With your own four wheels, you can easily explore the area with the added convenience of being able to store your luggage, picnics and beach gear in the boot.
Cornwall Airport Newquay is a small airport with flights to and from destinations in the UK and Europe. There are only two car hire companies located at the airport and they are a short distance from the arrivals hall:
Hertz is open from 8am to 4pm, except on Saturdays, while Europcar is open seven days a week with varying hours that fall between 8am and 4pm.
If you’re landing outside of these hours, both offer a free meet-and-greet service. You will need to pre-book this.
If you’re relying on your GPS to get around Cornwall, you may find yourself driving along very narrow countryside lanes with high hedges. A small hire car can be helpful when it comes to navigating these roads.
Cornwall Airport Newquay is around 20 minutes away from the town of Newquay by road. Surfers typically head straight to Fistral Beach, which is often described as the UK’s home of surfing. It’s a busy stretch of sand and, unsurprisingly, a popular location for surf lessons.
Elsewhere, visit Daymer Bay for sandcastles, the Tate St Ives for art, Gwithian Towans for unspoiled sand dunes and more surfing, and The Eden Project for an ecological wonderland experience.
Any additional requirements: Young drivers will likely have to pay a surcharge