I almost didn’t recognise you, you look great!

It’s been sensory overload for the people of Newquay these last few days. The surf has continued to impress, and only today has it dipped below the head high mark – just for a few hours though because a new swell arrives tomorrow which looks set to last all week.

This was during the BKSA Course Race this weekend - can you spot the kites?

On top of that, we’ve been sequestered into The Rocklands luxury apartments for the weekend, at the (rather generous!) behest of Cornish Gems. Yes, we are on holiday within walking distance of our own homes, something I’ve had a strange fascination with doing for quite some time now. It’s great, you just nip home to pick up any items you forgot, and it’s great having a crash pad at either end of town.

Who does he think he is, Rod Stewart?

The BKSA Course Racing was on too, providing a nice distraction for Saturday. Local hero Denzil Williams took the first scalp of the year, fending off Steph Bridge and Callum Edge who came in second and third respectively. Meanwhile, back on the roof garden of The Rocklands, local imressario Phil Akister was providing much levity with his guitar god posturings.

No shortage of flambouyant characters in Newquay

The Rocklands holds the distinction of being the highest place in Newquay, so as you’d expect, the views are off the scale, especially when you factor in its position perched on the high cliffs of Tolcarne Beach. This morning, all sorts of paddle craft were out taking advantage of the mellow lines.

SUP and kayak the lazy waters of Tolcarne Beach

With not much else to do on a lazy Sunday, we kicked about on the roof garden, spying on the goings on below us. It almost feels like you are on a cruise ship at times, for from some angles all you can see is blue ocean stretching out in front of you. Is this really still England?

Feels like you're on a cruise ship

Here another shot of the scenery you can feast your eyes on by just swivelling your head this way and that. You don’t have to move far to find something interesting to gaze upon.

Looking out towards Cribbar country!

You may be wondering what The Rocklands can offer the surfer or kitesurfer who wants to get away to Newquay for a big of a watery break, indeed, do they even let surfers in? Well, not only do they let them in, they pretty much welcome them with open arms with hot outside showers and dehumidifying secure storage rooms for all your gear so you don’t have to lug it up to your apartment. Then of course you’ve got the proximity to Tolcarne and the views over towards Watergate Bay, so you’ll be the first to know if it’s on or if you should grab another hour’s shut eye.

Small, but certainly worth taking the elevator down to ground level for

I never really knew, or thought about what was going on inside all of these new luxury apartments that are springing up in Newquay and other coastal towns. Now I’ve experienced it, I reckon I’ll be seeking out similar accommodations when I’m visiting other places. There again, I dunno if there are similar places since this surfer friendly luxury accommodation is most likely an area where Newquay is out in front.

The Rocklands Penthouse View

But is it right that surfers should be staying in luxury, modern apartments? What about the run down old surf shacks, or the camper vans, or tenting it in the dunes? Well you’ve got to move with the times haven’t you? Seems a bit silly to me to rough it just because it fits in with the romantic ideal of being a pioneering surfer on the North Shore of Oahu in the 1950′s. I reckon this is what the modern surf trip’s all about, and did I mention our apartment’s got heated floors?