Southwest Bound: A Long Ride to Newquay’s Worth-it Views

#myfavoriteroute Getting to Cornwall by train is less of a sprint, more of a slow reveal. From the busy platforms of Birmingham, the journey winds south and west—through Bristol, Exeter, and Plymouth—watching the country slowly shed its city skin. The first stretch is familiar: houses, warehouses, scattered stations. But by the time you leave Bristol, the views begin to shift. Hills roll by wider. Fields stretch greener. The sky feels just a little bigger. Exeter brings a change of pace—a pretty city on the River Exe, full of sandstone buildings and cathedral towers. But the real magic begins after Plymouth, when the train hugs the southern coast. At certain moments, it runs so close to the edge, the sea seems to race alongside you. Even so, it’s a long ride. You check your phone. You check it again. You switch seats for a better view. But then, after hours of motion and misty windows, the train finally slows as it nears Newquay. And suddenly, everything makes sense. The air changes first—salty and bright. Then come the cliffs, the golden beaches, and the wide Atlantic horizon that makes you forget every delayed connection. Newquay: Salt, Sunlight, and Stillness Newquay isn’t just another seaside town. It’s a slice of wild Cornwall—where surfers chase waves below towering headlands, and walking paths lead to hidden coves and wind-swept viewpoints.