It is at Holywell Bay (Cornish: Porth Heylyn),[1] about three miles (5 km) west-southwest of Newquay.

[2] Holywell beach adjoins the settlement to the northwest and Penhale Camp, formally an army training establishment that was regularly used by cadets, is half-a-mile to the southwest.

[5] On the east of the beach, there is a 5,000 year old sand dune system that is one of the largest in Britain.

Holywell Bay Holiday Park, operated by Parkdean Resorts, and Trevornick campsite.

[8][9][10] The opening scene for Die Another Day attempting to replicate North Korea, was filmed here in 2002.