Nearby Beaches worth a Visit
As the quality of the beaches constitute the main reason for the area's continued popularity, it should come as no surprise that they are all splendid. The beaches and sea have had a clean bill of health from the coastal commission, and are officially safe for bathing - one even winning the coveted European Blue Flag award.

The closest beach to St Christopher's is St Mildreds Bay, which is a short stroll away, through landscaped greenery, down the gently inclined cliff. The expanse of fine grained burnished sand permits relative family seclusion even when busy - though obviously less so at high tide! Behind the sea wall, beach huts pepper the view with muted colours, and a friendly cafe's tables add a continental flavour of outdoor eating and sunning. For children their is a sea paddling pool at one end and rock pools to explore at the other.

If you turn left out of St Chris and head down Sea Road, you will come to West Bay, which is another sandy, family beach. It will take about 15-20 minutes to get down to it, but the view is stunning and the beach is well worth the walk. Sunbathe on the beach promenade or the soft golden sands.

Another popular family bay, with bowls and tennis nearby, and well a run, award winning beach status.

The Main Sands are packed with things to do, and has all the amenities you would expect from a leading resort. You'll find all the fun of the fair at Kiddies Corner, as well as donkey rides and other seaside activities. The beach joins the famous seafront - packed with amusements, shops and places to eat. Lifeguards are on watch all day throughout the season, to ensure a safe time is had by all.

Walpole Bay plays host to numerous watersports, and the upper promenade - which can be reached via the newly restored lift - has a games centre and splendid picnic area.

Joss Snelling, a famous local 18th century smuggler, is reputedly named after Joss Bay. The seclusion which attracted Mr Snelling and his colleagues remains a feature of the bay to the present. The bay itself is situated at the bottom of the Elmwood Farm valley, a site of nature conservation interest. The bay is also popular with surfers, as its long, shallow beach creates excellent surfing conditions.

Viking Bay is a lovely beach and very picturesque from the promenade high above it. Set around a harbour wall, it gives you the chance to swim in a fairly secluded and safe environment. The beach has a playground and there are cafes and kiosks aplenty, as well as fish and chip restaurants and ice cream parlours.

There is also a nicely planted garden on the promenade if you want to sit somewhere without getting sand in your socks! And the promenade is ideal for a stroll, lined with benches for when you get tired.