Best Surf Beaches in St Ives & St Ives Bay, Cornwall
St Ives is one of the most beautiful seaside towns in Cornwall, and Porthmeor Beach, overlooked by Tate St Ives, is the county's best-known surf beach outside Newquay. Facing the Atlantic head-on, it picks up reliable swell through much of the year, and its sandy, gently shelving bottom suits learners as well as more experienced surfers.
Across the bay, the long sweep of sand from Hayle Towans to Gwithian and Godrevy is one of the most consistent stretches of surf in West Cornwall, holding larger waves than most surrounding beaches. Between the two, the sheltered beaches at Porthminster and Carbis Bay are calm family beaches that only see surf on the biggest swells – useful to know on a stormy day.
With surf schools at Porthmeor and Gwithian, RNLI lifeguards through the season, the St Ives Bay railway line and plenty of holiday accommodation in St Ives, Carbis Bay and Hayle, St Ives Bay is a superb base for a surfing holiday in West Cornwall.
Whether you're booking a first surf lesson on Porthmeor, chasing winter waves at Gwithian or exploring further west towards Sennen Cove, St Ives Bay offers surf for every ability throughout the year.
Interactive Map of St Ives Surf Beaches
Locate St Ives Bay's surf beaches using our interactive surf map.
Click markers for beach information.
Surfing in St Ives & St Ives Bay
St Ives Bay faces broadly north, so it comes alive on a north-westerly or westerly swell. Porthmeor, on the Atlantic side of the town, is the main surf spot in St Ives itself, while the three-mile stretch of sand and dunes from Hayle to Godrevy gives plenty of room on the eastern side of the bay.
Porthminster and Carbis Bay sit in the lee of the St Ives headland and are normally calm; the open beaches at Gwithian and Godrevy face the full force of the swell rolling into the bay.
Porthmeor Beach – The town's main surf spot and a Blue Flag beach. North-facing with no headlands or islands to soften the swell, Porthmeor has more consistent, better-shaped waves than most beaches in the area and is good in any southerly wind. A solid beginner's beach, with surf schools and RNLI lifeguards through the season.
Porthminster Beach – A sheltered, north-east facing crescent of sand beside St Ives railway station. It catches a much gentler swell than Porthmeor and is regarded as St Ives' safest family beach rather than a surf spot.
Carbis Bay – A mile-long, sheltered Blue Flag beach that is only surfable on huge swells – mostly a summer family and watersports beach, with kayaking, paddleboarding and Hawaiian canoe sessions from the Ocean Sports centre.
Porthkidney Sands – A vast, uncrowded beach at the mouth of the Hayle Estuary with no lifeguard cover or facilities at any time of year. Best left to experienced surfers who know the area, and never surfed alone.
Hayle Towans – The southern end of the St Ives Bay dune system, exposed to north-westerly swell, with autumn and winter producing the most consistent waves. Popular with families, surfers and bodyboarders, and on breezy days with kitesurfers, windsurfers and land yachts.
Gwithian – Holds larger surf than most surrounding beaches in light winds and is a longstanding favourite with surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers. Not for the faint-hearted in winter, with rips in surf over 4ft. Voted the best beach in the UK in 2024.
Godrevy – Facing the full force of the swell rolling into St Ives Bay, Godrevy is a popular and relatively beginner-friendly surf spot by north-coast standards, below the National Trust headland with its lighthouse and grey seal colony. Conditions and currents can change quickly.
Further west, Sennen Cove and Gwynver near Land's End are among the most exposed beaches in the country, picking up any North Atlantic swell – see our Surfing in Cornwall guide for the far west and south coast breaks.
St Ives Surf Beach Guides
Porthmeor Beach Surf Guide
Cornwall's best-known surf beach outside Newquay, with consistent, well-shaped waves, a sandy bottom that suits learners and surf schools teaching directly on the sand.
Popular Activities: Surf lessons, bodyboarding, Tate St Ives and sunset watching.
Porthmeor car park just above the beach (TR26 1JU); other town car parks nearby
Toilets at the surf lifesaving clubhouse
Cafes, restaurants and surf shops close by
RNLI lifeguards, broadly Easter to end of October
Dogs not allowed 10am–6pm, 15 May to 30 September
Blue Flag 2026
A wide, north-facing stretch of golden sand beneath Tate St Ives, framed by Man's Head and Clodgy Point to the west and the harbour side of the town to the east. Access is via a slipway and steps from the road above, with some slopes and rougher ground. St Ives' car parks fill early in summer – many visitors use the park-and-ride or the St Ives Bay railway line.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates: N50º 12' 56.66" - W5º 28' 55.98"
A sheltered Blue Flag crescent of sand with views across the bay to Godrevy Lighthouse – a calm, family-friendly beach rather than a surf spot.
Popular Activities: Swimming, paddleboarding, beach cafe and crazy golf.
Station long-stay car park above the beach (TR26 2BH)
Toilets, Changing Places facility nearby and showers
Porthminster Beach Cafe and shop
Beach wheelchairs to borrow from the cafe
Dogs not allowed 10am–6pm, 15 May to 30 September
Blue Flag 2026
North-east facing and sheltered from the Atlantic, Porthminster catches a much gentler swell than Porthmeor and has long been regarded as St Ives' safest stretch of sand. A level path and ramp link the station car park to the beach promenade.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates: N50º 12' 32.70" - W5º 28' 39.84"
A sheltered, mile-long Blue Flag crescent of golden sand where the water is usually calm – surfable only on huge swells, but a great watersports beach.
Popular Activities: Kayaking, paddleboarding, Hawaiian canoe and family swimming.
Beachside pay & display car park; council car park at Porthrepta
Carbis Bay railway station right by the beach
Toilets, restaurant, bar and kiosk
Ocean Sports watersports centre
RNLI lifeguards daily, mid-July to early September
Dogs not allowed 10am–6pm, 15 May to 30 September
Privately managed by the Carbis Bay Estate and famous as the venue for the 2021 G7 summit. Flanking headlands give the bay unusually good shelter, and a ramp leads from the beachside car park directly onto the sand.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates: N50º 11' 55.33" - W5º 27' 54.12"
A vast, uncrowded beach at the mouth of the Hayle Estuary with the St Ives Bay railway running along its dunes – wild and beautiful, but with no lifeguards at any time of year.
Popular Activities: Walking, dog walking and quiet beach days.
Very limited road parking at the end of the lane from Lelant
Lelant / Lelant Saltings railway halts nearby
No toilets, cafe or lifeguard cover
Dogs allowed all year
Also known as Lelant Towans, Porthkidney is reached on foot via the coast path or soft dune paths, making it one of the more difficult beaches in the area for wheelchair or pushchair users. The nearest facilities are in Lelant or across the estuary in Hayle.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates: N50º 11' 44.16" - W5º 26' 41.75"
The southern end of the three-mile St Ives Bay dune system, with gently shelving sand and exposed north-westerly swell that is most consistent in autumn and winter.
Popular Activities: Surfing, bodyboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing and land yachting.
Pay & display at The Towans (TR27 5AF) and Harveys Towans (TR27 5AS)
Toilets near the main car park
Beachside cafe and pub nearby
RNLI lifeguards, Easter and early May to late September
Dogs not allowed 10am–6pm, 1 July to 31 August (main stretch)
Right by the Hayle Estuary mouth and backed by holiday parks in the dunes, Hayle Towans connects with its neighbours at low tide. A wheelchair and pushchair-friendly ramp runs from near the main car park and lifeguard station onto the sand.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates: N50º 12' 14.56" - W5º 24' 56.68"
Holds larger surf than most surrounding beaches in light winds and has long been a favourite with surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers. Voted the best beach in the UK in 2024.
Popular Activities: Surf lessons, windsurfing, kitesurfing and dune walks.
Car parks between the coast road and the dunes
Toilets
Beach shop and surf hire
Sunset Surf cafe and the Jam Pot Cafe
RNLI lifeguards, early May to late September plus Easter and October weekends
Dogs allowed all year
A wide golden-sand beach backed by the Gwithian Towans dunes. It is not for the faint-hearted in winter, and rip currents develop in surf over 4ft. Some access points involve a slope and steps, so it isn't step-free throughout.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates: N50º 13' 21.15" - W5º 23' 49.61"
Below the National Trust headland at the eastern end of St Ives Bay, Godrevy faces the full force of the swell and is a popular, relatively beginner-friendly surf spot by north-coast standards.
Popular Activities: Surf lessons, seal watching at Mutton Cove and coast path walks.
National Trust car parks (free for members, Blue Badge holders free)
Toilets with RADAR-key accessible toilet
Godrevy Cafe
RNLI lifeguards daily, mid-May to late September
Dogs not allowed 10am–6pm, 1 July to 31 August
Famous for Godrevy Lighthouse and the grey seal colony below the cliffs. A fairly level gravelled path leads from the car park towards the Mutton Cove seal viewpoint. Conditions and currents can change quickly and should never be underestimated.
Sat Nav Co-ordinates: N50º 13' 51.96" - W5º 23' 27.60"
Gwithian Academy of Surfing – Godrevy Towans, near Hayle
Evolve Surf School – Gwithian
Global Boarders – Gwithian
Surfboard Hire
Porthmeor Beach surf hire
Gwithian beach shop and surf hire
St Ives town centre surf shops
Ocean Sports, Carbis Bay (kayaks and SUP)
Business details believed correct at time of writing – please confirm lesson times, prices and availability directly with each provider before travelling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Surfing in St Ives
What is the best surf beach in St Ives?
Porthmeor Beach. It faces the Atlantic head-on, picks up more consistent and better-shaped waves than any other beach in the town, works in southerly winds and has surf schools and RNLI lifeguards through the season.
Is Porthmeor good for beginners?
Yes. Porthmeor's sandy, gently shelving bottom suits learners, and St Ives Surf School runs lessons and board hire directly on the beach. Godrevy and Gwithian across the bay are also good for improvers on smaller days.
Can you surf at Carbis Bay or Porthminster?
Only rarely. Both are sheltered from the Atlantic and usually calm, making them excellent family swimming beaches. Carbis Bay is only surfable on huge swells.
Are dogs allowed on the St Ives surf beaches?
Dogs are not allowed on Porthmeor, Porthminster or Carbis Bay between 10am and 6pm from 15 May to 30 September. Godrevy and the main stretch of Hayle Towans have a ban from 10am to 6pm in July and August. Gwithian and Porthkidney Sands welcome dogs all year.
Where can I surf near St Ives in a big swell?
Gwithian holds larger surf than most of the bay but is not for the faint-hearted in winter. Experienced surfers also head west to Sennen Cove, one of the most exposed beaches in the country.
Surf conditions, lifeguard patrol dates, parking charges and dog restrictions change from year to year – always check locally and follow RNLI beach safety advice before entering the water.
