Surfing in Cornwall

This stretch faces mainly west and picks up most swells. Tintagel and Padstow have all the facilities visiting surfers need — campsites, accommodation and surf shops.

Polzeath — a popular, forgiving beach break, best on a clean swell with light south-easterlies. Works on all tides, and one of the best learner beaches in the county.

Camel Estuary (Hayle Beach) — a superb beginner spot with a long ride that works through the tide. Big winter swells can push right into the Camel's mouth, offering rare shelter from north-westerlies.

Harlyn Bay — north-facing, three miles west of Padstow, worth a look on big south or south-westerly swells. A right-hander works off St Cadoc's Point most tide stages, though big high tides can turn it into a shore dump best avoided by novices. Sheltered from severe winds by Trevose Head.

Constantine Bay — west-facing, separated from Booby's Bay by a rocky headland. A left/right breaks centrally from mid-to-high tide; a faster, more advanced wave works off the southern reef. Ferocious rips at times.

Treyarnon — narrow, west-facing, best around low tide. Rips over 3ft.

Practical Info

Newquay is the centre of surfing in Britain, with beaches running in every direction, the country's greatest concentration of surf shops, and even a dedicated surf hostel.

Mawgan Porth — west-facing, four miles north of Newquay, can offer fast river-mouth waves at low tide when the sandbars line up. Only really works in easterlies.

Watergate Bay — a two-mile flat, sandy, west-facing beach popular with learners; the easier paddle-out attracts locals too when a big swell runs. The north end tends to be bigger and less crowded.

Whipsiderry — low-to-mid-tide break, submerged at high tide, sheltered from south-westerlies.

Newquay Bay (Tolcarne, Great Western, Towan) — three north-facing town beaches that join at low tide into a mile-long stretch. Popular and often crowded in summer; best around mid-tide with a light westerly cross-shore.

Fistral Beach — Britain's most famous surf beach, overlooked by the Headland Hotel and home to the annual Surfmasters contest. North-west facing, fast and hollow, particularly at low tide, holding shape even in on-shore conditions, with good tubing sections in a south-easterly wind. Off Towan Head, the Cribber Reef breaks big in winter swells for experts only.

Crantock Beach — north-west facing, a mile south of town, sheltered by East and West Pentire Points. Worth a visit when other beaches are blown out; best mid-to-high tide.

Holywell Bay — north-west facing, best around low tide, rips over 4ft.

Practical Info

Perran Bay — west-facing, just north of Perranporth, produces a good wave; the dune walk keeps crowds down.

Perranporth — busy in summer, a solid learning beach, though rips are present at either end. Local surf and hire shop on hand.

Penhale Corner — offers shelter in the right winds. Note: MoD firing range on the cliffs above.

Trevaunance Cove — north-facing, works in big swells, sheltered from westerlies and south-westerlies. Mostly rights breaking off the rocks mid-cove; always crowded when it's good.

Chapel Porth — tiny west-facing beach at high tide, giving good lefts and rights over sand from low to mid tide. Rips over 3ft.

Porthtowan — north-west facing, at the end of a long valley; when the sandbars line up it can produce excellent tubing waves at all tide stages.

Portreath — north-facing, four miles north of Camborne, sheltered from south-westerlies. Needs a big swell but can hold a good wave to 6ft near high tide; the harbour wall right-hander on big swells is experienced-surfers-only.

Practical Info

Gwithian — holds larger surf than most surrounding beaches in light winds; not for the faint-hearted in winter. Rips over 4ft.

Carbis Bay — only surfable on huge swells; mostly a summer tourist beach.

Porthmeor Beach, St Ives — the town's main surf spot, north-facing, good in any southerly wind, and home to Tate St Ives nearby. A solid beginner's beach.

Sennen Cove (Gwynver & Sennen) — one of the most exposed beaches in the country, picking up any North Atlantic swell. Strong rips make Gwynver unsuitable for beginners; Sennen works up to 6ft from low-to-mid tide. On huge days, the Cowloe reef off the lifeboat jetty is worth watching from the cliffs.

Porthcurno — small south-east facing cove, one of the few spots where north-westerlies blow offshore. Not for beginners; rips over 3ft.

Practical Info

Praa Sands & Perranuthnoe — south-west facing, work on south-westerly swells with a north-quadrant wind; fast, sucky waves close to shore, best mid-to-high tide.

Porthleven — a serious right-hand reef break holding waves up to 12ft, needing a big westerly/south-westerly swell and a north-easterly breeze — so it doesn't work often. Dangerously shallow at low tide; experts only. A second reef at the harbour wall end is sometimes good at low tide for short, hollow lefts-and-rights — also dangerously shallow.

Kennack Sands — south-east facing, best around mid-tide, works on big south-west or south-east swells.

Practical Info

Pentewan Beach — south-east facing, best around mid-tide, works on south-east or huge south-west swells. A good all-round beach for non-surfers too, with a nearby holiday park including a licensed bar and games room.

Whitsand Bay — a long, south-west facing bay that comes alive when swell rolls in from the west. Good banks can be found all along the bay, but the most consistent and safest are below Freathy, which is also the lifeguarded stretch of beach.

Looe — an exposed beach break with genuinely inconsistent surf, best suited to experienced surfers rather than beginners. Winter is the favoured season, needing a south-southwest swell with an offshore west-southwest wind — on its day it can be excellent, but good conditions only line up a handful of times a year. Nearby Seaton Beach is regarded locally as one of the only spots in the immediate Looe area offering more reliably surfable conditions.

Practical Info

Widemouth Bay near Bude and Polzeath are both regularly recommended, thanks to gently shelving beaches and consistent, mellow waves. Porthmeor in St Ives and Watergate Bay near Newquay are also good first-timer spots.

Autumn through early spring brings the biggest, most consistent Atlantic swells. Summer offers smaller, friendlier waves and warmer water — better for beginners and families.

Yes — Cornwall's sea rarely exceeds the high teens (°C) even in summer. A 3/2mm suit works for summer; a thicker 4/3mm or 5/4mm with boots, gloves and a hood is recommended in winter.

Yes, particularly near headlands, rocks and river mouths, and they can strengthen quickly. Surf lifeguarded beaches where possible, and if caught in a rip, stay calm, raise an arm, and swim parallel to shore rather than against the current.

Fistral Beach in Newquay — Britain's best-known surf beach, host to major competitions, with fast, hollow waves that work at most tides.

Yes, though both are more exposed south coast spots best suited to experienced surfers. Looe is inconsistent and favours winter, needing a south-southwest swell with an offshore wind, and only breaks well a handful of days a year. Whitsand Bay is more consistent, with the best banks found below Freathy — also the lifeguarded stretch.