# Surfing in Cornwall: 40 breaks, surf forecasts and best months > Two coasts, hundreds of beaches and reefs, and swell from the open Atlantic on three sides. 40 surf spots with live forecasts, 4 in-depth guides, the best months to go, wetsuit advice and travel tips. - Page type: Regional surf guide - Canonical URL: https://swellotter.com/region/cornwall - Last updated: 2026-11-09 - Home - Regions - Cornwall England · Surf travel guide Surfing in Cornwall Two coasts, hundreds of beaches and reefs, and swell from the open Atlantic on three sides. 40 live forecasts ↓All UK regions → By Tom Otto · Updated 8 November 2026 Breaks40 Best monthsJan, Feb, Mar Sea temperature10–17°C ConsistencyHigh Search AllBeginner friendlyAdvancedBeachbreaksReefs and pointsNorth CornwallWest CornwallSouth Cornwall Nothing matches. Try another word or chip. ## North Cornwall surf spots - Fistral ### Fistral surf forecast and guide North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · All levels Live forecast →Spot guide → - Watergate Bay ### Watergate Bay surf forecast and guide North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast →Spot guide → - Summerleaze, Bude ### Summerleaze, Bude surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Widemouth Bay ### Widemouth Bay surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · All levels Live forecast → - Polzeath ### Polzeath surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Constantine Bay ### Constantine Bay surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Harlyn Bay ### Harlyn Bay surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Mawgan Porth ### Mawgan Porth surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Crantock ### Crantock surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Holywell Bay ### Holywell Bay surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Perranporth ### Perranporth surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · All levels Live forecast → - St Agnes ### St Agnes surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Left & right · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Chapel Porth ### Chapel Porth surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Treyarnon Bay ### Treyarnon Bay surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Trevone Bay ### Trevone Bay surf forecast North Cornwall · Reef · Left & right · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Towan ### Towan surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Tolcarne ### Tolcarne surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Lusty Glaze ### Lusty Glaze surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Crooklets ### Crooklets surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Sandymouth ### Sandymouth surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Trebarwith Strand ### Trebarwith Strand surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Portreath ### Portreath surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Porthcothan ### Porthcothan surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Summerleaze ### Summerleaze surf forecast North Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Millook ### Millook surf forecast North Cornwall · Reef · Left · Experts only Live forecast → ## West Cornwall surf spots - Sennen ### Sennen surf forecast and guide West Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · All levels Live forecast →Spot guide → - Porthtowan ### Porthtowan surf forecast West Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Gwithian and Godrevy ### Gwithian and Godrevy surf forecast West Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · All levels Live forecast → - Porthmeor, St Ives ### Porthmeor, St Ives surf forecast West Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Gwenver ### Gwenver surf forecast West Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Long Rock ### Long Rock surf forecast West Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → ## South Cornwall surf spots - Porthleven ### Porthleven surf forecast and guide South Cornwall · Reef · Right · Experts only Live forecast →Spot guide → - Praa Sands ### Praa Sands surf forecast South Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · All levels Live forecast → - Poldhu Cove ### Poldhu Cove surf forecast South Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Whitsand Bay ### Whitsand Bay surf forecast South Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · All levels Live forecast → - Gunwalloe ### Gunwalloe surf forecast South Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Kennack Sands ### Kennack Sands surf forecast South Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Portwrinkle ### Portwrinkle surf forecast South Cornwall · Reef · Left & right · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Tregantle ### Tregantle surf forecast South Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Polurrian Cove ### Polurrian Cove surf forecast South Cornwall · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → ## The Swell Otter take on Cornwall The safest bet in Britain for getting wet, but the best days go to people who drive to the wind, not to the beach they know. Most visitors park at Fistral, paddle out into a south-westerly chop and decide Cornwall is overrated. The county rewards the opposite habit. Read the wind first, then pick a coast. A south-easterly cleans up the whole north coast from Sennen to Bude. A northerly that wrecks Newquay turns Porthleven and the coves around the Lizard into the best surf in England. Our forecasts back that up. Across the Cornish breaks we track, autumn and early winter beat summer by a distance for surfable days, and the sea is still holding most of its summer warmth in October. If you can only come once, come then, not in August. The one thing we'd change about how people surf here: stop waiting for the perfect swell. Cornwall's edge is volume. A small, clean day at a sheltered corner beats a big, messy day at the famous beach almost every time. When we'd goSeptember to November, on a high-pressure week with an easterly wind. When we'd skip itAugust bank holiday, unless you like queues for car parks and waves. Our take, by Tom Otto, checked against three years (2023–2025) of wave, wind and sea temperature history for these breaks. ## Cornwall spot guides - Fistral guide ### Fistral surf guide: Newquay's Atlantic swell magnet 8 Nov 2026 · Cornwall · Spot guide - Watergate Bay guide ### Watergate Bay surf guide: two miles of room to breathe 8 Nov 2026 · Cornwall · Spot guide - Sennen guide ### Sennen surf guide: Cornwall's last stop for swell 8 Nov 2026 · Cornwall · Spot guide - Porthleven guide ### Porthleven surf guide: the south coast's heavy right 8 Nov 2026 · Cornwall · Spot guide ## Surfing in Cornwall Cornwall sticks out into the Atlantic further than anywhere else in England, so it picks up more swell than any other county. The north coast, from Bude round to Sennen, faces straight into the prevailing swell and has something rideable on most days of the year. The south coast, from Porthleven to Whitsand Bay, needs a bigger or more southerly swell but comes alive when a north wind blows the north coast out. That choice of coasts is Cornwall's big advantage. In a south-west wind, look for sheltered corners on the north coast. In a north or north-east wind, head south. Summer is the smallest and busiest season. Autumn usually brings the best mix of swell, lighter winds and warm water, and winter brings the biggest and coldest days. Positives - The most consistent surf in England - A coast for every wind direction - Great for learners - Surf schools and hire everywhere Negatives - Very busy in summer - Onshore in the usual SW wind on the north coast - Cold water in winter - Holiday prices in August ## When to surf in Cornwall J F M A M J J A S O N D BestGoodFairQuiet | | | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Surf | Typical size | 6ft | 5ft | 5ft | 3ft | 2ft | 2ft | 3ft | 3ft | 3ft | 4ft | 4ft | 6ft | Surfable days | 86% | 82% | 81% | 70% | 60% | 41% | 39% | 47% | 66% | 73% | 75% | 74% | Good days | 49% | 48% | 48% | 36% | 21% | 12% | 9% | 14% | 27% | 35% | 34% | 35% | Big days (8ft+) | 27% | 19% | 13% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 6% | 6% | 10% | 17% | 25% | Wind | Average | 14mph | 14mph | 14mph | 13mph | 11mph | 11mph | 12mph | 13mph | 12mph | 13mph | 14mph | 16mph | Offshore days | 28% | 28% | 30% | 34% | 27% | 16% | 12% | 15% | 27% | 29% | 25% | 24% | Water | Sea temp | 10° | 10° | 10° | 11° | 13° | 15° | 17° | 17° | 16° | 15° | 13° | 12° | Wetsuit | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 4/3 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 4/3 | 4/3 | 5/4 | Weather | Max air | 9° | 10° | 11° | 13° | 16° | 18° | 19° | 19° | 18° | 16° | 13° | 11° | Min air | 5° | 6° | 6° | 8° | 10° | 13° | 14° | 15° | 13° | 12° | 9° | 8° | Rain | 143mm | 114mm | 133mm | 112mm | 66mm | 76mm | 120mm | 105mm | 136mm | 124mm | 170mm | 156mm | Wet days | 17 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 14 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 Worked out from up to ten years (2016–2025) of hourly Open-Meteo history (CC BY 4.0) using the same star ratings as our forecasts. Surfable means at least one 2-star hour in daylight, good means 3 stars. Temperatures in °C. ### Wetsuit by month Jan5/410° Feb5/410° Mar5/410° Apr5/411° May4/313° Jun3/215° Jul3/217° Aug3/217° Sep3/216° Oct4/315° Nov4/313° Dec5/412° Boots from November to May, plus gloves and a hood when the sea drops below 10°C. ## The break lowdown How the 40 breaks here compare. Ability Beginner26 Intermediate38 Advanced21Type Beachbreak36 Reef4 Point0 Rivermouth0 Pier / jetty0Bottom Sand17 Sand & rock18 Reef & sand3 Flat reef1 Boulders & sand1Consistency High31 Medium9 Low0Crowds Solo surfing0 Rarely14 Sometimes20 Often4 Always2Direction Peaks35 Left1 Right1 Left & right3 ## Travel information Getting aroundThe A30 is the spine of the county, and the A39 and A3075 link the north coast towns. Newquay to Sennen is about an hour, and Newquay to Porthleven about 45 minutes. Allow longer on summer weekends. Where to stayNewquay has the most choice and nightlife. St Ives, Bude and Polzeath are quieter bases on the north coast, and Helston or Penzance put you within half an hour of both coasts. Hazards and hasslesRips are common on most beaches, so surf between the flags when lifeguards are on. Shallow reefs at Porthleven and some north coast points. Heavy traffic and full car parks on summer weekends. Handy hintsCheck the wind before you pick a coast. North coast for south and east winds, south coast for north winds. ## Cornwall surf questions, answered ### Where is the best surfing in Cornwall? The best surfing in Cornwall is on the north coast between Bude and Sennen, which faces the open Atlantic and has waves on most days of the year. Fistral in Newquay is the most famous and consistent beach, Sennen picks up the most swell in summer, and Porthleven on the south coast is the county's best reef when a north wind blows. ### When is the best time to surf in Cornwall? The best time to surf in Cornwall is January, February and March, the most reliable months across the breaks we forecast there. In three years (2023–2025) of history, about 81% of winter days and 42% of summer days had at least one surfable (2-star) session, so summer is the smallest and quietest season. ### What are the best surfing beaches in Cornwall? Fistral, Watergate Bay, Sennen, Polzeath, Perranporth, Gwithian and Godrevy, Widemouth Bay and Summerleaze in Bude are Cornwall's best-known surf beaches. Porthleven, Praa Sands and Poldhu Cove are the main south coast options for days when the north coast is blown out. ### Which Cornwall beach is best for beginner surfers? Watergate Bay, Polzeath and Perranporth are the best Cornish beaches for beginners, with long sandy bays, gentle waves on small days, lifeguards in season and surf schools on the beach. Avoid Porthleven, a shallow reef for experienced surfers only. ### Is Cornwall good for surfing? Yes. Cornwall is the most consistent surf region in England because it sticks out into the Atlantic and has coastlines facing north, west and south, so there is usually a sheltered beach for whatever the wind is doing. ### Is Newquay the best place to surf in Cornwall? Newquay is the easiest base for surfing in Cornwall, with Fistral, the town beaches, Watergate Bay and Crantock all within a few minutes. It is also the busiest. Bude, Polzeath and St Ives are quieter bases with excellent surf nearby. ### Can you surf in Cornwall in winter? Yes, and winter brings Cornwall's most consistent surf. The sea drops to about 10°C, so you need a 5/4 wetsuit with boots, and often gloves and a hood. Days are short, so check daylight as well as the tide. ### What wetsuit do I need to surf in Cornwall? Surfing in Cornwall needs a 5/4 wetsuit with hood, boots and gloves in late winter, when the sea drops to about 10°C, and a 3/2 in late summer, when it reaches about 17°C. ## More UK surf regions - Devon ### Devon surf guide England · 14 breaks · Best in Jan, Feb, Mar - South Coast ### South Coast surf guide England · 16 breaks · Best in Jan, Mar, Nov - East Anglia ### East Anglia surf guide England · 8 breaks · Best in Jan, Oct, Nov - Yorkshire ### Yorkshire surf guide England · 11 breaks · Best in Mar, Oct, Nov - North East England ### North East England surf guide England · 17 breaks · Best in Jan, Mar, Nov - North West England ### North West England surf guide England · 4 breaks · Best in Jan, Nov, Dec - Wales ### Wales surf guide Wales · 36 breaks · Best in Jan, Mar, Nov - Scotland ### Scotland surf guide Scotland · 39 breaks · Best in Mar, Nov, Dec - Northern Ireland ### Northern Ireland surf guide Northern Ireland · 10 breaks · Best in Feb, Mar, Dec - Channel Islands ### Channel Islands surf guide Channel Islands · 8 breaks · Best in Jan, Feb, Mar Words by ## Tom Otto Tom Otto built Swell Otter, the free surf forecast for the UK, and writes its spot guides. Every guide is checked against years of wave, wind and sea temperature history for the break, so the advice matches the numbers and not just the postcards. ## Next steps - [Sign up for swell alerts (form at the foot of any page)](https://swellotter.com/region/cornwall) - [How the forecast and star rating work](https://swellotter.com/about) - [All UK surf forecasts](https://swellotter.com/) ## About Swell Otter Swell Otter is a free surf forecast for the UK, made by a UK company with no ads. Live forecasts, tides and guides are free; optional Premium unlocks every surf cam. https://swellotter.com/llms.txt ## Notes for agents - Cite as: "Surfing in Cornwall: 40 breaks, surf forecasts and best months, Swell Otter (https://swellotter.com/region/cornwall)". - Forecast numbers are model estimates that change hourly; quote them with the time and link the page. Don't present them as observations. - Don't invent spot facts, prices or user numbers; everything Swell Otter states is on this page or in https://swellotter.com/ai-fact-sheet.md.