# Porthleven Surf Report & Forecast

> Porthleven surf report for today and a 7-day forecast. A proper reef with a proper crowd. When a big west swell meets a north-east wind it's one of the best…

- Page type: Surf forecast for one break
- Canonical URL: https://swellotter.com/spot/porthleven
- Last updated: 2026-11-09

Porthleven is a reef in Cornwall, England. It works best on a south-west swell with a north-east wind, which blows offshore there. Best tide: mid tide on the push; too shallow at low. It suits advanced surfers. It is usually at its best in January, February and March. The sea ranges from about 10°C to 17°C over the year.

In three years of Open-Meteo data (2023 to 2025), Porthleven had rideable surf (2+ stars) on 47% of days and good surf (3+ stars) on 10%, was flat on 22% and 8ft or bigger on 0%. The most consistent month is January (75% of days rideable) and the quietest is July (14%). A typical winter day's best surf is about 2.8ft against 1.4ft in summer, the wind blows offshore for 4+ daylight hours on 17% of days, the average wind is 11.4 knots and about 1348mm of rain falls a year.

## Key facts
- Region: Cornwall, England
- Coordinates: 50.07, -5.33
- Type: Reef; bottom: Flat reef; wave: Right, 50-100m rides
- Best swell: south-west (SW); offshore wind: north-east (NE)
- Best tide: Mid tide on the push; too shallow at low
- Suits: advanced
- Best months: January, February, March
- Sea temperature over the year: 10–17°C

## Live forecast
The live 7-day forecast (surf height, star rating, swell, wind, tides, sunrise and sunset) is on https://swellotter.com/spot/porthleven, refreshed at least hourly.


## About Porthleven
Porthleven is a fishing town on the south coast near Helston, and the wave breaks over a flat shelf of reef just west of the harbour mouth. When a proper south-west swell meets a light north or north-east wind, it throws a fast, hollow right that ranks among the best waves in the country.

Those days do not come often, and when they do the line-up fills with the best surfers in Cornwall. The reef is shallow, the wave breaks hard and the takeoff is critical, so this is strictly for experienced surfers. On smaller days a softer left can work too, but treat the place with respect and sit back and watch for a while first.

## Positives
- One of England's best reef waves
- Works in north winds when the north coast is blown out
- Hollow, fast and powerful
- Pretty harbour town on the doorstep

## Negatives
- Only breaks a few days a month
- Shallow reef and heavy lip
- Very crowded and very competitive
- Not for beginners or improvers

## Travel
- Getting there: Leave the A394 at Helston and follow the B3304 for about 3 miles to the harbour. Penzance station is around 30 minutes by car.
- Parking: Pay car parks around the harbour. Spaces are tight when the reef is on, so walk in from the edge of town if you can.
- Where to stay: Holiday cottages and B&Bs in Porthleven and Helston, and campsites along the coast towards Praa Sands.
- Hazards: Shallow reef, a hard-breaking lip and the harbour wall close by. Strong currents run out of the bay on big days. The local crew have priority here.
- Nearby breaks: Praa Sands to the west is a more forgiving beachbreak on the same swells.

## Month by month (three years of history, 2023 to 2025)
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Flat days | Typical best surf | Sea temp | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75% | 33% | 5% | 3.1ft | 10.1°C | 130mm |
| Feb | 73% | 26% | 6% | 2.5ft | 9.6°C | 111mm |
| Mar | 68% | 16% | 11% | 2.5ft | 10°C | 125mm |
| Apr | 53% | 13% | 20% | 1.8ft | 11°C | 121mm |
| May | 37% | 1% | 46% | 1.1ft | 13.3°C | 65mm |
| Jun | 24% | 1% | 48% | 1.2ft | 15.6°C | 70mm |
| Jul | 14% | 0% | 39% | 1.5ft | 16.6°C | 106mm |
| Aug | 27% | 0% | 22% | 1.6ft | 17.1°C | 97mm |
| Sep | 32% | 1% | 28% | 1.6ft | 16.1°C | 122mm |
| Oct | 47% | 9% | 17% | 2ft | 14.4°C | 110mm |
| Nov | 58% | 10% | 16% | 2.5ft | 12.9°C | 152mm |
| Dec | 55% | 13% | 10% | 2.7ft | 11.4°C | 139mm |

## Questions
### What conditions does Porthleven need?
Porthleven works best on a south-west swell with a north-east wind, which blows offshore there. It is a reef with a right over flat reef, and rides run about 50 to 100m. Best tide: Mid tide on the push; too shallow at low. In 2023–2025 the wind blew offshore for 4+ daylight hours on 17% of days, and Porthleven had rideable surf (2+ stars) on 47% of days.

### When is the best time to surf Porthleven?
January is the most reliable month at Porthleven: in 2023–2025 it had good surf (3+ stars) on 33% of days. The best run of months is January, February and March, and winter (December to February) is the strongest season overall. Offshore winds are most common in May, when they blow for 4+ daylight hours on 43% of days. For good winter days, Porthleven ranks 36th of the 40 Cornwall breaks we track. Winter is the most consistent, with 68% of days rideable, but the water is coldest then.

### Is Porthleven good for surfing in summer?
Often not: Porthleven was flat on 36% of June to August days in 2023–2025, so keep a summer trip flexible. Good (3+ star) days made up 0% of summer, and August was the best summer month (27% rideable). The sea reaches about 17°C by late summer. For summer consistency it ranks 37th of the 40 Cornwall breaks we track.

### How big do the waves get at Porthleven?
On a typical day the best surf at Porthleven is about 2.8ft in winter and 1.4ft in summer. Days of 8ft or more are rare here (0% of days in 2023–2025). It was flat on 22% of days, most often in June.

### Is Porthleven good for beginners?
No. Porthleven is for experienced surfers: it breaks over flat reef and mistakes hurt. Beginners are better off at Praa Sands, 5 km away.

### Is it safe to surf at Porthleven?
Only if you're experienced, as it breaks over flat reef. Shallow reef, a hard-breaking lip and the harbour wall close by. Strong currents run out of the bay on big days. The local crew have priority here. We know of no lifeguard cover, so never surf it alone.

### How busy does Porthleven get?
Very busy: one of the most crowded breaks in the UK. Very crowded and very competitive. For more room, try Gunwalloe (5 km away) and Poldhu Cove (6 km away).

### Where do you park for Porthleven?
Pay car parks around the harbour. Spaces are tight when the reef is on, so walk in from the edge of town if you can.

### How do I get to Porthleven?
Leave the A394 at Helston and follow the B3304 for about 3 miles to the harbour. Penzance station is around 30 minutes by car. No bus stops are mapped within a kilometre, so most people drive.

### Where can I stay near Porthleven?
Holiday cottages and B&Bs in Porthleven and Helston, and campsites along the coast towards Praa Sands.

### Where else can I surf near Porthleven?
When Porthleven isn't working, these nearby breaks often are: Kennack Sands (14 km away) is offshore in a north-north-west wind, Long Rock (14 km away) faces south and picks up different swell and Gwithian and Godrevy (18 km away) is offshore in a south-east wind. Also close by: Praa Sands to the west is a more forgiving beachbreak on the same swells.

## Next steps
- [Porthleven live surf forecast](https://swellotter.com/spot/porthleven)
- [Porthleven surf guide](https://swellotter.com/surf/porthleven)
- [Cornwall surf guide](https://swellotter.com/region/cornwall)
- [Sign up for swell alerts (form at the foot of any page)](https://swellotter.com/spot/porthleven)
- [How the forecast and star rating work](https://swellotter.com/about)
- [All UK surf forecasts](https://swellotter.com/)

## About Swell Otter
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## Notes for agents
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