Rest Bay, Porthcawl

Rest Bay, Porthcawl works best on a south-west swell with a north-east wind, which blows offshore there. It is a beachbreak with shifting peaks over reef and sand, and rides run about 50 to 100m. Best tide: Low to mid; big tidal range changes it fast. In 2023–2025 the wind blew offshore for 4+ daylight hours on 17% of days, and Rest Bay, Porthcawl had rideable surf (2+ stars) on 73% of days.

March is the most reliable month at Rest Bay, Porthcawl: in 2023–2025 it had good surf (3+ stars) on 48% 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 March, when they blow for 4+ daylight hours on 26% of days. For good winter days, Rest Bay, Porthcawl ranks 7th of the 36 Wales breaks we track. Winter is the most consistent, with 88% of days rideable, but the water is coldest then.

Often not: Rest Bay, Porthcawl was flat on 15% of June to August days in 2023–2025, so keep a summer trip flexible. Good (3+ star) days made up 10% of summer, and July was the best summer month (53% rideable). The sea reaches about 18°C by late summer. For summer consistency it ranks 6th of the 36 Wales breaks we track.

At Rest Bay, Porthcawl you need a 5/4 from December to April, a 4/3 in May and in November and a 3/2 from June to October. Wear boots through the 5/4 months, and add a hood and gloves from January to March, when the sea is under 10°C. From July to September a spring suit will do on warm days. In February, the coldest month, Rest Bay, Porthcawl had good surf on 46% of days, against 15% in August. The sea is coldest in February at about 8°C and warmest in August at about 18°C, while the air reaches about 9°C on a February afternoon.

On a typical day the best surf at Rest Bay, Porthcawl is about 4.7ft in winter and 2.4ft in summer. It was 8ft or bigger on 8% of days in 2023–2025, most often in December. It was flat on 7% of days, most often in June.

Yes, on small days. Rest Bay, Porthcawl has sandy footing and spots for learners, but it gets powerful as the swell builds. Lifeguards, surf school and watersports centre. The gentlest months that still have surf are May, July and August.

Yes when it's small, but know this. Rocks at both ends and patches of reef across the beach. The tide comes in fast. Rips on bigger days at low tide. Lifeguards cover it in season (check RNLI dates).

Often busy. Busy at weekends. For more room, try Ogmore-by-Sea (8 km away) and Hunts Bay (24 km away).

Leave the M4 at junction 37 and follow signs to Porthcawl and Rest Bay, about 10 minutes. Bridgend is the nearest station. Where to stay: Holiday parks, hotels and B&Bs in Porthcawl, and more in Bridgend.

When Rest Bay, Porthcawl isn't working, these nearby breaks often are: Lynmouth (28 km away) is offshore in a south wind and Oxwich Bay (29 km away) is offshore in a west-north-west wind. Also close by: Coney Beach in Porthcawl and Llantwit Major further east.