# Sennen Surf Report & Forecast

> Sennen surf report for today and a 7-day forecast. Cornwall's swell magnet when everywhere else is flat. Check it first in summer, and head for the Gwenver…

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

Sennen is a beachbreak in Cornwall, England. It works best on a west swell with an east wind, which blows offshore there. Best tide: all tides, with different banks working through the tide. It suits beginner, intermediate and advanced surfers. It is usually at its best in January, March and December. The sea ranges from about 10°C to 17°C over the year.

In three years of Open-Meteo data (2023 to 2025), Sennen had rideable surf (2+ stars) on 63% of days and good surf (3+ stars) on 29%, was flat on 6% and 8ft or bigger on 15%. The most consistent month is January (87% of days rideable) and the quietest is July (30%). A typical winter day's best surf is about 6.2ft against 3.2ft in summer, the wind blows offshore for 4+ daylight hours on 22% of days, the average wind is 12.9 knots and about 1387mm of rain falls a year.

## Key facts
- Region: Cornwall, England
- Coordinates: 50.07, -5.73
- Type: Beachbreak; bottom: Sand; wave: Peaks, 50-100m rides
- Best swell: west (W); offshore wind: east (E)
- Best tide: All tides, with different banks working through the tide
- Suits: beginner, intermediate, advanced
- Best months: January, March, December
- 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/sennen, refreshed at least hourly.


## About Sennen
Sennen sits in Whitesand Bay, the last stop before Land's End. It faces west into open ocean with nothing to block the swell, so it often has waves when the rest of the north coast is flat. That makes it the summer go-to for a lot of west Cornwall surfers.

The bay changes character along its length. Near the harbour the waves are smaller and gentler, which suits learners, while the middle and the Gwynver end to the north pick up more power. An east wind is offshore. On big winter swells it can get heavy, with long hold-downs and currents that pull hard along the beach.

## Positives
- Cornwall's most reliable swell magnet
- Some shelter at the harbour end
- Beautiful, clear water
- Lifeguards in season

## Negatives
- A long drive to the end of the county
- Can be big and heavy in winter
- Gwynver end has strong currents
- Small harbour car park

## Travel
- Getting there: Follow the A30 west past Penzance almost to Land's End, then drop down to Sennen Cove. Buses run from Penzance, about 30 minutes away.
- Parking: A small pay car park by the harbour that fills quickly, and a larger one at the top of the hill with a steep walk down.
- Where to stay: B&Bs and holiday lets in Sennen and St Just, and campsites around Land's End. Penzance has more choice.
- Hazards: Strong currents at Gwynver and in the middle of the bay when the swell is up. Big shore break at high tide on large days.
- Nearby breaks: Gwynver at the north end of the bay and Porthcurno around the corner on the south coast.

## Month by month (three years of history, 2023 to 2025)
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Flat days | Typical best surf | Sea temp | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87% | 48% | 0% | 6.1ft | 10.6°C | 125mm |
| Feb | 72% | 38% | 1% | 6.3ft | 10°C | 105mm |
| Mar | 76% | 45% | 2% | 6.1ft | 10.1°C | 124mm |
| Apr | 67% | 39% | 6% | 3.9ft | 10.9°C | 116mm |
| May | 62% | 30% | 8% | 2.9ft | 13.2°C | 63mm |
| Jun | 41% | 13% | 16% | 2.7ft | 15.2°C | 77mm |
| Jul | 30% | 10% | 15% | 3.3ft | 16.3°C | 127mm |
| Aug | 41% | 14% | 11% | 3.5ft | 16.8°C | 106mm |
| Sep | 64% | 28% | 6% | 3.9ft | 16°C | 120mm |
| Oct | 69% | 31% | 4% | 4.4ft | 14.4°C | 122mm |
| Nov | 73% | 30% | 1% | 4.7ft | 13.2°C | 148mm |
| Dec | 76% | 25% | 1% | 6.1ft | 11.8°C | 154mm |

## Questions
### What conditions does Sennen need?
Sennen works best on a west swell with an east wind, which blows offshore there. It is a beachbreak with shifting peaks over sand, and rides run about 50 to 100m. Best tide: All tides, with different banks working through the tide. In 2023–2025 the wind blew offshore for 4+ daylight hours on 22% of days, and Sennen had rideable surf (2+ stars) on 63% of days.

### When is the best time to surf Sennen?
January is the most reliable month at Sennen: in 2023–2025 it had good surf (3+ stars) on 48% of days. The best run of months is January, March and April, and spring (March to May) is the strongest season overall. Offshore winds are most common in May, when they blow for 4+ daylight hours on 34% of days. For good winter days, Sennen ranks 30th of the 40 Cornwall breaks we track. Winter often gets too big: 30% of December to February days were 8ft or more.

### Is Sennen good for surfing in summer?
Sometimes: Sennen had rideable surf on 37% of June to August days in 2023–2025, mostly small. Good (3+ star) days made up 12% of summer, and June was the best summer month (41% rideable). The sea reaches about 17°C by late summer. For summer consistency it ranks 31st of the 40 Cornwall breaks we track.

### What wetsuit do I need at Sennen?
At Sennen you need a 5/4 from December to April, a 4/3 in May and from October to November and a 3/2 from June to September. Boots help through the 5/4 months. In February, the coldest month, Sennen had good surf on 38% of days, against 14% in August. The sea is coldest in February at about 10°C and warmest in August at about 17°C, while the air reaches about 10°C on a February afternoon.

### How big do the waves get at Sennen?
On a typical day the best surf at Sennen is about 6.2ft in winter and 3.2ft in summer. It was 8ft or bigger on 15% of days in 2023–2025, most often in January. It was flat on 6% of days, most often in June.

### Is Sennen good for beginners?
Yes, on small days. Sennen has sandy footing and spots for learners, but it gets powerful as the swell builds. The gentlest months that still have surf are May and June.

### Is it safe to surf at Sennen?
Yes when it's small, but know this. Strong currents at Gwynver and in the middle of the bay when the swell is up. Big shore break at high tide on large days. Lifeguards cover it in season (check RNLI dates).

### How busy does Sennen get?
Busy at times. For more room, try Gwenver (4 km away) and Long Rock (17 km away).

### Where do you park for Sennen?
A small pay car park by the harbour that fills quickly, and a larger one at the top of the hill with a steep walk down.

### Are there toilets and cafes at Sennen?
Yes. OpenStreetMap maps 1 cafe, pub or food stop (among them The Land's End Hotel) within about a kilometre of Sennen.

### How do I get to Sennen?
Follow the A30 west past Penzance almost to Land's End, then drop down to Sennen Cove. Buses run from Penzance, about 30 minutes away. No bus stops are mapped within a kilometre, so most people drive.

### Where can I stay near Sennen?
B&Bs and holiday lets in Sennen and St Just, and campsites around Land's End. Penzance has more choice.

### Where else can I surf near Sennen?
When Sennen isn't working, these nearby breaks often are: Long Rock (17 km away) is offshore in a north wind, Porthmeor, St Ives (24 km away) is offshore in a south wind and Praa Sands (24 km away) is offshore in a north-north-east wind. Also close by: Gwynver at the north end of the bay and Porthcurno around the corner on the south coast.

## Next steps
- [Sennen live surf forecast](https://swellotter.com/spot/sennen)
- [Sennen surf guide](https://swellotter.com/surf/sennen)
- [Cornwall surf guide](https://swellotter.com/region/cornwall)
- [Sign up for swell alerts (form at the foot of any page)](https://swellotter.com/spot/sennen)
- [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
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