BEST PLACES TO SURF IN CORNWALL IN 2024! SCROLL DOWN FOR OUR CHOICE OF THE TOP CORNWALL SURF SPOTS. WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SURFING LESSONS OR VISITING THE DUCHY AS A SEASONED SHREDDER, WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE BEST TO HEAD WITH YOUR BOARD…
Welcome to Cornwall, the UK’s surfing Mecca. With over 400 miles of coastline stretching around the edges for the jagged granite finger that is Cornwall its no wonder that surfing goes with the Duchy like jam goes with clotted cream.
With a coast that wraps around the peninsula and is home to bays, beaches and breaks that face all corners of the compass there’s nearly always somewhere working. Cornwall offers a crazy variety of waves, from beginner friendly beach breaks to gnarly reefs that test even the most seasoned surfers.
Unquestionably the home of Cornwall’s surfing is the north coast which receives more consistent swells and towns like Newquay and Perrnaporth have become synonymous with surf culture and the smell of Sex Wax. But don’t think that the north shore has all the fun; when its working the south hosts some of Europe’s best and most challenging waves.
Most people will experience Cornish surf in the summer when mild weather and mild waves gently lap across the coastline. The summer’s a great time of year for beginners who’ll no doubt enjoy the party and holiday crowd that gathers too. But for the best of the swells be prepared to put on those booties and gloves to dare the colder seas and storm swells between October and March.
So without further ado slap on that sun tan lotion, wax up your board and grab that wettie for our guide to the best of the Duchy’s most consistent and accessible surf spots….
Wave type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand in the middle, rocky on the edges
Suitable for: Beginner to intermediate
Location: At the end of Crooklets Road, Bude
Parking: Ample space in the car park
Working best at low tide Crooklets offers a punchy beach break that can often offer hollow rides. Beginners should stick to the beach break in the middle whereas experienced surfers can be found surfing over the rocky outcrops at either the north end of the beach surfing the right handers coming off Wrangles Rock or Barrel Rock to the south, Beware the shore break, especially high tide.
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Wave type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand
Suitable for: Beginners
Location: Bude seafront
Parking: A large pay-and-display car park is next to the beach
Conveniently located on Bude’s seafront and home to the famous sea pool, Summerleaze’s wide expanse of sand is home to some fun shifting sandbars, summer crowds and consistent swell. On blowy days shelter can be found at the rivermouth end of the beach which gets shelter from the harbour. Beginners should try to go out at mid to high tide.
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Wave type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand
Suitable for: Beginners
Location: Polzeath, near Wadebridge and Padstow
Parking: Plenty of parking but arrive early for the best spot
Polzeath is a hugely popular beach break that works on all tides. Over the years its surf culture has been surpassed by its posh image but the coinsistency of the waves haven’t changed. The gradually sloping beach makes for mellow, slow breaking waves. On the inside the equally long rolling whitewater waves makes Polzeath a winner with beginners.
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Wave type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand
Suitable for: Beginner to intermediate
Location: Newquay, a couple of miles north of the town centre, also near Padstow
Parking: Space for up to 400 cars. There is a fee
Another north coast swell catcher, Watergate is an option for those looking for consistency with more of a punch in delivery to the aforementioned Polzeath. The famed beach break offers lefts and rights and works on all tides. When it’s good its good, so when its good expect crowds.
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Wave type: Beach and harbour break
Bottom: Sand
Suitable for: Beginner to intermediate
Location: End of Beach Road, Newquay
Parking: Plenty of parking around the nearby town centre
Rule of thumb; when it’s big and blow out head to Towan. Sheltered from southwest winds by the headland and harbour Towan can become packed when nowhere else is working. Or if its big at Fistral and you’re a bit daunted by the size head to Towan where the waves will invariably be smaller and more mellow. The beach break offers good left and right handers.
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Wave type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand
Suitable for: Beginner to pro
Location: Newquay, five-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the town centre
Parking: Space for 200 cars, with a fee
Cornwall and the UK’s surfing Mecca where many a very good surfer has lived breathed and honed their skill. Fistral is another consistent swell magnet and works best at low tide but has something to offer at mid and high tide too. At the north end there are fast and hollow beach breaks that that test even the most experienced surfers. Due to its exposed position it can get easily blown out but if it is there’s just a short walk into town, or to the pub!
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Wave type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand, sand and more sand
Suitable for: Beginner to intermediate
Location: Perranporth, just south of Newquay
Parking: Plenty of parking in Perranporth town, next to the beach
Perranporth’s whopping expanse of sand also (unsurprisingly) picks up an equally whopping amount of swell. This popular holiday town gets swamped with visitors in the summer but the huge beach means that even during peak times you’ll find somewhere to surf in space. At the southern end Droskyn can offer hollow lefts off the cliff but otherwise expect masses of beginner friendly rolling mellow waves that are perfect for beginners.
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Wave type: Harbour break
Bottom: Sand and rocks
Suitable for: Advanced
Location: Off the end of Tregea Hill, Portreath, near Redruth
Parking: One spacious beachfront car park
Whilst Portreath’s beach can be a bit of a close out and wouldn’t always be a surfers first pick given all the good beach breaks around, ask any bodyboarder about Portreath and they’ll get excited. That’s because Portreath is home to a manic right hander called the ‘Vortex’ that breaks off the harbour wall during large swells. Definitely not for beginners nor the feint hearted, the wave jacks up quickly when swell meets a wall of rock next to the harbour to produce a steep wave that gives a super fast punch ride and even some air drops.
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Wave type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand
Suitable for: Beginner to intermediate
Location: Four miles from Hayle and near St Ives
Parking: Plenty of parking at the top of the cliff
Gwithian’s large open stretch of sand receives lost of swell and its shifting sandbanks produce frequently good left and right hand peaks across the bay. Waves tend to get progressively smaller as you move towards the St Ives headland so it’s often a good place to find a peak that’ll suit your level.
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Wave type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand with rocks at high tide
Suitable for: Beginner to intermediate
Location: Next to Sennen village, two miles from Land’s End, near Porthcurno and Penzance
Parking: There are three car parks near the beach
Perched on the most westerly edge of England, Sennen is pretty much the most westerly wave in the Duchy. The west facing beach (you guessed it) picks up lots and lots of waves all year round. Best for beginners during small and mellow summer swells. At other times expect shifty banks and some long hollow walls when its working well. When it gets big its best to sit on the sidelines and watch the rollers break behind the village as the rip currents can become treacherous.
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Wave type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand
Suitable for: Intermediate and above
Location: Praa Sands village, and Marazion, near Helston and Penzance
Parking: Plenty of parking right next to the beach. There’s a fee
When its blown out on the north coast it can sometimes feel like the world and their dog head to Praa. They’re there because Praa’s south coast position means it’s not always working, but when it is it really works. Famed for heavy barrelling waves this one’s not for beginners.
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Wave type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand in the middle, rocky on the edges
Suitable for: Advanced
Location: At the mouth of Porthleven harbour
Parking: Ample space in the car park
South coast surfers will smile a wry smile when faced with taunts that the best of Cornwall’s surf has been bestowed on the north coast… they’ll often do so with ‘Leven in mind. To the west of Porthleven’s picturesque harbour sits one of the UK’s true classic reefs. Its a reef that jacks up swell to produce hollow rights and lefts. Definitely only one for experienced surfers, if you manage to navigate the danger in the waves themselves, keep an eye out also for the fiercely protective locals.
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AND FINALLY…
We mentioned that Cornwall has over 400 miles of coast right? And we told you that there’s coastline facing pretty much every compass direction. Well that means that there’s countless opportunities to find a wave. Sure there’s enough beaches with renowned surf, easy access and coffee shops to last a lifetime. But if you’re really adventurous there’s also boundless opportunities to find a secluded place to surf whenever there’s a lump in the water.
So load up your OS map, slap on ‘yer walking boots and get searching. We know a few ourselves. But we’re not telling…