Water Sports - Surfing

These are often described as beginners’ waves, but when a big south west swell is running it can offer up some good clean faces along Towan, Tolcarne, Great Western and Lusty Glaze. The beaches all face north/north-west, so pick up less swell than Fistral. It's normally best from mid to high tide, but can close out over five feet. South to south west winds are offshore. Beginners should opt for Towan where the waves are less powerful. The further east you paddle the more powerful the waves become.

Polzeath is one of the most popular surfing beaches in the UK and as a result it gets crowded at the height of the season. There are breaks all along the beach, depending on the tide and the sand formation. At the NE end of the beach, New Polzeath is less crowded. Polzeath is regularly cleaned. Information in the form of a board describes the area as well as giving details of water quality. National Trust land adjacent to the beach provide footpaths leading to Pentire Point giving superb views from the Rump headlands. Lifeguard, seasonal dog ban, Tidy Britain Group Award, cafes, swim, surf, toilets (dis.), shops, car parks.

Gwithian Beach, near Hayle is a beautiful stretch of uninterrupted coastline providing a perfect location for surfing when the conditions are right. The beach is fairly exposed to most northerly and westerly swells, and tends to offer the best waves at low to mid-tide. In a south-easterly wind it can offer fast hollow waves. Crowds are not too much of a problem due to the length of the beach and the number of peaks. With miles of golden sands the beach is also excellent for a family day out. During the summer there could be rip currents, but the beach is lifeguarded.

Watergate Bay near Newquay is suitable for all ability ranges. The three-mile exposed sandy beach faces west and picks up any south west to north west swell and north east to south are offshore. Don’t bother going there if the swell’s big (over six feet) as it just closes out. High tide banks just south of the hotel can be good. At low to mid there are peaks every 50m to choose from. Strong rips at west and eastern end. Good parking and facilities. Mellower vibe than Newquay although can get very crowded when it's on

Widemouth (pronounced Widmouth Bay at Bude offers waves that are suitable for beginners to intermediate. Because of its location, it's a popular beach that has waves along its entire length, although the direction of the swell can make a big difference to the quality. Works best from mid to high tide and is surfable up to six feet, maybe eight feet on a super-clean day. If you like fast rights, head to the southern end at Black Rock at high tide. At middle beach a quality left can be found. At high tide Inside Camel comes into play to the right of the lifeguard hut, but watch out for rocks. Easy paddle out except on big onshore days. Good parking overlooking the beach. Popular with body boarders, long boarders and short boarders

Crooklets Beach, in Bude is suitable for beginners to intermediates. A big draw though is the right-hander that breaks before and just after low tide at Wrangles Rock. It’s a hollow wave that can provide a cover-up or two. At high tide there is the infamous shore break in front of the Bude Surf Livesaving Club. Can be surfed up to six feet and the best winds are from the south east or east. Sheltered at high tide from a north/north westerly. To the south, in front of the harbour, a long left hander breaks off Barrel Rock. As the tide pushes in a short right comes into play at Cross Rocks, which can be clean in a strong south westerly. Paddle out off the outdoor swimming pool. Very popular beach because of its close location to Bude town centre. Good parking and facilities

Whitsand Bay is suitable for beginner to intermediates. The picturesque four-mile beach boasts several quality peaks throughout its length. Tregantle, Tregonhawke and Sharrow all show themselves at low tide. As the tide pushes in, individual bays come into play which while providing shelter from strong westerlies, can lead to crowded conditions in the line-up. The waves will always be a foot or two smaller than the more westerly facing breaks, but don’t let that lure you into a false sense of security - rip currents can be wicked at low tide. Unless you like long paddle outs try not to surf at low tide in a big swell - the waves have a tendency to break a long way offshore. Parking is available at some of the spots along the cliff

This most westerly of sandy beaches acts as a wave magnet, picking up any available swell from the North Atlantic and Biscay. Sennen is suitable for beginners and experts. If it’s flat here, then the chances are there aren’t going be waves anywhere else around the South West coastline. At Sennen, wave size increases the further north along the beach you go, so those wanting a mellower wave should stay at the lifeboat and car park end. About 250 yards further along the beach you can find a punchy left and right which breaks off a sandbar just before mid tide. It can hold surf up to eight feet, but expect a long paddle out into the line-up. South to south west winds are offshore and parking and facilities are good

Perranporth offers waves suitable for beginners to intermediates. There are plenty of peaks throughout its length, from the lefts at Droskyn to the long walling rights at Penhale. Perranporth holds waves up to six feet; any bigger and they tend to close out on the offshore sandbanks. Works through all stages of the tide and is best when the winds are from the south east through to north east. Strong currents can be a problem on larger days. Parking is available in the town. Lifeguards operate during the summer. Good facilities and relaxed atmosphere on the beach and in the water

Falmouth Beaches are ideal for beginners to intermediates. Head here when strong south-westerlies and double-overhead waves are battering the north coast. More renowned for its sailing than surfing, good waves can be had at Swanpool and Maenporth beaches, although crowds can be a problem. Good waves can be had up to four to five feet; any bigger and they tend to close out. Paddle out from the beach in front of the line-up. For the more adventurous, Gyllyngvase Reef situated off the main beach can produce fast, yet short right-handers from mid tide onwards. Popular with both surfers and boogie-boarders. The take-off is the best part of the wave, and you’ll need to be quick, tuck in and head for the shoulder. Good parking and facilities close by and in the town

You'll need to be competent to surf Kennack, a picturesque location with white sandy beaches, a couple of miles east of the Lizard. The big tidal range creates a super long low-tide beach, which holds waves up to four to five feet. Facing south, it needs a big west or south swell to work. North to north-westerly winds are offshore. At high tide the beach is cut into two, but the waves tend to get fat and back-off, depending on swell direction. Very mellow vibe both in and out of the water. Good parking

Overlooked by the St Ives Tate Gallery, Porthmeor Beach offers waves that are suitable for beginners to intermediate. Porthmeor faces a north/north westerly direction so it is fairly sheltered from west or south west swells. During a south westerly it blows cross-offshore making it a useful spot when most of the north coast is blown out. Works best from low to mid tide. Gets very crowded in the summer.

This is the jewel in Cornwall's surfing crown and attracts surfers of all abilities. The three-quarter-mile stretch of sandy beach is the venue for some of Britain’s top surfing competitions. The standard of surfing in the water is high, especially at North and Little Fistral. Experts and intermediates paddle out by the rocks using the rip. Beginners stay to the middle of the bay. East through to South winds are offshore. Chops up in a south westerly, although South Fistral is sheltered by cliffs. The left-handers are holding their shape well at the moment. Holds surf up to ten feet. Best at low tide but has waves at all stages. Parking spaces are at a premium during the summer and with the proposed British Surfing Centre development is set to get worse. Good facilities close by and there is the luxury of beachside showers.

This is a beach for expert surfers. The ‘beauty and the beast’ is how It’s been described by many of the surfers who regularly ride what is renowned to be one of Britain’s best right-hand reef breaks. Beauty because it breaks with machine-gun like precision over a shallow flat rock ledge with a very makeable tube on clean offshore days; the beast because the power of the wave means mistakes can be costly. Hold-downs can be long on big overhead days, and the rip is wicked and there are caves to be wary of at high tide. But the sheer perfection when ‘Leven is on fades that into insignificance. For the reef to kick in it needs a big south or south westerly groundswell with a light north to north-east wind to caress the wave face. Paddle out by the harbour channel to the reef on the right. Low tide is a definite no-go as the waves get super hollow and the reef is just too exposed. Good from just before mid to just before high tide. On big tides there is a backwash off the rocks and harbour wall. The break faces south west and is popular with surfers and body boarders. Crowds can be a big problem when the wave breaks under six feet. To the left of the harbour is a smaller version called The Pier, which breaks both left and right and is less powerful than the main reef. Paddle out from the harbour. Park where you can, which can be a headache in summer