North Coast Cornwall
South Coast Cornwall

North Coast Devon
South Coast Devon

NORTH COAST CORNWALL

Bude: Like most Cornish beaches works best on SW or W swells with the wind from the SE . In the town..

..Crooklets: Works on all tides but produces a gnarly shorebreak at high tide, an excellent bodyboarding wave;

Middle Beach: Works well at mid tide off sandbanks;
Summerleaze: By the harbour, works on all tides.

South of Bude, Widmouth: picks up more swell than the town beaches and works on all tides, best from mid to high. At the southern end of Widmouth beach there's a reef called Black rock which works on all tides.

Crackington Haven: is a small beach break sheltered from a north wind by a high cliff, best at mid tide.

Polzeath: is a popular break and because it's a fairly flat beach it's a good beginners beach. At high tide there's a lefthander which comes off The Rock, and is fun for the more experienced. Polzeath works on most swells with winds from S-NE, and is best on an incoming tide just after low tide.

Harlyn:a north facing beach break, works on big a southwesterly so it's mainly a winter break. When the winds are offshore S-SW at low tide, it's pretty hollow and there are some tubes to be had. Crowds and dirty water in summer!

Constantine: is a high to mid tide break. Excellent bodyboarding wave at high tide. At the northern end there is a rock point, and on a neap tide and a good swell, it's the best wave at this beach. The wave is offshore on a SE or E but is okay on a NE or N wind.

Watergate Bay: is two miles north of Newquay, but is pretty crowded in the middle peak; However, either side you can get away from the crowds. Watergate is a West facing break, which sometimes works well at high tide, on a decent swell. Watch out for rips in the middle of the beach.

Newquay: is supposedly the surfing mecca of Britain, which in turn means you will be faced with large crowds. Fistral:, a NW facing break does have its moments. Offshore on S-E, OK on a SW. Lefthander at South Fistral cranks on a low tide, while North Fistral picks up more swell and can give perfect peaks, especially at low tide, although crowded. At low tide Little Fistral, at the very north corner of the beach, is excellent. It's sheltered from NE winds, and picks up most swell. There's a handy rip by the rocks on the right. Beware of the Cribbar, Newquay's mythical big wave that breaks off the headland.

Towan: is good for beginners as its pretty mellow (although it can get suckey at low tide). Occasional fun high tide wedge on big swells.

Great Western: picks up more swell and like Towan is predominantly a closeout.

Tolcarne Beach: is home to the wedge, (supposedly) one of the best bodyboarding waves in the country, if you can get a ride at this crowded break. Works at high tide (6m+) on a clean medium sized swell.

Perranporth: is a good place for an uncrowded surf as the west facing beach is two miles long.

Droskyn: at the southern end of the beach, can be fast and hollow with backwash, and side wash mixed in. The middle beach is best for beginners.

St Agnes: faces north so it works well on big SW or W. Always crowded.

Porthowan: is a northwest facing beach break. It works at all tides (but best at mid to low), and produces an excellent bodyboarding (hollow)wave at low tide. One of the best English breaks on its day. Bad pollution and crowds can be a problem.

Portreath: can be good on a south wind at high tide by the harbour wall.

Gwithian/Godrevy: picks up loads of swell, and can give fine hollow A-frames at mid-low on a SE-E wind.

Porthmeor: right in the centre of St Ives town, works on a big SW swell. The main break is best at low tide and on an outgoing tide. One of the cleanest beaches in England (like all the rest ay..!?). A good bodyboarding spot.

Sennen:is a northwest facing break which works around mid tide.

Gwenvor: at the northern end of Sennen works best from low to mid tide. Beware of bad rips at this break. Excellent wave.

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