Forget about surfing the net, you get the real thing when you surf in Cornwall
If you are a serious surfer then it is the North Coast of Cornwall for you. But be warned, get expert advice before you attempt to surf, it can be dangerous, but I guess that is part of the attraction.
Here is a list of the best of the surfing beaches in Cornwall, starting at the north and working round, south to Lands End and east to Devon. If you need any more information try http://www.britsurf.co.uk
The Free Ride Surf School has its own site if you want to learn to surf.
I have grouped the beaches in rough areas so that you can find them. There is more detailes infromaation on Cornwall Coast site
| Bude | ||
| Mainly west facing, sandy beaches | ||
| Duckpool | shingle, faces west, not for beginners | |
| Sandymouth | sandy, faces west, not for beginners | |
| Northcott Mouth | at Bude, punchy waves, not for beginners unless light surf | |
| Crooklets | popular surfing beach with the locals. Some serious stuff | |
| Summerleaze | the town centre beach near the harbour breakwater | |
| Widemouth Bay | the main surfing beach in this area, all abilities | |
| Crackington Haven | works well on a rising tide | |
| Trebarwith Strand | west facing. beach break | |
| Polzeath | ||
| Again mainly west facing beaches that pick up most swells | ||
| Polzeath | another popular beach for all abilities of surfer | |
| Hayle | a good beach for learners | |
| Harlyn Bay | faces north and is about 3 miles west of Padstow | |
| Constantine Bay | some reef breaks here that should be avoided by beginners | |
| Trearon | best round low tide | |
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| Newquay | ||
| Home of British Surfing. Home of the British Surfing Association. It has achieved its renown because there are beaches facing in all directions, because there is a good spread of types of surf for all abilities, and because, with the right conditions it has some really excellent breaks | ||
| Mawgan Porth | only really works with easterly winds | |
| Watergate Bay | sandy, flat and used by learners | |
| Whipsiderry | sheltered from SW winds | |
| Newquay Bay | 3 sandy beaches, it can be crowded in summer | |
| Fistral | the best and most famous surfing beach in Britain. | |
| all the big competitions are held here | ||
| Crantock Bay | when the conditions are right this gives good surf | |
| Holywell | best round low tide | |
| Perranporth | ||
| The most southerly of the north coast surfing areas | ||
| Perran Bay | you have to walk to get there, so it has fewer surfers | |
| Perranporth | long sandy beach, with a whole range of surf for all abilities | |
| Penhale Corner | if the army are not using the firing range, you can surf here! | |
| Trevaunace Cove | faces north, draws crowds when the conditions are right | |
| Chapel Porth | tiny beach, only for experts | |
| Porthtowan Beach | you can get good tubing waves here | |
| Portreath | big swells round the harbour walls for the experts | |
| The West | ||
| Once you leave the main surfing areas of the north coast, you have to pick your beaches carefully | ||
| Gwithian | good surf under most conditions | |
| Carbis Bay | crowded in summer, good surf when big swells are running | |
| Porthmeor Beach | the beach to surf at St Ives, can be a heavy wave, not for beginners | |
| Sennan Cove | bracing, but can be hazardous | |
| Porthcurno | only for experts, good in s westerlies | |
| South Coast | ||
| Praa Sands | best with northerly winds, does not break well at high tide | |
| Porthleven | only for the experts | |
| Kennack Sands | south east facing, beach breaks | |
| East Coast | ||
| Pentewan Beach | pretty beach, used by all abilities of surfer | |
| Whitsand Bay | for beginners and middle ability surfer | |
The British Surfing Association http://www.britsurf.co.uk have a National Surfing Centre in Newquay - telephone 01 637 850737, or call their national office in Penzance 01 736 60250
The National Surfing Centre in Newquay also offers Surfing Courses for all ages and abilities. By a strange coincidence Corisande Manor Hotel is only 400 yards from Fistral Beach, so a good place to stay for surfing
The hotel to stay at when visiting Cornwall is Corisande Manor Hotel, Cornwall find out more about it
