St Ives - Fun on the Beach - Surfing

Where to Go
St Ives can pick up some excellent surf, with beach breaks at Porthmeor, and bigger breaks a few miles away at Gwithian/Godrevy off Hayle Towans. Some of the other beaches which are more sheltered and do not normally have any surf to speak of, can work if the surf is big and blown out at Porthmeor. Hawkes Point (Porthkidney) just round from Carbis Bay will pick it up first, and if it is extra big you can find that Wheal Dream and Porthgwidden work at low tide, being more sheltered from the westerlys.

Surfing at Porthmeor

 

Learning to Surf

 

Learning to Surf
There are also many other excellent breaks within half an hours drive, The BBC include a surfing section on their website which includes a beach guide at BBC Surf Guide There are also a couple of good Surf Schools which operate in the area. "St Ives Surf School operates from Porthmeor Beach, call in at the beach to book up a lesson. For surf forecasts checkout magicseaweed which will show you the current condition and the surf forecast.

Porthmeor (which has lifeguards in the summer)
This beach is the biggest in St Ives and is very popular with surfers, body boarders and families. As a consequence it is very crowded in the water in the summer, with the swimmers and surfers being separated by the lifeguards so the surfing area can be quite small.
On the majority of summer days, Porthmeor is excellent for learning the basics on a bodyboard or taking a lesson with the surf school and it can aalso hold a good wave when the swell comes in. There are lifeguards in attendance every day during the summer.
It is more suited to short boarders as the break can be short and snappy, but there are days when an excellent long boarding wave can be had as well. The surf at Porthmeor works best at half tide and is usually larger when the tide is going out. There is rarely any rideable waves at high tide.

Safety Tip
Always obey the rules of the wave, for your safety and for the safety of others.



Surfing at Porthmeor


Looking towards Mans Head
 

Longboarding at Porthmeor

Surfer at Godrevy

 

Gwithian (which has lifeguards in the summer)
Being much more westerly facing, this picks up more than Porthmeor under most conditions. Being a long beach it is not so crowded, although the main surf is at the North near Godrevy, peaking at Red River which does see more people. The surf will tend to get smaller the nearer you get to Hayle estuary (the estuary is VERY tidal with a dangerous rip so avoid Hayle estuary itself).
It can work at any tide depending on the conditions, giving a good shaped rolling break, it can hold huge waves when the big winter swells push in. Slower and more rideable than Porthmeor it is popular with longboarders as well. High tide can be more of a wash out on average days.

Winter Swells rolling in at Gwithian

Hawkes Point
You get to this by going to the end of Headland Road in Carbis Bay, then walking for 5 to 10 minutes down a path, over the railway line and down the path/rocks to the beach. It cannot be accessed at high tide as the path comes out below high tide.
This is sheltered by St Ives and Carbis Bay, but can be a good bet if Porthmeor is big and blown out. Being more secluded it is quieter than the large beaches, but will be popular with locals looking for a decent break when conditions dictate it.

Hawkes Point

 

Wheal Dream (Bambaluz)

 

Porthgwidden and Wheal Dream
These are Easterly facing so do not get any surf under normal conditions. However when Porthmeor is way too big with westerlys or North westerlys, the surf can wrap around the Island and give a break at these two small beaches, giving a good break with the offshore winds.
Porthgwidden is the first break round the Island, and can work at anything but high tide, with good bodyboarding especially.
Wheal Dream or Bambaluz just off the old pier, is just round the corner. It only works at low or preferably very low tides, but it can be a good Secret Spot when everywhere else has gone off.

Carbis Bay
Very sheltered by St Ives will only pick up anything if there is a lot of Northerly in it.

Carbis Bay Beach