Beach break · Cornwall · Beginner → Intermediate
Forecast for Monday 31 August
Intermediate : Dark out. We go again tomorrow. — Best window: 18h–20h
Today's score by level (at the day's best, out of 100)
Classic Atlantic school beach with mellow waves and a family-friendly vibe. Known for staying surfable when many other Cornish beach breaks go flat.
Autumn and winter give the best swells but water is cold. Summer = smaller waves, max crowd.
Ideal for starting out or longboarding. Mellow waves, little current, surf school usually nearby.
Easy beach access, parking usually nearby. Ask locally about seasonal currents.
Wear an appropriate wetsuit. Scout the currents before you paddle out. Respect the locals and right-of-way. Check weather and tides.
Polzeath usually works best around mid-tide. The tide shapes the sandbanks and the depth over the reef, so check the day's tide times before your session.
Polzeath is rather accessible to beginners when the waves stay small and the wind is light. Still, check currents, tide and local guidelines before entering.
The ideal wind at Polzeath comes broadly from West: it's offshore, which helps shape and hold the waves. A strong onshore wind generally degrades conditions.
Around Polzeath, you can also check conditions at Watergate Bay, Fistral, Porthtowan. Compare the scores, wind and swell direction before choosing where to surf.