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Porthcothan Bay
Porthcothan is a long narrow surfing beach with wonderful coves, caves and pools. It’s a fantastic beach for being introduced to surfing. Waves spill & break and roll towards the shore allowing surfers the opportunity to catch long waves to progress.
We would usually surf at this beach as our chosen location to surf when the tide is mid-low throughout the day. The beach can handle small to medium size swells, when Constantine, Boobies and Mawgan Porth are getting a little rough. It likes south, south east through to easterly winds, however it can also handle a bit more onshore than most beaches when other beaches might become more difficult to manage.
Surf Spot Quality
Wave
Easy and forgiving wave with good length of ride due to shallow shelf over the sand beach. Great beginner and intermediate wave, however dependent upon sand banks.
Swell
Picks up most south west, west and north west swells.
Wind
Best wind from the east, south east and north east, however can be ok on light southerlies.
Tide
Best tides mid to low tide either on the drop or on the push. Waves generally disappear at high tide.
Crowd
Quiet and friendly.
Location
Porthcothan Bay is located on the B3276 coast road between Newquay and Padstow. Approx 5 miles south of Padstow or 8 miles north of Newquay. Post code PL28 8LW.
Activities
Surfing, bodyboarding, swimming, rock pools, caves to explore and access to the North Coast path.
Parking Good size Council pay and display car park with tarmac surface on the opposite side of the road to the beach.
Facilities Toilets are in the Council car park which charge 20p. The beach also has a beach store which offer beach goods, Newspapers, magazines along with tea, great coffee, pasties, icecreams and other snacks.
Dogs Dogs are welcome on the beaches all year round. With the provision of dog litter bins for all mess.
Safety Lifeguards are provided by the RNLI Mid May to the end of Sept 10am to 6pm.
