Here at Trevigue we’re blessed to be idyllically located within striking distance of some of the best North Cornwall surf beaches with plenty to entertain surfers and storm watchers alike. Riding one wave can change your life forever and you can become addicted to this incredible sport which puts you in harmony with nature. The ultimate distraction from your day-to-day life, it can invigorate, renew and refresh.
Cornwall is a magnet for swell and thus a hotspot for surfers; our beaches give wave-lovers plenty of opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the surf culture which permeates Cornwall as a whole. Our beautifully rugged west-facing coastline here in North Cornwall means that Bude surfing beaches are exposed to the incoming Atlantic swell that wraps around the coastline and makes our North Cornwall beaches an awesome place to hone those surf skills. Our beaches here in North Cornwall are a favourite among surfers who highly rate the crystal waters, epic waves and beautiful scenery…
Best 5 North Cornwall Surf Beaches
Whether a surf pro or a complete novice, with so many beaches in North Cornwall to choose from it can be hard to know where to start! Here is our run-down of best North Cornwall surfing beaches so that you can easily pick your personal favourites whilst staying here at Trevigue.
Strangles
The beach just down the cliff from Trevigue is called Strangles and is a quiet lesser-known North Cornwall surf beach with waves suitable for more experienced surfers due to the strong currents and undertow. There is no lifeguard cover at Strangles beach so we advise that surfers and beach-users exercise caution. This is a great spot for avoiding the crowds, and Strangles is very easy to reach by foot when staying here at Trevigue as our pastures look over Strangles beach and the wildly beautiful stretch of coast which inspired Thomas Hardy. There are actually two beaches at Strangles which join up at low tide; the smaller of the two (to the north) is known as Little Strand. This beach break has right and left breakers and an epic heavy barrel which works its way across a point to the left. Great spot if you dislike crowds and love a good clamber down the cliff before you hit the surf!
DISTANCE FROM TREVIGUE: 0 miles
Crackington Haven
When the surf is big and pumping at Widemouth Bay or other North Cornwall surfing beaches, Crackington Haven beach usually has smaller waves so good on days when everywhere else is too big. Crackington Haven beach has lifeguard cover from the 7th of July until the 2nd of September (2018) and is one of our favourite surf beaches, not just for its close proximity to Trevigue, but for the fun little rights and lefts which peel into the rip. If you know the beach and are an experienced surfer, you can use the river to enter the water but beware that it can sometimes bring flotsam making the water seem unclean. However, the quality of the water is routinely checked so fear not! The locals here at Crackington beach are a tight bunch but will be happy to chat as you bob about waiting for waves with the majestic cliffs providing your idyllic backdrop.
DISTANCE FROM TREVIGUE: 1 mile
Widemouth Bay
Widemouth Bay is a popular Bude surfing beach with many Bude surf schools operating from the long golden stretch of sand (making it perhaps a little more crowded in the water than most surf beaches near Bude). Surfers will experience a variety of peaks from the north to the south end of the beach, including Camel Rock, Salthouse and Black Rock. There’s often waves at Widemouth Bay which is probably what makes it so popular, but newcomers will have to take care of the rocks which are invisible at high tide towards the middle of the beach and the rips at Black Rock. That said, Widemouth Bay gets the best waves between mid- and high-tide so as long as you’re aware of rocks and rips, surfers will enjoy the spilling, heavily barrelling waves. Widemouth Bay has lifeguard cover from the 4th May – 29th September (as well as during Easter holidays and October half term).
DISTANCE FROM TREVIGUE: 9 miles
Polzeath
Polzeath is perhaps one of the most famous surf beaches in North Cornwall and so can get really busy as a result. That said, it’s great for beginners and the beach is long enough that more experienced surfers can move away from the learners and find their own quiet wave. The beach break provides both left- and right-handers which consistently work any time of the year. Polzeath is a pretty exposed beach, the surf works best when there is offshore winds from the East and some shelter from northwest winds. Polzeath has lifeguard cover throughout the Easter holidays and then from the 4th May-29th September. Polzeath has a lovely assortment of shops and cafes, as well as some of the county’s best surf schools.
DISTANCE FROM TREVIGUE: 22 miles
Harlyn Bay
Harlyn on the North coast near Padstow is reputedly the best north-facing surf beach in the whole of Cornwall. Harlyn is regularly blessed with solid waves which are loved by shortboarders, but beginners are also well catered for thanks to what The Sunday Times named as “the best surf school on the North Coast”. You can also enjoy coasteering, paddleboarding and kayaking here which makes Harlyn one of the best North Cornwall beaches for watersports in Cornwall. Harlyn has a good lifeguard cover in the summer (4th May-29th September) and is known as a safe beach for families thanks to the calm waters and sheltered cliff-backed golden sands.
DISTANCE FROM TREVIGUE: 30 miles
We hope you enjoy the North Cornwall surf beaches and thoroughly dose up on “vitamin sea” whilst visiting our beautiful part of the world. If we’ve missed your favourite Cornish surf beach then let us know over on Facebook and get the conversation started. Get in touch to book so that you avoid disappointment… we look forward to offering you and your family a warm welcome over the coming months!
