West Cornwall

Porthmeor surf guide

St Ives, Cornwall

Porthmeor is St Ives' Atlantic-facing town beach, set between The Island and the cliffs below the Tate. It combines a compact surf beach with immediate town facilities.

Photo by Dave Barnwell

Break: Sheltered beach break
Exposure: West-facing with headland shelter
Can suit: Lessons and improving surfers in suitable conditions

How the beach surfs

The headlands give the bay some shelter from crosswind and break up the swell, but the beach can still deliver hollow, fast waves. Rides are often shorter than on the long open beaches, and the usable peaks become busy quickly.

Access and orientation

The beach is walkable from central St Ives. The closest car park is small, so public transport or parking farther out is often less frustrating during busy periods.

Check before entering

Rocks at both ends
A compact and crowded line-up
Fast sections when the banks line up

Visit Cornwall Porthmeor beach guide Check official bathing-water information

Check current advice and lifeguard cover before travelling. A bathing-water classification is not a real-time clearance.

Regional wave indicators

Selected for this side of Cornwall, rather than straight-line proximity across land. These regional measurements do not predict breaking wave height or arrival time at this beach. Check the observation time on each station.

View all wave buoys

Nearest webcams

Camera links open the provider's site in a new tab. Some services require paid access.

View all webcams

Sources and review

Guide reviewed 23 August 2026. Official information can change at short notice.

Visit Cornwall Porthmeor beach guide, opens in a new tab