Harlyn Bay

Padstow · Cornwall · United Kingdom

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Harlyn Bay (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/harlyn-bay.

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Harlyn faces north, tucked behind Trevose Head west of Padstow. Most of the time it is flat, but when big swells and south-westerly gales wreck the rest of the coast it can be clean and hollow. Low tide is fast and barrelling, and the rights are usually better than the lefts.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Crowded
Season
autumn, winter
Boards
A shortboard; a step-up when it is big and hollow.

When it works

✓ A big west to north-west swell (2.5 m or more offshore) with a south or south-west wind, at low to mid tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Normal-sized swells don't reach it, and northerly winds blow straight in.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • rocks
  • crowds

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March

Local tips

Many surfers come here at once when everything else is blown out, so expect a crowd on the good days. Close-outs are common at low tide. The car park uses cameras and charges from the moment you arrive.

Getting there

There is a car park just behind the beach and a field car park across the road. The slipway is the easiest way down to the sand.

Travel notes

How often it works
It is a storm spot: it only works when a big swell wraps around Trevose Head and the wind is south-westerly, which is when the open beaches are messy.
Crowd and vibe
Quiet most days, then suddenly crowded and competitive when it is the only clean wave around.
Camping and vans
Lower Harlyn Sights is about 15 minutes' walk away, and Harlyn Sands Holiday Park is on Trevose Head. Nearest campsite about 1 km away.
Facilities
Toilets by the field car park, a shop and a pub; lifeguards in summer.
Water quality
Rated excellent in the 2025 English bathing-water classification (Harlyn Bay).

Ideal conditions

Swell
WNW–NNW best, WSW–N works
Size
2.5–4 m offshore swell; starts at 1.8 m, holds to 6 m
Period
10 s minimum, best from 13 s
Wind
Offshore SSE–SW; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
low, mid best, avoid high
Faces
N (355°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

In the guides

Nearby spots

All spots in Cornwall · All spots

Sources