Newquay – Great Western

Newquay · Cornwall · United Kingdom

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Newquay – Great Western (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/newquay-great-western.

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Great Western is one of Newquay's town beaches, under the cliffs below the Great Western Hotel, facing north into Newquay Bay. It is mostly a gentle wave, best known for lefts, but it gets hollow and almost slab-like when the swell is overhead. Because it is sheltered, it is a good option when the open beaches are blown out by south-westerly winds.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts
Crowd
Crowded
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A foam board or longboard on normal days; a shortboard when it gets hollow.

When it works

✓ A big west to north-west swell with a south or south-west wind, around mid tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Small swells don't get in, and northerly winds blow straight onshore.

Watch out for

  • rocks
  • crowds

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March, April

Local tips

Two small coves without cliff access lie between Great Western and Towan, so watch the rising tide if you walk round. Expect lessons and crowds in summer.

Getting there

Down a path beside the Great Western Hotel near the railway station, or along the sand from Towan at low tide.

Travel notes

How often it works
It is sheltered from the west, so it needs a fair swell to break, but it stays clean in south-westerly winds when Fistral is messy.
Crowd and vibe
Very crowded in summer with lessons and holidaymakers; a mellow, mixed line-up the rest of the year.
Camping and vans
Trevella Holiday Park is about ten minutes' drive from Newquay; there are many holiday parks around the town.
Facilities
Right in Newquay town: cafés, shops and surf hire within a few minutes' walk; lifeguards in summer.
Water quality
Rated excellent in the 2025 English bathing-water classification (Great Western).

Ideal conditions

Swell
WNW–NNW best, W–N works
Size
1.8–3 m offshore swell; starts at 1.2 m, holds to 4 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore SSE–SW; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid best, avoid high, on the rising tide
Faces
NNW (340°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Cornwall · All spots

Sources