Porthcawl – Coney Beach

Porthcawl · Wales · United Kingdom

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Porthcawl – Coney Beach (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/porthcawl-coney-beach.

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Coney Beach is the sheltered sandy beach in front of Porthcawl's funfair, tucked behind the point. The waves are smaller and softer than at Rest Bay, and they get bigger as you move away from the harbour wall. It is the place to go when the open beaches are blown out by westerly winds.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter
Boards
A longboard or a foam board.

When it works

✓ A big south-west swell at mid to high tide on a rising tide, with a wind from the north-west to north.

When it doesn't

✕ On small or medium swells it is often flat, and it tends to close out.

Watch out for

  • rips

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March

Local tips

The small waves near the harbour wall suit beginners; the bigger waves are further along the beach. Come here on stormy westerly days when everything else is messy. In summer it is busy with holiday makers.

Getting there

Follow the signs to Porthcawl and the funfair; the road above the beach has parking.

Travel notes

How often it works
It needs a big swell because it is sheltered. That shelter is the point: it often has clean waves when the exposed beaches are blown out.
Crowd and vibe
Relaxed and friendly, with lots of learners. Busy in summer, quiet in winter.
Camping and vans
Trecco Bay Holiday Park is about 0.5 km east, just past the end of the beach. Nearest campsite about 0.5 km away.
Facilities
Funfair, cafés, toilets and parking right behind the beach; all of Porthcawl's shops nearby.
Water quality
Sandy Bay Porthcawl, the designated site for this beach, is rated excellent in the 2025 Welsh classification.

Ideal conditions

Swell
SW–WSW best, SSW–W works
Size
1.8–3.5 m offshore swell; starts at 1.2 m, holds to 5 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore WNW–NNE; handles onshore up to 18 km/h
Tide
mid, high best, avoid low, on the rising tide
Faces
S (185°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Wales · All spots

Sources