Fistral
Updated Fri 6 Nov 14:20
Quality
Swell
1.8ft
Tide
Weather
Latest shot · Fistral surf cam
6-day surf report
Updated Fri 6 Nov 14:20
Now · Fri 6
Clear1.8ft
9s
Sat 7
Cloud1.6ft
9s
Sun 8
Cloud1.4ft
8s
Mon 9
Drizzle2.0ft
11s
Tue 10
Cloud3.8ft
10s
Wed 11
Cloud4.1ft
9s
The beach
Fistral
Fistral sits on the Newquay run. Swell, wind and tide for this beach and the neighbours, so you can pick a peak before you leave the car park. Today is Clear, 12°, 4kt W, gusts 6.
Cornwall’s contest beach. Punchy beach break with a defined peak at high tide and more banks as it drops.
North Fistral holds a cleaner line on a north-west swell. South end gets busy and close-out prone in a short-period west.
Faces NW. Best swell SW-NW. Level: all. Crowd: busy.
On the sand
Before you paddle out at Fistral
Parking
North Fistral (Fistral Beach Complex): from £2.20 / 1 hour to £15 all day; free 4am-8am; no parking 2am-4am. South Fistral (Newquay Town Council, Pentire Road): from 1 June 2026, 1 April-31 October 9am-4pm £1.20 / 1 hour up to £6.30 / 24 hours; free 4pm-9am and all winter. Cornwall Council Towan Headland is the overflow: summer 9am-6pm £2.50 / £5.10 / £7.50 / £11.50.
Hire & lessons
Fistral Beach Surf School is on the sand, the only school based on Fistral, with lessons for all abilities, kids’ groups, competitive coaching, and hire.
Vibe
Home of British surfing and Boardmasters. The school coaches beginners through to competitive surfers. Contest beach in the water; groms and hire boards in the flagged zone. Not a longboard cruisers’ peak when it has size.
Access & hazards
RNLI patrol Fistral (North, South, Little Fistral sit on the same desk). RNLI-linked reporting has documented rip rescues here. Swim and bodyboard between the red-and-yellow flags; no flags means no lifeguards.
Sources Fistral Beach Complex parking · Newquay Town Council car parks · Cornwall Council Towan Headland · Fistral Beach Surf School · RNLI Fistral
