Watergate Bay
Today · Tue 22 Sept · 04:20
Quality
Swell
2.4ft
Tide
Weather
6-day surf report
Updated Tue 22 Sept 04:20
Now · Tue 22
CloudPoor
2.4ft
7s
Wed 23
CloudClean
4.1ft
13s
Thu 24
ClearClean
4.3ft
9s
Fri 25
ClearPumping
5.5ft
12s
Sat 26
CloudPumping
7.2ft
10s
Sun 27
CloudClean
4.9ft
8s
The beach
Watergate Bay
Watergate Bay 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 cloud, 16°, 3kt SE.
Long west-facing strand that handles size and still has room when Newquay is packed.
Walk north of the hotel on a busy weekend. Works on more tide than Fistral when the banks are even.
Faces W. Best swell WSW–NNW. Level: all. Crowd: busy.
On the sand
Before you paddle out at Watergate Bay
Parking
Cornwall Council Watergate Bay (TR8 4AD, 400 spaces). 1 April–31 October 9am–6pm: £2.50 / £5.10 / £7.50 / £11.50, weekly £29; evening £2.30; midnight–9am free. Winter 9am–4pm: £1 / £1.80 / £3 / £4.20. Wavehunters: use this beach car park, closest to the water.
Hire & lessons
Wavehunters is the school on the sand at Watergate, lessons and hire year-round, beginner groups from age 7. Extreme Academy is no longer the live operator.
Vibe
Family and all-ability coaching beach. Wavehunters run children’s groups and family bodyboarding in the holidays. Andy Cameron (Wavehunters) calls it one of the best high-tide surfing breaks in the country. The RNLI notes it picks up plenty of Atlantic swell.
Access & hazards
Met Office: high risk of rips. RNLI: foot of steep cliffs; the strand stretches over two miles at low tide; easiest access in front of the hotels. 2026 patrols include Easter, then daily 2 May–27 September, 10am–6pm. No flags means no lifeguards.
Sources Cornwall Council Watergate Bay · Wavehunters · RNLI Watergate Bay · Met Office Watergate
Newquay
Fistral
Wait · 2.4ft
Newquay
Mawgan Porth
Wait · 2.2ft
Newquay
Crantock
Wait · 2.4ft
Newquay
Holywell Bay
Wait · 2.4ft
Perranporth
Perranporth
Wait · 2.4ft
North Coast
Porthtowan
Wait · 2.5ft
North Coast
Chapel Porth
Wait · 2.5ft
St Ives Bay
Gwithian
Wait · 1.2ft
St Ives
Porthmeor
Wait · 1.4ft
Camel Estuary
Polzeath
Wait · 2.0ft
Trevose
Harlyn
Wait · 0.8ft
Trevose
Constantine
Wait · 2.2ft
Bude
Widemouth Bay
Wait · 2.3ft

