Local Breaks

Polzeath - Greenaway - Baby Bay - Lundy -Daymer - Cowrie - Broadergog

Polzeath A very popular and safe beach break for all ages and ability. Works well at low tide and on the push in. At low tide the right hand side gets very crowded due to the sand bank that produces a great inside section.  There are several peaks across the bay to look for that avoid the crowds. Between mid and high tide, beneath the lifeguard hut, the rocks on the left hand side work particularly well for body boarders and knee boarders, or the more experienced surfer.  It offers a steep and shallow elevator drop that often makes it to an inside section.  Confident lefthanders should apply ! At high tide, go home - waves get channelled by the cliffs and turn very sloppy.

Greenaway Breaks at mid tide on medium to large swell, 3ft upwards. Arguably the most intense reef break in Cornwall, difficult to surf (dry) and difficult to get to. A local only break, so come live here if you want to surf it !

Baby Bay Not much to say about this bay, which is to the right of Polzeath beach, best reached from New Polzeath.  It can only be surfed at low to mid tide, but at low tide, you may as well be surfing Polzeath.

Lundy The best break in the area when Polzeath is big and blown out. It will generally break 2ft smaller than Polzeath and because it is sheltered by the cliffs it will stay clean in most conditions. It can only really be surfed on the lowest of tides and gets considerably messier as the tide reaches the rocks.  However, the rocks on the right-hand side of the bay (looking out) offer a steep elevator drop as the tide reaches them. The bay is quite difficult to reach and can be accessed from the Polzeath to Port Isaac cliff path.  The one and a half mile walk from the road tends to keep all but the most experienced surfers away.  Again, another locals only break.

Daymer Very popular beach, especially with windsurfers. In general this is the last place to look,  however on the biggest storm swells this is probably the only place you will be able to surf. When Polzeath is excessively big and blown out, and the swell is even too big for Lundy to hold then it is worth giving Daymer a go. Works best at low-tide with the swell wrapping around Trebetherick producing some good clean lines. This is however a VERY rare spectacle.

Cowrie Bit of a mythical wave this one. There has to be a reasonable swell for it to work, 3ft and upwards and it will only break on the lowest of tides. It breaks very shallow on a reef about half way between Baby Bay and Pentire Head. Basically it looks great, but the likelihood of seeing anyone surfing on it is rare. It is much more likely that the line-up will be 100 yards further towards the shore.

Broadergog Another great low-tide spot between Polzeath and Daymer, again only surfable on the lowest of tides, otherwise the beach is quickly replaced by a sheer cliff face. Broady will break at a similar size to Polzeath, but it is a very different wave. The shape of the beach produces a much faster and steeper wave, without the famous Polzeath shoulder. This often causes it to close out pretty quick though, don't expect any hugely long rides. You can reach it from the cliff if you want to, but it is a nasty path that has dinged many boards. Don't do it......get fit and paddle around from Polzeath. It will take you about 20 minutes but its worth it. If you're feeling really brave (stupid) you can try Death Bay on your way there, but I don't recommend it !

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