Surfing in St Ives

St Ives is one of the most beautiful towns in Cornwall, with a busy harbour, narrow cobbled streets and a long history as a home for artists. It is also a great surf town. Its position on the north coast of the far west of Cornwall, with beaches facing in different directions, means there is often somewhere to surf when other parts of the county are flat or blown out.

Surfing in St Ives

Porthmeor is the town's main surf beach. It faces north into the Atlantic, picks up plenty of swell and sits right below the Tate St Ives gallery, so you can check the waves from the cafe terrace. It is a good beach for lessons on small days, and the surf can be powerful when a bigger swell arrives. Porthminster, on the other side of town, is much more sheltered and only gets waves on big swells, but it is a lovely beach for swimming and paddleboarding.

Across St Ives Bay, the beaches of Gwithian and Godrevy offer a long stretch of sand that picks up even more swell, with the Godrevy lighthouse as a backdrop. They are a short drive from town and popular with surfers of all levels.

When to surf in St Ives

Summer is the best time to learn, with smaller waves and RNLI lifeguards on the main beaches. Autumn and winter bring the most consistent swell, and on a big day Porthmeor can be one of the best beach breaks in Cornwall. Watch out for northerly winds, which blow onshore on the north facing beaches, and use Godrevy or Gwithian as an alternative when the wind is from the south.

Things to do in St Ives

St Ives has galleries, independent shops, cafes and seafood restaurants, plus the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. The coast path to Zennor is one of the best walks in Cornwall, and the branch railway along the bay is one of the most scenic train journeys in Britain.

Surf businesses in St Ives

Browse the categories below to find surf schools, surf shops and board hire in St Ives. Every listing shows contact details and directions, and local businesses can claim their listing for free.