Porthleven is Cornwall's heavy-water arena--a powerful reef break that detonates beside the harbour wall when sizeable SW groundswells wrap into Mount's Bay. The wave is an A-frame but the right is the prize.
Water temp
12°C
Wetsuit
5/4mm + boots
Difficulty
8/10
Crowd level
5/10
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Apr, Sep
Winter storms bring the best swells
South Cornwall's best beach - Board-snapping shore dump - SW swell catcher
Punchy Cornwall beach - Hollow low tide peaks - Cliff-flanked cove
Cornish village vibes - Reef and beach mix - Strong local crew
Land's End beach break - Exposed to all swells - All abilities
South Fistral reef - More technical than main beach - Local knowledge rewarded