Fistral Beach
Fistral Beach is the undisputed capital of English surfing--the beach that has hosted international competition for decades.
Fistral Beach surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- W (270°)
- Direction range
- 250° - 300°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 1.8m - 2.5m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SE (135°)
- Offshore range
- 100° - 170°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low to mid
Water temp
12°C
Wetsuit
5/4mm + boots
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
9/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Fistral Beach?
Fistral Beach is a beach break in Newquay, Cornwall, UK, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Fistral Beach?
Fistral Beach picks up swell from the WSW round to the WNW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the W. It starts working at around 0.8m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 1.8 to 2.5m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Fistral Beach?
A SE wind is dead offshore at Fistral Beach, and anything from the E round to the S keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Fistral Beach?
Fistral Beach is at its best around the low to mid tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Fistral Beach?
The most reliable run of swell at Fistral Beach comes Sep to Mar. There's a second window in Apr to Aug too.
How cold is the water at Fistral Beach?
The water at Fistral Beach averages around 12°C, so you'll want a 5/4mm with boots. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Fistral Beach good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 4/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. It gets busy (crowd 9/10), so mind the pecking order. Dangerous rips at low tide. Extremely crowded in summer. Huge tidal range (7.8m).
How do I get to Fistral Beach?
The nearest airport on our list is NQY, then it's roughly a 15-minute drive.
What other surf spots are near Fistral Beach?
The closest breaks we track are Little Fistral (0.2 km), The Cribbar (0.2 km) and Tolcarne Wedge (1.0 km), handy when Fistral Beach isn't working. We track 4 spots around Newquay, Cornwall in total.
Best Season
Peak: Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Apr-Aug
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Little Fistral
South Fistral reef - More technical than main beach - Local knowledge rewarded
The Cribbar
England's big wave beast - Breaks a few times per year - Expert only
Tolcarne Wedge
Newquay wedge • Bodyboard barrel window • Tide-sensitive setup
The Zorba
Cornwall's un-ridden big wave - Pentire reef - Last frontier
St Agnes
Cornish village vibes - Reef and beach mix - Strong local crew
Porthtowan
Punchy Cornwall beach - Hollow low tide peaks - Cliff-flanked cove