Porthleven Reef
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.
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Location & Conditions
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Spot Details
Swell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SW (225°)
- Direction range
- 200° - 260°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 3.6m
- Ideal size
- 3.0m
- Height multiplier
- 0.92×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- N (0°)
- Offshore range
- 315° - 70°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low to mid
Water temp
12°C
Wetsuit
5/4mm + boots
Difficulty
8/10
Crowd level
5/10
Best Season
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Apr, Sep
Winter storms bring the best swells
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Praa Sands
South Cornwall's best beach - Board-snapping shore dump - SW swell catcher
Porthtowan
Punchy Cornwall beach - Hollow low tide peaks - Cliff-flanked cove
St Agnes
Cornish village vibes - Reef and beach mix - Strong local crew
Sennen Cove
Land's End beach break - Exposed to all swells - All abilities
Tolcarne Wedge
Newquay wedge • Bodyboard barrel window • Tide-sensitive setup
Little Fistral
South Fistral reef - More technical than main beach - Local knowledge rewarded