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.
Porthleven Reef surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to NQY, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Europe is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Europe — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Porthleven Reef trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SW (225°)
- Direction range
- 200° - 260°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 3.6m
- Ideal size
- 2.3m - 3m
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Porthleven Reef?
Porthleven Reef is a reef break in South Cornwall, UK, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Porthleven Reef?
Porthleven Reef picks up swell from the SSW round to the W, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SW. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 3.6m, with the sweet spot around 2.3 to 3m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s 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 Porthleven Reef?
A N wind is dead offshore at Porthleven Reef, and anything from the NW round to the ENE 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 Porthleven Reef?
Porthleven Reef is at its best around the low to mid tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Porthleven Reef?
The most reliable run of swell at Porthleven Reef comes Oct to Mar. There's a second window in Apr and Sep too. Winter storms bring the best swells.
How cold is the water at Porthleven Reef?
The water at Porthleven Reef 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 Porthleven Reef good for beginners?
Not really. It's rated 8/10 for difficulty and suits experienced surfers. Expect a moderate crowd (5/10) when it's on. Extremely powerful wave breaking next to harbour wall. Shallow reef. Rocks everywhere. Very crowded when on.
How do I get to Porthleven Reef?
The nearest airport on our list is NQY, then it's roughly a one-hour drive.
What other surf spots are near Porthleven Reef?
The closest breaks we track are Praa Sands (5.1 km), Porthtowan (23 km) and St Agnes (26 km), handy when Porthleven Reef isn't working. Fun fact: it's the second most southerly break we track in UK.
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