The Cribbar
The Cribbar is England's answer to big wave surfing--a monstrous reef that lurks off Towan Head in Newquay, only awakening when massive Atlantic storms send long-period groundswell crashing into the Cornish coast. It breaks a handful of times per year at best.
The Cribbar surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today'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 The Cribbar 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
- WSW (250°)
- Direction range
- 225° - 280°
- Size range
- 4.5m - 15m
- Ideal size
- 7.1m - 10.2m
- Height multiplier
- 1.08×
- Ideal period
- 18s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SE (135°)
- Offshore range
- 90° - 180°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low
Water temp
13°C
Wetsuit
4/3mm fullsuit
Difficulty
10/10
Crowd level
1/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at The Cribbar?
The The Cribbar profile favors low tide. Compare this preference with the forecast tide and local conditions before choosing a session.
What wind direction is offshore at The Cribbar?
The The Cribbar profile uses wind from SE (135°) as its preferred direction, with an offshore range of 90° to 180°. Wind speed matters too: light winds outside that range can still produce surfable conditions, while strong offshore winds can make takeoffs difficult.
What swell size and direction work best at The Cribbar?
The The Cribbar scoring profile favors swell from WSW (225° to 280°), a swell-height range of 4.5m to 15m, and a reference period of 18s. These are model inputs, not guaranteed breaking-wave heights or a promise that the surf will suit every ability.
When is the best time of year to surf The Cribbar?
The main season at The Cribbar is Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb. A secondary window runs Mar. Breaks a handful of times per year during major storms
How do I get to The Cribbar?
The spot profile lists NQY as a nearby airport. The estimated road transfer is 5 minutes.
What kind of wave is The Cribbar?
The Cribbar is a big wave break, a peak with lefts and rights. Difficulty is rated 10/10.
Best Season
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Secondary: Mar
Breaks a handful of times per year during major storms
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Fistral Beach
England's surfing capital - Year-round waves - Ground zero for UK surf
Little Fistral
South Fistral reef - More technical than main beach - Local knowledge rewarded
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
Plan a trip around The Cribbar
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.