Porthmeor - surfing

Very good, popular surfing beach.

Surf report

Current surf conditions for Porthmeor (19th May)
Wave height *	3ft / 0.8m
Swell period	9s
Swell direction
Wind	10mph / 17km/h

* Wave size is face height of set waves.

Type of beach

Sandy

Lifeguard service

Daily RNLI lifeguard cover running from the Easter bank holiday (beginning of April), through to the end of October. Beach is patrolled between 10am and 6pm.

Parking

Parking is always difficult in St Ives and Porthmeor is no exception. You can pretty much forget street parking as even the seasonal double yellows are enforced from March to November.

The closest car park is right above the beach. However, given it is pretty small and also serves the Tate gallery you'll be lucky to find a space after 9am, even outside the summer.

The nearest alternatives are pretty close; there is The Island car park (which fills up quickly too) just east of the beach and the Barnoon car park overlooking the beach. The latter has great views but the drawback of being at the top of a pretty steep hill.

Awards

Beaches nearby

Nearest town

St Ives

Find accommodation near Porthmeor

Directions

By Foot: For those staying in St Ives, Porthmeor Beach is easily accessible on foot and is never more than a short walk away. Walking through the narrow, winding streets of St Ives is a joy in itself, simply follow the signs pointing towards the Tate St Ives or the beach itself.

By Car: Driving to Porthmeor Beach is easy in theory but, parking in St Ives can be challenging, especially during the peak summer months.

The town has several car parks, but the Island Car Park (near Porthmeor) and the Trenwith Car Park (a bit further away) are good options. From there, you can enjoy a pleasant walk to the beach. It's wise to arrive early to secure a parking spot and avoid the busiest times.

By Bus: St Ives is well-served by bus routes connecting it to other parts of Cornwall. Most services heading to St Ives bus station, or the Malakoff as it is known, which incidentally has some of the best view in St Ives! Located near the town centre, Porthmeor Beach a 10-15 minute walk away.

By Train: Travelling to Porthmeor Beach by train is a particularly scenic option and you won’t have to worry about parking. The St Ives branch line, connecting from St Erth (on the mainline from London Paddington to Penzance), offers stunning views of St Ives Bay. Once you arrive at St Ives train station, the beach is a scenic walk along the harbour front away.