Name:

Watergate Bay, Cornwall

Beach description:

Watergate Bay is a large beach just down the road from Newquay. It’s an excellent wave venue and an all-round lovely spot. Watergate Bay will work on anything from a SSW to a N wind. If you ride a surf board, you'll be looking for cross shore winds.

Beach Access

The car park for Watergate Bay is right in the bottom of the valley as the B3276 dips down. The car park is easy to spot from the road. Between 1st of April and 31st October parking will cost you £5.30 for the full day or £3.20 after 2pm. The car park is open between 9am and 6pm. Between 1st November and 31st of March, parking is free. You can pay for parking on your phone, but watch out, the signal can be rubbish. Once you have parked up, just cross the road and follow the path down to the beach - 5 mins.

Code of Conduct

Outside of life-guarded hours head out directly in front of the Beach Hut, where the beach is widest and the wind strongest. During life-guarded hours this spot will be occupied by swarms of surfers and body-boarders. To launch in life-guarded hours, head north of the rocks by the steps.

Wind Direction

North, South-West, West, North-West

Water Type

Watergate is a wave venue, but often has wide, glassy sections of flat water between the waves which provide an excellent opportunities for boosting big! Avoid kiting 2 hours either side of high tide. The beach disappears.

Hazards

Other beach users. Watergate bay is extremely popular with surfers. On a busy day there will be hundreds of people in the water. The area is patrolled by lifeguards and each sport is confined to a dedicated zone.