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Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Chapel Porth. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Barely any swell. Not much to work with today. Short-period wind swell: expect weak, crumbly faces. Full onshore mess. Not worth the paddle unless you are desperate. Conditions improving through the afternoon.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Chapel Porth is a dramatic, highly exposed beach break set beneath towering cliffs on the north coast of Cornwall. The seafloor consists of a steep gradient of golden sand, which is entirely submerged at high tide, reducing the surf zone to a dangerous, unsurfable backwash against the rocks. The location functions effectively only on the low to mid-tide pushing in. It requires a westerly groundswell paired with an easterly offshore wind to structure the incoming energy. When conditions align, the steep bathymetry forces the ocean to jack up rapidly, producing fast, punchy, and frequently hollow waves that break relatively close to the shoreline. Due to the speed of the wave, the powerful shorebreak mechanics, and the sheer volume of water moving with the extreme tidal shifts, Chapel Porth is suited primarily for intermediate to advanced surfers. It demands swift take-offs and decisive turning abilities to navigate the brief, intense rides before the wave shuts down on the sandbank.
Heads up: rip risk elevated, and jellyfish: high.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 72% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Significantly cleaner air than a typical city. Ideal for outdoor exercise with minimal respiratory strain.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NOโ 5, Oโ 3, PM10 2, SOโ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 15:00
Moderate water clarity: ~8m visibility
Updated 10:31
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Chapel Porth
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile โPartly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Chapel Porth is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Local knowledge and community tips for Chapel Porth
Chapel Porth is a dramatic cove wedged between towering cliffs on Cornwall's north coast, between Porthtowan and St Agnes. The beach is steep sand that disappears almost entirely at high tide, leaving only rock and cliff. This creates a powerful, concentrated surf zone on the lower tides with fast, punchy waves that break close to shore. The setting is spectacular, with old mine workings on the cliffs above.
Best on low to mid tide with a moderate westerly groundswell and easterly offshore wind. At high tide there is simply no beach, so timing is critical. The steep sand produces hollow waves even on smaller swells, with the 3-5ft range being ideal. Works September through May; summer can produce fun smaller days too.
The main peak forms in the centre of the small bay. The steep bank creates a defined take-off zone that is relatively easy to identify. On bigger days, peaks also form either side, with a right-hander off the southern rocks on occasion. The beach is small so options are limited, which focuses everyone onto the main peak.
The shorebreak can be extremely heavy for such a small wave. The steep sand creates a classic dumping wave that can slam you onto shallow sand with surprising force. The rocks at either end of the beach are exposed at lower tides. The cliff path down is the only exit; if you drift sideways there are no other safe landing spots. The beach disappears at high tide, so time your session carefully.
National Trust car park at the top of the valley. A steep walk down the valley path (5 minutes) to the beach. No facilities at beach level. The car park fills quickly in summer.
Moderately busy on good days but the small beach limits numbers naturally. Local surfers from St Agnes and Porthtowan know the spot well. Not a surf school venue due to the steep waves and limited space. On midweek autumn mornings you might have it to yourself.
Do not even consider surfing here above mid tide. The beach vanishes and you will be in a dangerous position against the cliffs. The waves look smaller from above than they actually are due to the steep angle of viewing. The National Trust cafe (Kynance, seasonal) does excellent cakes. If Chapel Porth is closing out, try Trevaunance Cove (St Agnes) which handles more size.
Strong wind
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Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Chapel Porth tend to be best between 06:00 to 09:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 41/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
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