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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 Constantine Bay. 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.
Constantine Bay is a powerful, highly dynamic beach and reef break located on the north coast of Cornwall. The seafloor is a treacherous mixture of mobile sandbanks heavily interspersed with sharp, underlying rock ledges. When struck by a solid westerly Atlantic groundswell, this uneven bathymetry forces the waves to jack abruptly, producing fast, heavy, and frequently hollow A-frame peaks. An easterly offshore wind is necessary to smooth the aggressive wave faces. Due to the rapid take-offs, the severe consequence of the exposed rock at low tide, and the formidable rip currents that sweep across the bay, Constantine is strictly an advanced surfing location. It demands rapid, decisive actions and the technical ability to navigate steep drops and high-speed sections before the waves close out violently onto the sandbars. The intense rip currents necessitate robust physical endurance and elite spatial awareness.
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 56% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Noticeably cleaner air than a typical city. Good conditions for prolonged outdoor activity.
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 09:12
Good water clarity: ~8m visibility
Updated 10:31
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Constantine Bay
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 Constantine Bay is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Local knowledge and community tips for Constantine Bay
Constantine is a heavy, powerful beach and reef break on the north Cornish coast near Padstow. Unlike the gentle beaches nearby, this spot has serious teeth. Shifting sand over exposed rock ledges creates steep, fast A-frames that barrel on their day. It is a step up from the friendly breaks of Polzeath and Harlyn, demanding commitment and confidence. The bay is large and scenic, backed by low dunes.
Needs a solid westerly groundswell and easterly offshore wind. Best at low to mid tide when the banks are most defined. Works from 3ft upwards but really comes alive at head high and above, where the rock-influenced banks produce hollow, powerful waves. September to April is prime season.
The main peak shifts but tends to form towards the southern end of the bay where the underlying reef creates more structure. A defined right-hander breaks off the rocks on the south side on bigger swells. Avoid the very inside where the rocks are exposed at low water. The take-off zone is usually obvious from the cluster of experienced surfers.
Exposed rock at low tide is the primary danger. Falls on the shallow sections can result in contact with sharp reef. Powerful rip currents sweep across the bay on bigger days. The waves are genuinely heavy and break with force, particularly on the lower tides. This is not a spot to overestimate your ability. Leashes break here.
Pay car park behind the dunes with a short walk to the beach. Surf hire and lessons available nearby (though the lessons typically use the inside whitewater only). Gets busy in summer with families. Toilets at the car park.
Busy on good days, especially weekends and school holidays. The local Padstow crew are excellent surfers who know the banks intimately. Peak times can see 30+ people in the main section. Midweek mornings in autumn are your best bet for space. The heavy nature of the wave self-selects for more experienced surfers.
Do not underestimate this wave. People regularly have boards snapped and take heavy beatings. The right off the south rocks is the premium wave but it requires a big swell and precise positioning. If Constantine is too heavy, Harlyn Bay around the headland offers a sheltered, mellow alternative. The cafe at the car park makes a solid pasty.
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 Constantine Bay tend to be best between 06:00 to 09:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 35/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
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