Gwithian
United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Right now
ClearWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.3m WSW
Wind: 6 km/h NNE (cross-onshore)
Beach faces: NW
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell is coming in at an oblique angle, some refraction expected.
Today hour by hour
Updated 13:47Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 4/3mm wetsuit recommended for 12°C water.
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
- Strong winds on some days. Check the forecast each morning.
Forecast accuracy at Gwithian
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
quiet before the morning rush, conditions building through the session
quiet before the morning rush, conditions building through the session
quiet evening session
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastWater quality
5 nearby outfallsUpdated 13:47
Daily score breakdown
This week is looking about average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Gwithian.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Gwithian
Gwithian is an expansive, highly consistent beach break located at the northern end of St Ives Bay in Cornwall. The seafloor comprises a wide, gently sloping expanse of fine silica sand that creates multiple shifting sandbanks along the three-mile stretch. Facing north-west, it captures unattenuated westerly Atlantic groundswells effectively. A south-easterly wind blows directly offshore here, grooming the peaks to create clean, workable A-frames. Because the sandy gradient is relatively gradual, the waves tend to spill nicely, offering steep faces without the violent, jacking shorebreak found at steeper beaches. This highly functional bathymetry makes Gwithian perfectly suited for intermediate surfers. It provides highly reliable, long walls ideal for practising speed generation and carving manoeuvres. The sheer size of the beach ensures the line-up remains diffuse, providing a safe, high-quality environment for progression away from concentrated crowds.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Gwithian. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Gwithian?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.