Harlyn Bay
United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.5m W
Wind: 9 km/h SE (offshore)
Beach faces: N
Offshore wind (blowing from land to sea). Ideal conditions, holding up wave faces for cleaner surf.
Swell is coming in at an oblique angle, some refraction expected.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:33Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoSeason overview
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Harlyn Bay
What to pack
- 4/3mm wetsuit recommended for 13°C water.
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
- Strong winds on some days. Check the forecast each morning.
Today's briefing
Next to nothing in the water. Check back tomorrow. Strong offshore — clean but tough to paddle into.
Conditions summary for Harlyn Bay. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Harlyn Bay
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 6am (score: 18). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
No recent check-ins. Be the first to report.
Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastWater quality
5 nearby outfallsUpdated 08:33
Daily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly above average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Harlyn Bay.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 7 days of logged conditions.
About Harlyn Bay
Harlyn Bay is a highly sheltered, north-facing beach break situated on the north coast of Cornwall. The bathymetry features a crescent of compacted sand bounded by rocky headlands. Due to its northern orientation, it is entirely protected from the dominant westerly Atlantic groundswells. It relies on massive westerly storms refracting heavily into the bay, or direct northerly swells. A southerly wind blows straight offshore, frequently providing clean conditions when the rest of the coast is blown out. When activated, the highly attenuated wave energy dissipates over the flat sandy bottom, producing very soft, slow-peeling waves. These forgiving mechanics render Harlyn Bay an exceptional, low-consequence environment for beginner surfers. The spilling waves provide highly stable platforms for practising pop-ups and basic trimming without the threat of strong rip currents or steep drops, functioning as an essential storm haven for novices.
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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 Harlyn Bay. 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 Harlyn Bay?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.