(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
“A beautiful spot and relatively free of trashy tourists and localism due to the limited accommodation, few houses and small car park. The beach is km's long and any crowds that do build up tend to thin out towards the north of the beach even on a sunny summers day.
The waves vary with the tide depending on the setup of the banks, breaking left and right for rides up to about 50-100m. The wave character ranges over the whole spectrum from short intense hollow close outs (often at low tide) to long lazy rides, so patience helps. It can get quite big here up to 1.5x overhead and larger on occasion but it can also be a killer paddle out (sometimes unmakeable), particularly if there are two swells running.
A Jamie Oliver restaurant has opened on the beach front but the beach cafe below has more cred and is a lot cheaper of course. The Phoenix pub next to the car park is a class act, really friendly with good vibes. A good camp site is a short walk inland.”
Q, VoG from UNITED KINGDOM - 10 Mar 2010
Watergate Bay Ratings
Overall: 3.0. Based on 5 votes and 1 review. Vote
Quality on a good day: 3.8(1 star: Even when the swell and winds are optimum, the waves are poor quality, 5 stars: If conditions are right, the waves will be World Class). |
Consistency of Surf: 3.4(1: Watergate Bay is a fickle surf spot that only works a few times a year. 5: Reliable year-round spot). |
Regional Rating: 4.2(1: Watergate Bay is usually very poor quality compared to other spots in North Cornwall. 5: the best break in North Cornwall). |
Difficulty Level: 3.0(1: Suitable for Groms. 3: Intermediates. 5: Expert tow-in surfers only). |
Onshore Wind: 2.3(1: even a light onshore ruins the surf. 5: Watergate Bay can offer better rides with a light wind behind them). |
Other Options: 4.0(1: If wind or tide conditions are poor at Watergate Bay, it will be poor everywhere nearby. 5: other locations nearby provide a rich variety of wind and swell exposures). |
Wind and Kite Surfing: 4.2(1: An unsuitable spot. 5: Wind and wave conditions at Watergate Bay are often excellent). |
Water Quality: 4.2(1: Known health risks from pollution. 5: Never any pollution). |
Crowds: 2.8(1: Often too crowded. 5: Watergate Bay is an isolated spot where you are unlikely to meet other surfers). |
Access: 5.0(1: Getting to Watergate Bay requires an overland expedition or chartering a boat. 3: A 30 minute walk from the nearest parking. 5: Park a vehicle right by the break). |
Scenery: 4.5(1: An ugly industrial backdrop. 5: A spectacular setting). |
Local Attitude: 4.2(1: Locals are hostile to visitors. 5: Either there are no locals who surf, or else they are accommodating and friendly). |
Accommodation: 4.8(1: No convenient places to stay indoors. 5: A wide variety of accommodation near Watergate Bay for all budgets from hostels to luxury hotels). |
Camping: 4.2(1: Camping at Watergate Bay is not possible. 3: Camping tolerated but no facilities. 5: A nearby camp ground has excellent facilities and a good vibe). |
Entertainment: 3.5(1: Besides the surf and the solitude there is nothing to do when it is flat. 5: Watergate Bay is in such an interesting area to visit that getting wet is a bonus). |
Equipment and Repairs: 3.5(1: Nothing can be sourced, not even wax. 5: Quality surfing equipment can be purchased or hired. Major repairs can be fixed too). |
Eating: 5.0(1: Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. 5: A wide variety of places to eat and drink at Watergate Bay, from fast food and cafes to fancy restaurants). |
Drinking: 3.5(1: Alcohol is not allowed in the country. 5: There is an excellent pub near Watergate Bay where you can stay or park a camper van overnight). |
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