North Cornwall

Introduction

Times of high water

Portreath: High water is 6 hours before high water at Dover

Newquay: High water is 6 hours and 4 minutes before high water at Dover

Padstow: High water is 5 hours and 50 minutes before high water at Dover

Boscastle: High water is 5 hours and 43 minutes before high water at Dover

Bude: High water is 5 hours and 40 minutes before high water at Dover

Tidal streams

Godrevy Point: The north-east going stream begins at 2 hours after high water at Dover. The south-west going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at Dover. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. Tide races form around Godrevy Island. The east-going flow around Godrevy island appears to begin at least an hour earlier than this.

St. Agnes Head: The north-east going stream begins at 2 hours after high water at Dover. The south-west going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at Dover. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. A tide race forms.

Kelsey Head: The north-east going stream begins at 2 hours after high water at Dover. The south-west going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at Dover. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs.

Trevose Head: The north-east going stream begins at 2 hours after high water at Dover. The south-west going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at Dover. The flow reaches a speed of 3 knots at springs. Tide races form here.

North west of Stepper Point: The east north-east going stream begins at 45 minutes before high water at Dover. The west south-west going stream begins at 6 hours before high water at Dover. The east north-east going stream reaches a speed of 0.8 knots at springs. The west south-west going stream reaches a speed of 1.1 knots at springs.

Camel Entrance: The north going stream begins at 5 hours and 50 minutes before high water at Dover. The south going stream begins at 1 hours after high water at Dover. The flow reaches a speed of 3.5 knots at springs. This speed of flow occurs in the narrowest parts of the estuary's channels. The flow in the river mouth is fairly gentle, except at low water when the Doom Bar dries.

Pentire Point: The east north-east going stream begins at at high water at Dover. The west south-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 10 minutes before high water at Dover. The flow reaches a speed of 3 knots at springs. The stream may cause steep seas between Pentire Point and Rumps Point.

Port Quin Bay: Within Port Quin Bay, an eddy forms, causing the tide to run west for about 9 hours. The east going stream begins at at high water at Dover. The west going stream begins at 3 hours and 30 minutes after high water at Dover. The flow reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs.

Cambeak: The north-east going stream begins at 2 hours after high water at Dover. The south-west going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at Dover. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. Away from Cambeak, flow along this part of the coastline is minimal.

Notes

Access/Egress

Gwithian Towans: (SW 578 414) g Long stay car park a short walk from the beach.

Gwithian North: (SW 583 422) g Possible to carry to the beach from either the National Trust car park (closer) or the car park at the Rockpool cafe.

Portreath: (SW 654 453) g Sizeable car park by the beach (pay and display, £10 all day in 2021), although it may still be sensible to arrive early on busy days! The walk to the sea can be long at low water. If there is too much surf on the beach, it is also possible to land in the harbour - slipway at end (locked gate across slip). Parking on south side of harbour at the opposite end to the slipway.

St. Agnes: (SW 722 516) g Two small car parks, both up a steep road from the beach, although it may be possible to drop boats near to the beach before parking.

Perranporth: (SW 757 543) g Large beach car park. As with all the beaches in this area, there can be a long walk to the sea at low tide.

Crantock Beach: (SW 789 611) g Decent sized car park just off the beach. There will be a substantial walk here at low tide and there may well be surf on the beach.

Newquay Fistral Beach: (SW 800 622) g Car park by the beach. Be aware that Fistral is a Mecca for surfers - with any swell, you can expect surf and lots of surfers both in the car park and among the waves - go elsewhere unless it's flat clam!

Newquay harbour: (SW 808 620) g Limited parking near the harbour slipway.

Trenance: (SW 849 672) g Large car park near the beach. You may be able to float your boat along the river to make the carry easier at low water.

Treyarnon: (SW 859 740) g Large car park with fairly easy access.

Harlyn: (SW 878 755) g Good sized car park by the beach.

Trevone: (SW 891 760) g Fairly easy access to the water and plenty of car parking.

Padstow: (SW 920 754) g Padstow is a busy tourist spot, although there are several car parks and at least 2 slipways.

Rock: (SW 928 757) g Reasonably sized car park near the ferry slipway.

Wadebridge: (SW 992 723) g Large car park up a grassy bank from the river (river left).

Daymer Bay: (SW 928 776) g Decent sized car park by the beach. Long walk at low water. Waves often break on the Doom Bar.

Polzeath: (SW 936 790) g Car park by the beach. Can be very busy (and/or have substantial surf), in which case Daymer Bay to the south may be a better option.

Port Quin: (SW 971 806) g Small car park and a slipway onto a rock beach - a good launch point that may be less busy than beaches with large expanses of sand.

Port Isaac: (SW 996 808) g A busy town with narrow streets that are often closed to traffic - not recommended!

Trebarwith: (SX 048 864) g A small car park a short walk from the beach.

Boscastle: (SX 095 915) g Launching likely easiest near the working pier on river left near the harbour entrance, although there is a slipway by the youth hostel on river right. Large car park to the east of the main road bridge.

Crackington Haven: (SX 142 969) g Pay and display car park by the beach.

Widemouth Bay: (SS 199 023) g Large car park by the beach.

Bude Harbour: (SS 204 064) g There is a slipway by the lock gate at the entrance to Bude Canal, with some roadside parking nearby. Accessible 2 hours either side of high water. There may be surf to be negotiated to pick a route in.

Bude Crooklets Beach: (SS 203 071) g Car park near the beach. Often busy with surfers.

Northcott Mouth: (SS 202 085) g Drop boats at the turning area by the beach before parking in National Trust car park nearby.

Suggested trips

Godrevy to Portreath: The section of coastline between St. Ives Bay and Portreath makes for a fine paddle. The islets of Godrevy Island often need a ferry glide to reach and the channels between them can funnel the swell. The cliffs and coves to the east are well-worth exploring, but do try to avoid disturbing the seals that attract many tourists to the cliffs above. Excellent rockhopping can be found, particularly in the section of this trip nearer Portreath (where seals are fewer in number). Access is awkward around St. Ives bay, so if doing this this as a two-way trip, launching from Portreath may be preferable.

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