Gwithian

Cornwall's premier wavesailing location is in fact a beach-break – a regular venue for kiting, windsurfing and surfing comps, on its day it offers world-class down-the-line waveriding. It picks up a fair amount of swell; big W works best with the prevailing cross-shore south-westerly winds. Access is just below the car-park: scramble straight down the cliff or take the stairs to rig on the beach. Conditions change dramatically with the shifting sandbanks, but are generally best from low to mid-tide on the push – low is smaller and punchier whereas high offers bigger, softer waves. Avoid riding in front of the lifeguard hut north of the car-park as the so-called 'Sheep Dip' rockpools aren't easy to get out of! At high tide launch and land by the steps at Peter's Point to the south. This place can get really big; double-mast-high isn't rare, so pack spares. Fortunately, sail and kite repairs are available in nearby Hayle.