Surf Nation

Five Popular Surf Web Cams in Cornwall: guest post

Morning folks. The swell is on the up and I imagine a great many of you will be checking out web cams to see which break is working best. It wasn't like this when I were a lad but life moves on and progress is, often enough, A Good Thing. Here, then, courtesy of North Cornwall luxury cottages specialists Latitude50.co.uk, is a guide to five of the county's best web cams.

Surfing is big news in Cornwall, with many great surf beaches all around the coast catching excellent Atlantic swells all year round. Gone are the days too of having to guess which beach will be getting the best waves. These days there are much better methods to find out where to head to once you’ve got your board and wetsuit in the car – and by far the best way is to have a look at a surf web cam. Many beaches around the coast have caught on to the fact that they are helping you out by hooking one up, so take a look at our list of five popular web cams on the Cornish circuit and you’ll be riding those waves before you know it …

1. Polzeath

Polzeath has a lovely beach and the waves are consistent, slow and great for beginner to intermediate surfers. There’s a good surf shop on the beach too, which is really useful if you need surf supplies and there are a handful of good cafes and bar within spitting distance. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Polzeath then check out the great selection of Polzeath holiday cottages available. 

View Polzeath webcam

2. Praa Sands

Praa Sands provides a wave that is fast, tubular and very good when it’s on, so of course this makes it a very popular spot. The web cam situated at the beach café gives a good clear picture, so you will be able to see exactly when it’s working best. The beach has a bar and a café, so is perfect for chilling out after you’ve got your wave.

View Praa Sands webcam

3. Porthtowan

This is an ideal wave for the more advanced surfer, as it’s powerful, big and consistent when it’s working. There are some strong rips here too, which make it less suitable for beginners. The Blue Bar on the beach is a favourite with the local surf crowd and provides reasonable food, cold beer and some good music nights.

View Porthtowan webcam

4. Fistral

This is a very popular surf beach in the north coast town of Newquay. It’s a nice beach break wave that is occasionally exceptional. Annual surf competitions are held here and you’re sure to find plenty of places to hang out afterwards if you want to soak up the atmosphere.

View Fistral webcam

5. Perranporth

Perranporth boasts a friendly wave that is ideal for all levels of surfers. It works best at low tide, so make sure to check the tide charts as well as taking a look at the web cam. There are a handful of great cafes within reach of the beach and a spectacular millennium sundial on top of the cliffs overlooking the sea - well worth a look if you’re there.

View Perranporth webcam

This guest article on Cornwall's best surf webcams was brought to you by North Cornwall luxury cottages specialists Latitude50.co.uk. Image sourced from www.photobrookphotography.com

In Praise of Kindness

At what age do we have to stop doing the things we love? Or, more specifically, the physical things that we love?

This question often plagues me, injured as I am on a seemingly daily basis. The ribs that I broke three months or so ago have healed well enough for me to paddle out for a couple of sessions, but psychologically I am not there at all. My confidence, in the water, is shot to pieces. Last time I paddled out it was fairly sizeable at Sennen, but I didn't have the nerve to catch a single wave. Because I now associate surfing with pain, broken bones, neck surgery and trips to the hospital, I wonder if I am consigned to paddling out for 'a bob on my board in the line-up' rather than to do anything so surfy as ride a wave.

However, I am inspired by the example of Keith Carabine, a man I have recently had the pleasure of getting to know. Keith is the chairman of the Joseph Conrad Society, a mad keen Manchester City fan and, at the age of 72, a footballer. Yes, having played the beautiful game all his life Keith still plays - and plays well, as I found when I was in the same side as him in London last Saturday.

Keith is also one of life's gents, a fair and honourable man who believes in kindness. This is a laudable philosophical position and I wish Mark Hughes, the manager of my ailing football team, would adopt it by showing kindness to me and the rest of QPR's fans by kindly resigning as manager.

Here's to longevity among footballers and surfers, and kindness for QPR.

Pictured courtesy of the Joseph Conrad Society: the man himself. He knew a thing or too about kindness.

Amazing Surfing Stories (an Amazonian thing)

Many thanks to Matt B for a great review of Amazing Surfing Stories. Stoked, moi? Yes indeed.