Kitesurfing Lessons in Cornwall - Gwithian beach guide
Hayle to Godrevy.3 miles of pure Gold!
Location
Gwithian is most easily accessed by taking the A30 to the Hayle Roundabout and following the signs to Hayle. Within 100 meters you will encounter a double roundabout next to Lidls and on the second one take a right turn up the hill for just over a mile on the B3301.
Driving past a couple of Holiday parks on your left you come to a fairly sharp right hand bend with an entrance to the car park on the left. Follow the track over the speed bumps until you reach the large car park overlooking the beach. Parking is plentiful. Pay and display in the summer.
Details
This venue is synonymous with down the line wave sailing in the UK. Parking on top of the cliffs you can look across the gently curving St Ives Bay from the Estuary mouth at Hayle to the south west, across to the town of St Ives which is due west and all the way to the stark white lighthouse on Godrevy Point at the northern end of the bay. In front of the Car Park is a slippery cliff decent known locally as the 'goat track' to the beach . The main beach can be reached by the less severe but more lengthy path which leads onto steps down to the beach.
You can use Gwithian for 3 or 4 hours either side of low water depending on how big the tide is that day.
Depending upon the size of the swell low to mid tide can offer some relatively safe wave sailing. When the tide touches the rocks in front of the car park it is time to head in or move West along the beach in the direction of Hayle.
The beach here is more dune (not cliff) backed and can be used all the way through the tide, when on neaps and with the right wind direction.
Parking is available here at Sandy Acres, sign posted 'Beach Car Park' which is up in the air on a post, just after the houses as you come up around the corner from the Lidls round about. If you see St Ives Bay Holiday park with all its flags outside, you have gone 200m too far. Unless that is you are staying here on the camp site, in which case, you are at one of the most beautiful places in the World!
Check the map on the location page and zoom in for directions.
There are a few rocks directly in front of the car park to watch out for and it is recommended to chat to either the locals or the lifeguards if they are on duty in the summer before venturing out. Also be aware of dodgy windsurfers who like to drop in on kiters!
Definitely a spot to check your gear out thoroughly before you hit the water here as if things go wrong you can be in for a long swim!
Remember to respect all other water users!
Useable Wind Directions
S (which is cross off-shore, so only for experienced & wave riders) Gets busy with windsurfers/surfers
SSW, SW W, NW, N, NE
Best directions SW & NE for cross shore conditions.
W and N are cross-on, NW is pretty much dead onshore.
For more details and updates on zoning check http://www.kernowkitesurfclub.co.uk/spot-guide-Gwithian.html
Driving past a couple of Holiday parks on your left you come to a fairly sharp right hand bend with an entrance to the car park on the left. Follow the track over the speed bumps until you reach the large car park overlooking the beach. Parking is plentiful. Pay and display in the summer.
Details
This venue is synonymous with down the line wave sailing in the UK. Parking on top of the cliffs you can look across the gently curving St Ives Bay from the Estuary mouth at Hayle to the south west, across to the town of St Ives which is due west and all the way to the stark white lighthouse on Godrevy Point at the northern end of the bay. In front of the Car Park is a slippery cliff decent known locally as the 'goat track' to the beach . The main beach can be reached by the less severe but more lengthy path which leads onto steps down to the beach.
You can use Gwithian for 3 or 4 hours either side of low water depending on how big the tide is that day.
Depending upon the size of the swell low to mid tide can offer some relatively safe wave sailing. When the tide touches the rocks in front of the car park it is time to head in or move West along the beach in the direction of Hayle.
The beach here is more dune (not cliff) backed and can be used all the way through the tide, when on neaps and with the right wind direction.
Parking is available here at Sandy Acres, sign posted 'Beach Car Park' which is up in the air on a post, just after the houses as you come up around the corner from the Lidls round about. If you see St Ives Bay Holiday park with all its flags outside, you have gone 200m too far. Unless that is you are staying here on the camp site, in which case, you are at one of the most beautiful places in the World!
Check the map on the location page and zoom in for directions.
There are a few rocks directly in front of the car park to watch out for and it is recommended to chat to either the locals or the lifeguards if they are on duty in the summer before venturing out. Also be aware of dodgy windsurfers who like to drop in on kiters!
Definitely a spot to check your gear out thoroughly before you hit the water here as if things go wrong you can be in for a long swim!
Remember to respect all other water users!
Useable Wind Directions
S (which is cross off-shore, so only for experienced & wave riders) Gets busy with windsurfers/surfers
SSW, SW W, NW, N, NE
Best directions SW & NE for cross shore conditions.
W and N are cross-on, NW is pretty much dead onshore.
For more details and updates on zoning check http://www.kernowkitesurfclub.co.uk/spot-guide-Gwithian.html
