Cable Bay
- Bodyboard, Beginners
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Swell
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Cable Bay (Porth Trecastell) is a small, sandy, beach-break surf cove on Anglesey that tends to work best with Atlantic swell. It’s sheltered by the surrounding headlands and cliffs, and it can produce waves that suit beginners and longboarders—especially on smaller, calmer days. Wind strongly affects surf quality. NE winds are described as offshore and tend to groom/clean the swell, while W/SW winds are more onshore and can make the conditions messy. Reported wind patterns are also Atlantic-frontal in character, and moderate gustiness near the cliffs/headlands is noted. Tide matters at this compact site. Mid tide is repeatedly identified as the best timing; low tide can turn the wave into a dumpy, fast section, while higher water can interact with rocks at the ends of the bay. With larger swell, the bay can become more demanding and may even close out above roughly 2.5 meters, so choosing the right swell and wind is important. Safety considerations are a recurring theme: there are rocks near the drop zone/headlands and submerged rocks, with the added risk that rip currents can develop near the headlands during larger swells. Cold water is also expected year-round, so wetsuit coverage is essential and local access/parking is best managed by using the designated area above the beach.
- Offshore NE winds clean the waves
- Best at mid tide
- Beginner-friendly on small days; more challenging in winter swell
- Compact sheltered cove with limited ride length and rock hazards
- Sheltered cove that picks up Atlantic swell
- Offshore NE winds clean the waves
- Generally user-friendly for beginners and longboarders on smaller days
- Mid tide is the most consistently workable setup
- Small, compact cove can limit ride length
- Rocks at both ends and submerged rocks near headlands increase risk
- Rip currents can form near headlands on larger swells
- Cold water year-round
- Can get quite busy at peak times
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE, E, S, SW, W
- Offshore directions
- NE
- Wind Range
- 15–30 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Most reliable conditions are driven by Atlantic low-pressure systems; wind can be messy onshore and cleaner offshore.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gustiness reported near the cliffs/headlands.
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- Cliffs provide some shelter from North and East winds; NE is the ideal offshore direction for surfing.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Small waves on calmer days; winter swell can bring bigger, colder conditions.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Onshore winds can create messier surf; offshore NE tends to smooth/clean the face.
- Launch
- Small — Small sandy cove flanked by rocky headlands and low cliffs; compact sheltered approach with a gentle slope.
Through the year
Very crowded on weekends and during summer holidays; quieter on winter weekdays.
Increased storm activity from October to February.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Rarely used for kitesurfing due to small size and turbulence from nearby cliffs; most kiters head to other nearby areas for more consistent space and flow.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Occasionally used by wave specialists when the swell is large, but limited space and gusty winds near the cliffs make it challenging.
- Sail Sizes
- 4–5.5 m²
Not a primary wingfoiling spot due to small launch area and the spot being swell-focused; possible for experienced riders during high tide.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil use is limited by spot characteristics (small launch/roughness/timing constraints).
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
A compact, sheltered beach break that picks up Atlantic swell. It is generally suitable for beginners and longboarders on calm/smaller days, while autumn and winter bring larger, colder surf that can challenge improvers depending on tide and wind.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- W, SW
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Mid tide is preferred; low tide can become dumpy/fast and high tide can bounce off rocks.
- Shelter
- Sheltered — Sheltered by headlands/cliffs, though it can still become challenging around larger swells due to rocks.
- Wind Effect
- NE winds are offshore and groom the swell; W/SW winds are onshore and messy.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out when swell exceeds about 2.5 meters; winter swell can still produce good waves, but conditions become more demanding.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality is reported as good with offshore NE winds cleaning the face.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Wave power ranges from soft on smaller days to moderate overall; winter swell can make it punchier for improvers.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Slow to medium peel reported depending on conditions and setups.
- Ride Length
- Short — Ride length is limited by the compact cove; short but can have punchy sections.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Compact cove limits ride length; waves can offer punchy sections depending on sandbar formation.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Cable Bay in the full forecast view.
Cable Bay wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 8–35 ktsGusts 53 kts
- Direction
- SW224°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2535 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.7–4.4 m6s period
- Temperature
- 11–15 °C
Over the next 7 days, Cable Bay is forecast for daytime winds of 8–35 kts, peaking around 35 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 53 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.7–4.4 m with a period of about 6s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Shallow rocks near the drop zone
- Rocks at both ends of the bay and some submerged rocks near the headlands
- Rip currents can form near the rocky headlands, particularly during larger swells
- Cold water year-round
- Crowds
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Regional rescue is limited locally, with nearby RNLI coverage and coastguard monitoring.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major hospital with A&E: Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; be mindful of swimmers during summer months.
- Works best at mid tide; low tide can be dumpy and fast, while high tide can bounce off the rocks.
- Offshore winds clean the waves; onshore winds make them messy.
- Park in the designated lot above the bay to avoid blocking narrow access roads.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Bangor
- Nearest Town
- Llanfaelog
- Parking
- Pay and display parking lot located directly above the beach.
- Access
- Accessible via the A4080; short walk from roadside parking to the sand (also described as approaching via A55 Junction 3 for Rhosneigr and then continuing toward Llanfaelog where Cable Bay is located just south of Rhosneigr).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English and Welsh
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Accommodation available in the Rhosneigr area, including guesthouses/holiday rentals.
- Food & Drink
- No facilities on the beach; cafes and restaurants are located a short drive away in Rhosneigr.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental shops are available in nearby Rhosneigr.
- Gear Storage
- Some seasonal storage options may be available through local schools/shops for regular visitors.
- Gear Repair
- Specialist shops within Rhosneigr provide repair services.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
An iconic lighthouse on a small island off Holy Island, known for spectacular coastal views and bird watching.
A Neolithic burial chamber with rare examples of prehistoric art.
A long-distance trail that circles Anglesey and passes directly through the Rhosneigr region.
A contemporary restaurant and bar popular with the watersports community.
An aquarium and marine education centre showcasing British marine life.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Cable Bay?
The best overall months at Cable Bay are January, February, November, December, October, March. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Cable Bay?
Cable Bay works with N, NE, E, S, SW, W winds. Offshore directions are NE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Cable Bay?
Recommended equipment sizes at Cable Bay: Kitesurfing: 7–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4–5.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–30 kts.
What skill level is Cable Bay suitable for?
Cable Bay suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Advanced · Windsurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Beginner.