Hawkes Point (St Ives Bay)
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Hawkes Point is a fairly exposed, specialized point break on the North Cornwall coast that is best described as inconsistent—most of the year it is often flat and only comes alive when the North Atlantic delivers a truly large, wrapping swell. When it works, it can produce long, walling right-hand rides that peel for a significant distance, with the wave quality described as good to moderate and the ride length reported as long (including mentions of very long runs on the best days). The spot’s performance is strongly linked to the swell direction: it is described as needing a westerly to north-westerly swell to wrap into the bay, and it requires massive energy to start working. Wind matters mainly for grooming/working conditions. Sources indicate the setup is best with South or South-West winds, and one provider notes SW/S winds can be offshore and help groom the wave. Wind reliability for the spot is also described as low, so the key is aligning swell size with the right wind/tide combination. Safety is the main consideration: the launch and riding environment is rock-based with submerged rocks and a cliff face at the point, and entry/exit are from rocks at high tide. Rip currents are noted near the headland/rocks, and the spot can get heavy on the biggest swells, including crowd build-up during the rare exceptional days.
- Specialized, swell-dependent point break that only works on massive North Atlantic energy.
- Long, walling rides when conditions align (best on westerly/north-westerly swells).
- Rock hazards with entry/exit from rocks at high tide; rip-current risk near the headland.
- Can produce long, walling point-break rides when the massive swell wraps in.
- SW/S winds are described as favorable for working conditions.
- The point delivery can hold size well once active.
- Extremely swell-dependent and inconsistent (often flat).
- Rock hazards with restricted entry/exit; conditions can become heavy on massive swells.
- Specialist waves—crowds can form quickly when the point fires, but the spot is not consistently reliable.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SW, SE
- Offshore directions
- S, SW, SE
- Wind Type
- Gradient — South-westerly to westerly winds with conditions varying by setup; sources describe the spot as best with SW/S winds when the point is wrapping a massive swell.
- Reliability
- low
- Best Months
- December
- Shadow Zones
- The point provides significant shelter from Westerly winds
- Thermal Window
- Other
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Rocks — Rocky point/bottom area; the surrounding approach involves beach access.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Huge — Multiple sources emphasize it only works on massive swells; working waves described as requiring around 2.0–4.0 m swell height when it wraps properly.
- Launch
- Medium — Launch described as accessing from Carbis Bay to reach the point; access is easier from the Carbis Bay side, often at lower tides for walking routes.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch described as moderate difficulty, largely due to rock-based access and the need for correct tide.
Through the year
Winter (November to March)
By sport
What to expect for each.
Fairly exposed point break in North Cornwall. Specialized and inconsistent—primarily active only on massive swells. Entry/exit are from rocks at high tide; when it works, it can produce long, walling rides that peel for a significant distance.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- W, NW
- Swell Height
- 2–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — One source indicates mid-tide; another notes best on low tide—confirm on the day as conditions vary.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed point break overall; semi-sheltered relative to prevailing SW–W winds when the wave delivery works.
- Wind Effect
- South-westerly-wind-ideal; SW/S winds are described as best for working conditions and can groom the wave.
- Bigger Swell
- Needs a very large swell to begin working; once active it holds size well.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Quality improves when the rest of the North Coast is massive/blown out and the point wraps.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Works on bigger energy; sources emphasize it needs massive swell to start and then holds size well.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Described as peeling once the massive swell wraps in.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Medium peel speed on the right-wall delivery when conditions align.
- Ride Length
- Long — Long rides are possible when the sand/swell alignment and wrap are correct.
- Typical Ride Length
- 100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Reports include rides up to about 150 meters on the best days; typical reported length around 100 meters.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Hawkes Point (St Ives Bay) in the full forecast view.
Hawkes Point (St Ives Bay) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–28 ktsGusts 47 kts
- Direction
- SW231°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2428 kts
- Windy days
- 6/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–5.2 m9s period
- Temperature
- 12–17 °C
Over the next 7 days, Hawkes Point (St Ives Bay) is forecast for daytime winds of 5–28 kts, peaking around 28 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 47 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 1.0–5.2 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- Rocks
- Rip currents (near the rocks/headland)
- Crowds during rare good swells
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards are reported as seasonal across the wider St Ives Bay area; the spot itself is rock-focused and can still be hazardous even outside peak season.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Regional rescue is limited; major cover via RNLI is primarily during peak season across major beaches, with RNLI station support for offshore incidents.
- Emergency Info
- In an emergency dial 999 or 112 for the Coastguard.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Mild localism noted; the spot is primarily a specialist/experienced-surfers option rather than a casual destination.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies.
- Entry and exit are from rocks at high tide.
- Only works properly on a massive swell that wraps in and can be heavy when active.
- Access is easiest from the Carbis Bay side; the spot is often flat most of the year.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- St Ives
- Nearest Town
- Carbis Bay
- Parking
- Limited parking at Carbis Bay beach (reported as expensive) or in the residential areas above the cliffs.
- Access
- Accessible via the South West Coast Path or by walking along the beach from Carbis Bay at lower tides
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation is available in Carbis Bay and St Ives, including hotels and holiday apartments.
- Food & Drink
- Several cafes and restaurants are available at the Carbis Bay beach level.
- Equipment Rental:
- Several rental options are described across the region; surf-specific rental is better found in St Ives, while SUP and kayak rentals are common in Carbis Bay.
- Gear Storage
- Limited dedicated public storage; most visitors rely on accommodation-provided facilities or nearby surf centers.
- Gear Repair
- Gear/wetsuit and board repair services are described as available via specialist workshops in the wider area.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A historic working harbor surrounded by traditional granite cottages, galleries, and shops.
Coastal hiking with views across the bay.
Popular beachfront dining known for tapas and sunset views.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Hawkes Point (St Ives Bay)?
The best overall months at Hawkes Point (St Ives Bay) are December, January, February, March, October, November. The best wind months are December.
Which wind directions work at Hawkes Point (St Ives Bay)?
Hawkes Point (St Ives Bay) works with S, SW, SE winds. Offshore directions are S, SW, SE.
What skill level is Hawkes Point (St Ives Bay) suitable for?
Hawkes Point (St Ives Bay) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Expert.