The water throughout the year is extremely clean. There is a massive tide which means that there is no kiting 2 hours before and 2 hours after high tide. Watergate is one of the biggest swell pullers on the South West Coast, so there is pretty much always a wave, but due to the low gradient of the beach, there are massive flat sections between waves. The best conditions for wave riding are at low tide when a northerly wind is blowing. This holds up the waves beautifully, and keeps the wind nice and clean.
The beach is massive. It is made up of 4km of soft sand at low tide, making it an amazing learning spot, because of the amount of space and lack of down wind obstacles at low tide. Most of the year there is no shells or pebbles anywhere on the beach.
It's one of the warmest places in England. Wetsuits are required out of the summer season. Water temperatures range from a chilly 9°C in the winter to a respectable 19°C in summer.
About 5 out of every 10 days. In summer, this is less, but in the winter this is more. The beach works from northerly all the way round to SSW. During a hot summer you can expect see breezes of about 12-15 knots, but not every day. May, June, October and November see the best wind, which is predominantly Southwesterly, but as long as there is a low pressure sitting just of the tip of Cornwall, there is wind. If the wind is offshore, there is a variety of other spots to cope with all directions mostly less than 30mins away.
Follow the A30 into Cornwall, and follow signs for St. Morgan (Newquay) Airport. From the airport, follow signs to Watergate, it is about 2.5km away. Get a train to Newquay and a taxi to Watergate (£10).
No kiting 2 hours before and after high tide. It is a private beach, and anyone endangering themselves, or others will be asked not to kite. During peak season, there is no kiting between the lifeguard flags.
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