Fistral, UK
Also within 20 km of Newquay
- Towan Surf spot · 0.4 km from Newquay
- Great Western Surf spot · 0.6 km from Newquay
- Tolcarne, The Wedge Surf spot · 0.9 km from Newquay
- Fistral Beach Kite spot · 1.3 km from Newquay
- Lusty Glaze Surf spot · 1.7 km from Newquay
- The Cribber Surf spot · 1.9 km from Newquay
- Porth Surf spot · 2.3 km from Newquay
- Zorbas Reef Surf spot · 2.4 km from Newquay
Watch this spot We email you when Fistral is worth the trip.
About Fistral
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NW (314°), so it takes swell from the NW. The wind blows offshore from the SE (134°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves moderately: 10 m deep about 250 m out (1 in 25). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would crumble. The sea is about 10°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 17°C in August, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 1 good days in 7; in July, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Newquay, 1.4 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 10 surf spots and 1 wind sports spot.
Water about 15°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 16 h 10 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to NQY, changing at Dublin Airport (DUB).
See flights ORD → NQY · Skyscanner from about £380 returnAdGetting there. 40 min from the airport to Fistral, 11 km.
By bus: Go Cornwall Bus. Time from the operators and travel guides, checked by hand.
Accommodation.
Stay in NewquayAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Newquay (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Newquay 2 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 220 places to stay · where Fistral stays
Places to stay in Newquay · Booking.com AdCrantock 3 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 89 places to stay
Places to stay in Crantock · Booking.com AdPorth 6 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 108 places to stay
Places to stay in Porth · Booking.com AdMawgan Porth 13 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 36 places to stay
Places to stay in Mawgan Porth · Booking.com AdPerranporth 16 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 53 places to stay
Places to stay in Perranporth · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Newquay · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Newquay · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Fistral on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 21, too small | 2 ft8 smushy | 60kJ | wind from the north-east, 10 knots | 13°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 57, good | 3 ft12 shollow | 304kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 16 knots, offshore | 12°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 61, good | 4 ft10 scrumbling | 314kJ | wind from the south-west, 5 knots | 14°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft10 smushy | 666kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 25 knots | 12°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, too big | 9 ft8 smushy | 892kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots | 14°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft11 smushy | 1,086kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 31 knots | 12°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 8, poor | 5 ft9 scrumbling | 356kJ | wind from the south-west, 17 knots | 14°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 12, too small | 2 ft10 smushy | 97kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 11 knots | 14°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 0, too big | 9 ft9 smushy | 1,089kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 21 knots | 16°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 22, poor | 3 ft11 shollow | 228kJ | wind from the south-west, 16 knots | 14°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to NQY, changing at DUB, then 40 min by road (or about 55 min by bus, direct, 12 a day). About 16h 10 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf The Cribber
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 4 ft at 10 s, wind 5 kn (8 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 12 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 27 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to NQY, changing at DUB, then 40 min by road (or about 55 min by bus, direct, 12 a day). About 16h 10 door to door
The plan picks the best of 12 spots near Newquay each day: Diggorys, Fistral, Great Western, Lusty Glaze, Penhale, The Cribber, Tolcarne, The Wedge, Towan, Watergate, Watergate Bay, Whipsiderry, Zorbas Reef.
Rough cost
About £1,020–£1,925 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to NQY, estimated from distance and season, changing at DUB, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £380–£795 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £15–£30 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £250–£420 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £240–£445 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £100–£170 |
| Total | £1,020–£1,925 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Newquay
- Bush PepperAustralian · 0.1 km from the centre
- Jon BouysFish and chips · 0.1 km from the centre
- Saltsheds Bar & BistroBar and grill · 0.1 km from the centre
- The Cornish BakeryBritish · 0.1 km from the centreFood hygiene 5 of 5, May 2026
- Little Ears Newquay Italian RestaurantItalian · 0.2 km from the centreFood hygiene 5 of 5, Jul 2025
- Newquay MeaderyBritish · 0.2 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation; food hygiene ratings from the Food Standards Agency (Open Government Licence). Credits
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Where to stayAd
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