Every Cornish winter, the stage is set for a dramatic natural show.
Storm watching in Cornwall from November to March is a time of super-charged South Westerlies churning the surrounding Atlantic Ocean, Celtic Sea and the English Channel into a mesmerising cauldron. Think 30-foot waves crashing over historic harbour walls, engine houses standing sentinel above thrashing seas and enough salt spray in your hair to give you a permanent frizz. Many locals swear there’s no better way to beat the winter blues.
There’s over 400 miles of dramatic coastline to observe it all from, but we’ve whittled down our favourites into five must-see harbours, headlands and coves for watching these liquid fireworks.
Note: while storm watching in Cornwall is exhilarating, it can also be dangerous, so we’ve included a few safety tips along the way.
Godrevy Beach on the North Coast for stormy wildlife watching
This sandy National Trust beach marks the tip of St Ives Bay on the North Coast. It’s surrounded by rocky headland and offers panoramic views of the Atlantic rollers as they come crashing into the bay.
You can park your car in one of the three car parks and crack open the thermos. Or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, go down to the beach and view the drama from one of the many stunning Devonian mudstone formations (if in doubt, ask National Trust representatives if this is safe and appropriate).
Just a few hundred yards from Godrevy Point lies the uninhabited (by humans) Godrevy island, home to the iconic Godrevy Lighthouse. It was the muse to Virginia Woolf’s 1927 novel To The Lighthouse.
As well as a great spot for storm watching in Cornwall, Godrevy is also fantastic for wildlife-watching. See the waves charge and foam around the island, which is also home to colonies of oystercatchers, seagulls and pipits. If the wind is not too treacherous, you can also walk to the headland for views down to Mutton Cove – home to a year-round colony of grey seals.
There’s a café in the main car park and others at nearby Gwithian beach for drying out and recovering with hot drinks. It’s also worth giving the local National Trust office a ring to check weather conditions on the day of your visit.
Caution – cliff erosion is rife here and we can’t stress enough the importance of staying on the paths and keeping young children and pets well away from the edges.
Godrevy beach in the storms: https://www.tiktok.com/@benhawkinsphotography/video/7459117999341964576
Sennen Cove on the South Coast for the most dramatic views from the safety of a car park
This small coastal village on the South Coast may be a surfer’s paradise in the summer, but in the winter it’s a favourite spot for storm watching in Cornwall. Social media is full of viral images of a cluster of cottages in Sennen clutching the cliffside, while monumental waves explode around them.
What makes storm watching in Sennen unique is that you feel like you’re getting right up close to the action from the safety of the car park.
Head to the smaller Sennen Cove Harbour car park, on the west side of the village past the RNLI lifeboat station and right alongside the harbour wall. Its exposed position just around the corner from the notorious reefs of Land’s End is perfect for experiencing the sheer power of the big breakers. You’re still partially sheltered by the cliffs of Pedn-Men-Dhu and the view offers a relatively safe spot for watching the display. However, be warned – storm surges can quickly escalate water levels, so always be wary and listen to local weather warnings and advice.
Sennen also lies on the South West Coast Path, so there’s plenty of vantage points from which you can observe the spectacle. Just be wary of the dangers of strong gusts of wind along exposed cliff paths, harbours and seafronts.
Once you’ve had your fill, head to the cafes and pub by the beach for much-needed refreshments and a chance to replay your soon-to-go-viral videos.
Sennen Cove in the storms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmeZ4_MgxoA
Cape Cornwall on the North Coast for a rugged cliffside vantage point
Just over six miles North from Sennen Cove is the iconic headland of Cape Cornwall – a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Atlantic meets the English Channel. This is a rugged landscape of abandoned mining chimney stacks, iron-age hill forts and shipwrecking reefs that create monstrous waves in stormy weather.
Cape Cornwall is a National Trust site with a car park that slopes down dramatically towards an amphitheatre of a cove. It’s a fantastic spot for storm watching in Cornwall, as the land gives way to reveal the spectacular seascape beyond.
When conditions allow, you can also walk up to the chimney stack at the top of the headland for views out to the intriguingly named islet of Charles De Gaulle in the Bath. It’s called Charles De Gaulle in the Bath because… you’ll work it out.
For the best views of the ocean beyond, head to the National Coastwatch Institution Station lookout point, where local volunteers may let you peep through the ultra-powerful telescope. It’s also a great place to get the latest news on whale sightings and other happenings along the coast.
Cape Cornwall in the storms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA1DlCMKXbc
Porthleven Harbour on the South Coast for ringside seats of charging seas
The most southerly fishing port on mainland Britain has been used for centuries as a safe harbour by ships in trouble. But don’t be fooled by its location. It might be inset along Mount’s Bay and have a double-walled harbour, but when a storm hits, Porthleven is right in the thick of it and one of the best spots for storm watching in Cornwall.
A combination of South Westerlies, high tide and large swells often channel the raging ocean right into the harbour. You’ll see waves batter against walls just a few metres from houses and the town’s clock tower is often in the firing line. If conditions are deemed safe, head to the path along the high terrace right behind the clock tower for a good place to view the incoming waves. Resist the urge to drive along or park right alongside the harbour: in heavy storms this is not safe. There are plenty of other cark parks around town.
Porthleven has recently become a bit of a star on social media and stormwatchers have been flocking here. Coastguard authorities say there have been a few incidents of people being swept off their feet when they got too close to the wind and the waves. Listen to Coastguard warnings. Don’t think that you’re safe just because you’re in a town with other people and not on a remote cliff. Be sure to stand clear off the edge, somewhere safe. And take extra care with young children and pets.
Porthleven in the storms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjgk849T0vs
Penzance Prom on the South Coast for a stately view of the storm
We round off this feature with a stunning location close to our hearts. The regal Victorian promenade in the portside town of Penzance makes for a grand setting for storm watching.
Although this stretch of Mount’s Bay is considered quite sheltered, ‘the Prom,’ as it’s locally known, was at the receiving end of the devastating storms of 2014. An impressive makeover has restored it back to its former glory. What’s particularly great about this spot is that it’s regularly the site of spectacular waves bursting against the shore. If there’s a bit of wind and a high(ish) tide, there’s a fair chance you’re in for a memorable trip.
Line up anywhere safe along the stretch between the iconic Jubilee Pool and Newlyn Green to watch the waves come rolling in. Stay well back from the railings and, if it’s particularly fierce, stand on the pavement on the opposite side of the road or even in one of the side streets further away. Take in the views beyond Jubilee Pool out to St Michaels’ Mount, which can resemble a brooding gothic castle besieged in stormy Mount’s Bay. There are several cafes and hotels to shelter in lining the Promenade – perfect for nursing a hot drink and listening to the waves booming against the sea walls.
If out and about on the Prom, stay well clear of breaking waves. After a huge storm several years back, the sea picked up stones the size of footballs (no exaggeration) and hurled them onto the road. While the waves at the Prom are mesmerising, they are literally loaded with danger. Enjoy the show… but be extra careful.
Penzance promenade in the storms – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLLwEUp2KFk
Dos and Don’ts for safe storm watching in Cornwall
- Don’t park your car too close to the harbour or sea front.
- Think safety over selfie – ALWAYS.
- Check the latest Met Office weather warnings and tide times in your area before you set out. If it’s a spring tide, expect more extreme water rises.
- Avoid walking or standing on cliffs during high winds.
- If in doubt, talk to local people about where it is safe to watch the waves.
Check out HM Coastguard’s website for more detailed safety advice.
And if this article inspired you, see our post about winter in Cornwall.
Photos © Mike Newman – Cornish Seascapes
Instagram – Manonaplanet
Penzance is the perfect town to base yourself for a weekend away storm watching in Cornwall, or for a day out experiencing the waves in our town. We have lovely places to stay, award-winning pubs and restaurants and a thriving indie shopping scene. Find out more about our beautiful (and sometimes rather stormy) portside town.