Praa Sands
A mile of south-coast Cornish sand between two rocky headlands — the wave option in Mount's Bay.
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● Spot · shaded: the wind directions that work here. It is not a riding area or a permitted kite zone. Two fingers to move the map.
Location & launch
Know before you go.
- Launch
- A mile of sand between rocky headlands on the south coast.
- Wind
- ESE · SE · SSE · S · SSW · SW · WSW · W · WNW winds work here.
The shaded area shows the wind directions recorded as working here. It is not a permitted kite zone or a safe launch boundary. Check local signs.
Local rules, hazards & spot guide
Need to know
The things that catch people out here.
- Rocky headlands at both ends. Stay in the middle of the bay.
- Picks up more swell than Marazion round the corner, so it's the wave option in Mount's Bay.
- Small car park that fills fast in summer.
Conditions
- Best
- Works
- Offshore
- Works in
- ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW
- Best in
- SE, W, WNW
- Offshore (careful)
- N, NNE, NE, ENE, NW, NNW
- Wind quality
- moderate
- Water
- Waves
- Depth
- mixed
- Best tide
- Low to mid
- Spring range
- 5.3 m
- Beginner
- Workable
- Intermediate
- Good
- Advanced
- Good
Hazards
Most serious first. The level is in words as well as colour.
- high
rocks Rocky headlands at both ends of the beach, with reef exposed at low water.
- medium
current Rips form against the headlands.
Access & rules
- Launch
- A mile of sand between rocky headlands on the south coast.
- Permit
- Not required
- Insurance
- Third-party liability expected
- Tuition
- Permitted
- Facilities
- toilets, cafe, pub
Parking
- Praa Sands car park
paid
Seasonal restrictions
- Jun–Aug
RNLI bathing zones in peak season.
Safety
Who is around if it goes wrong. None of it makes the water safe.
- Lifeguards
- Seasonal RNLI cover.
- RNLI
- Penlee RNLI
- Nearest A&E
- West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance (~20 min)
- Water quality
- Designated bathing water — excellent
The spot
Praa Sands sits east of Marazion on Cornwall's south coast, a mile of sand bracketed by rocky headlands. It picks up more swell than Marazion, which makes it the wave option in Mount's Bay when a westerly is running.
The headlands at either end are the hazard, with reef exposed at low water and rips forming against the rock. Stay in the middle of the bay. Parking is limited and fills quickly in summer.
Links & local
Clubs, forums & groups
- Kernow Kitesurf Club · club
Nearby alternatives
Other launches around Mount's Bay, with different conditions.
- Marazion
South-facing conditions when the north coast is unrideable — with the best backdrop in Britain.
Sources
Where this record came from, and how confident we are in it.
- Windfinder — Praa Sands
Checked 2026-09-07 · coordinates, wind
- UK Windsurfing beach guide — Praa Sands
Checked 2026-09-23 · wind
Verify locally. Coordinates 50.1035, -5.3866. Conditions, access arrangements and beach rules change; check them on the day before you rely on anything on this page.