Mawgan Porth Webcam – Check the Surf and Tide in Cornwall

The Mawgan Porth Webcam looks out from the Merrymoor Inn, at the back of Mawgan Porth beach on Cornwall’s north coast, toward the sand, the River Menalhyl and the Atlantic surf at the mouth of the bay. The camera faces roughly northwest, over a terrace of picnic tables and blue parasols, a car park and the road that climbs the valley side on the left. Beyond the road wall the beach opens out, with the river braiding across the sand and the grassy northern headland, lined with houses along its top, closing the view on the right. The tide changes the scene all day. At low water the sand runs out almost to the breaking waves, and on a rising tide the sea pushes back up the beach toward the dunes.

About Mawgan Porth

Mawgan Porth is a small village and beach in the parish of Mawgan-in-Pydar, about 6 kilometers (4 miles) north of Newquay. It sits where the River Menalhyl reaches the sea, at the seaward end of the Vale of Lanherne, which is also called the Vale of Mawgan. The beach faces west between cliffs at each end, with dunes behind it and the South West Coast Path running along the back. On the right of the frame, a stone bridge takes the road across the river close to where it spills out onto the sand.

People lived beside this beach long before it drew surfers and holidaymakers. Excavations in 1949 to 1952, in 1954 and again in 1974 uncovered an early medieval settlement of three groups of courtyard houses and a burial ground, dated to around 850 to 1050. Today the houses of the modern village climb the slopes around the beach road, and the camera’s view takes in the cliff face of the northern headland with homes strung along the clifftop above it.

Weather and Climate in Mawgan Porth

The nearest Met Office station is at Newquay Airport, a few kilometers inland, and its 1991 to 2020 averages give a fair picture of this stretch of coast. Winters are mild for Britain: January days average about 9°C (48°F), with nights around 4°C (40°F). Spring warms slowly, and April highs are still only about 12.5°C (54.5°F). July is the warmest month, averaging 19°C (66°F) by day and 13.5°C (56°F) at night, and October stays mild at around 14.5°C (58°F) by day and close to 10°C (50°F) after dark.

Rain totals about 1,020 mm (40 inches) a year, and the station logs around 1,758 hours of sunshine. Daylight lasts only about 8 hours around the winter solstice and more than 16 hours in late June, so in December the beach goes dark by late afternoon while summer evenings stay light well past 9 pm. On camera, winter often means low sun, long shadows across the sand and Atlantic swell piling white water into the bay. On a summer afternoon the beach and the car park are typically far busier than on a winter weekday.

Things to Do Near Mawgan Porth

The beach itself is the main draw. It is popular for surfing and bodyboarding, RNLI lifeguards patrol it in the summer season, and low tide uncovers rock pools and caves to explore. Dogs are allowed on the sand all year round. The South West Coast Path climbs out of the bay at both ends. Heading north, it reaches the National Trust’s Carnewas cafe and shop on the clifftop above Bedruthan Steps, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away as the crow flies. Heading south, the path runs to Watergate Bay, about 3 kilometers (2 miles) off, and on toward Newquay.

Up the valley, St Mawgan is under 3 kilometers (2 miles) inland. The village has one pub, The Falcon Inn, and a 13th-century parish church dedicated to St Mauganus and St Nicholas. Next to it stands Lanherne, the early 16th-century manor house of the Arundell family, which is listed Grade I and has been a convent since 1794. The Japanese Garden in St Mawgan pairs a garden attraction with a bonsai nursery. RAF St Mawgan, named after the village, sits beside Newquay Airport, and Newquay’s town beaches are a short drive south.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

For more of Cornwall’s north coast, these cameras are worth a look.

• Porth Beach Webcam
• Polzeath Beach Webcam
• Port Isaac Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Mawgan Porth located?

Mawgan Porth is on the north coast of Cornwall in southwest England, in the parish of Mawgan-in-Pydar. It lies about 6 kilometers (4 miles) north of Newquay, at the mouth of the Vale of Lanherne, with St Mawgan village and Newquay Airport a short way inland.

What can you see on the Mawgan Porth Webcam?

The camera looks northwest from the Merrymoor Inn over a terrace, a car park and the beach road to the sand, the River Menalhyl and the surf at the mouth of the bay. The northern headland, with houses along its top, fills the right of the view. It does not show Bedruthan Steps, Watergate Bay or Newquay.

Does the Mawgan Porth Webcam have sound?

No. The stream is video only, with no audio, so the waves and the beach are silent on the player.

Is Mawgan Porth beach dog friendly?

Yes. Dogs are allowed on Mawgan Porth beach all year round, with no summer ban, so it stays a good choice for dog walkers even in the peak season.

Is Mawgan Porth good for surfing?

Yes. The west-facing beach picks up Atlantic swell and is popular for surfing and bodyboarding, with RNLI lifeguards on patrol during the summer season. The webcam is a quick way to see whether waves are breaking across the mouth of the bay before you head down.

Can you check the tide at Mawgan Porth on the webcam?

Roughly, yes. At low tide the sand stretches out toward the breaking waves and the river spreads into shallow channels, while at high tide the sea covers much of the beach. The camera shows the state of the tide but not the times, so check a tide table for the north Cornwall coast before planning a walk to the rock pools.

What is the weather like in Mawgan Porth?

Mild for Britain. Averages from the Met Office station at Newquay Airport run from about 9°C (48°F) by day in January to 19°C (66°F) in July, with around 1,020 mm (40 inches) of rain a year. The camera keeps streaming after dark, but the beach is only visible between sunrise and sunset.

What beaches are near Mawgan Porth?

Bedruthan Steps lies about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) north along the coast, below the National Trust’s Carnewas clifftop, and Watergate Bay is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) to the south. Newquay’s town beaches, including Porth Beach, are a little further south. None of them is in the camera’s view.

Source: The Merrymoor Inn