Before you set off
Today's snapshot
Constantine picks up plenty of swell and breaks with real power. Rips run along the southern end near the rocks and the beach steepens at high water, so it suits confident surfers and swimmers between the flags.
Plan your visit
Getting there
There is one small car park behind the dunes, with an overflow field in peak season. Treyarnon Bay, ten minutes away on the coast path, is the usual fallback when Constantine is full.
- Parking: A privately run car park sits behind the dunes at the end of the lane, with an overflow field opened in peak season. Spaces are limited, so arrive early.
- Dog rules: No seasonal dog ban. Dogs welcome all year. The dunes are a protected habitat - keep dogs under control and clean up at all times.
- Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguards patrol daily through the main season, roughly early May to late September, with weekend and school-holiday cover either side.
- Tide watch: Rock ledges and pools appear at low water at both ends of the bay. They are worth exploring, but keep an eye on the returning tide.
Get in the water
Hire & lessons
Beginners should book a lesson at Constantine so an instructor can choose a suitable area on a small day; the bay is powerful when the swell builds.
Constantine Bay Surf School
Lessons for all abilities on the bay through the main season.
Constantine Bay Surf Store
The village surf shop, with board, bodyboard and wetsuit hire.
MFD Surf School
Lessons and board hire operating on the beach at Constantine.
After the beach
Eat, drink & stay
Constantine is quiet by design, so food is a short walk or drive rather than a row of beach kitchens.
Treglos Hotel
A long-established hotel overlooking the bay, with a restaurant open to non-residents.
Trevose Golf & Country Club
The Constantine restaurant, a mile from the bay, with sea views and rooms.
The Pig at Harlyn Bay
A kitchen-garden restaurant and hotel a short drive east, useful for a slower evening.
Local perspective
Local notes
Constantine feels wilder than the other Padstow bays. There is no village strip behind the sand, just dunes, a car park and the golf links, and on a windy autumn day you can have most of the beach to yourself.
It is also the least forgiving of the Seven Bays. The waves break with more force than at Harlyn or Trevone and strong currents run near the southern rocks, so learners should take a lesson or move round to Harlyn. At low tide, extensive rockpools appear at both ends of the bay.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is Constantine Bay dog friendly?
No seasonal dog ban. Dogs welcome all year. The dunes are a protected habitat - keep dogs under control and clean up at all times.
What's the best tide for Constantine Bay?
Low to mid tide while the water is falling usually gives the most consistent wave shape. At high water the beach steepens and waves can break heavily at the shoreline.
Is Constantine Bay good for beginner surfers?
Only on a small day with a surf school. Constantine is a powerful beach with strong rips near the rocks, so beginners will usually find more forgiving conditions at Harlyn Bay or Polzeath.
Where do you park for Constantine Bay?
There is one small car park behind the dunes at the end of the lane, with an overflow field in peak season. Treyarnon Bay is the nearest alternative.
Is it safe to swim at Constantine Bay today?
Check the Environment Agency Swimfo profile and Safer Seas & Rivers Service before swimming, and swim between the red and yellow flags.
Is Constantine Bay good for rockpooling?
Yes. Rock ledges and pools are exposed at both ends of the bay around low water. Watch the returning tide while you explore.
Is Constantine Bay pram or buggy friendly?
Not especially. The car park sits behind the dunes, so you cross dune ground to reach the sand, which is hard going with a buggy. Harlyn Bay, where the car park is beside the beach, is the easier choice if you are pushing a pram.
What facilities are available at Constantine Bay?
Constantine Bay has public toilets, including an accessible toilet, in the car park area; they close at dusk. RNLI lifeguards patrol seasonally from Easter through the October half-term. The beach car park is small, and shops and refreshments are in St Merryn.
Keep exploring