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From Town Tools. For the current version, visit https://www.towntools.org/newquay-cornwall-gb/tides
Newquay is a town where the tide decides things. The Gannel's two foot crossings to Crantock are only there for a few hours either side of low water; the only way onto Whipsiderry is along the sand from Porth, and the rising tide closes it; Towan, Great Western and Tolcarne are one ribbon of sand at low water and three separate coves at high; and at the biggest tides Watergate Bay's sand nearly disappears. This is when the water turns, today and for the week ahead.
The Gannel crossings are the ones that catch people
The Penpol footbridge and the Fern Pit crossing are usable for roughly three to four hours either side of low water, and the Gannel fills fast once the tide turns — the reed beds hide how fast. Work out your walk back from the low water below before you set off, not after. Fern Pit's seasonal foot ferry has finished for the year, so from October there is no way over there once the water is up.
Low water is not the same as safe
The 2026 lifeguard season ends on 1 November, and after that no Newquay beach is patrolled until the spring. Rip currents here run year-round, and a big spring low exposes rocks and gullies that the sand covers at other states of the tide.
Right now
Going out
The tide is
water now about -3.2 m (-10.3 ft)
18:59
Next high water
2.9 m (9.4 ft)
13:06
Next low water
-3.3 m (-10.7 ft)
Today
Time
Tide
Height
0:51
Low water
-3.3 m (-10.8 ft)
6:44
High water
3.0 m (9.7 ft)
13:06
Low water
-3.3 m (-10.7 ft)
18:59
High water
2.9 m (9.4 ft)
The week ahead
Day
Time
Tide
Height
Tue 13 Oct
1:22
Low
-3.2 m (-10.6 ft)
7:16
High
2.7 m (8.8 ft)
13:36
Low
-3.3 m (-10.7 ft)
19:34
High
2.5 m (8.1 ft)
Wed 14 Oct
1:52
Low
-3.1 m (-10.3 ft)
7:51
High
2.4 m (7.9 ft)
14:06
Low
-2.9 m (-9.5 ft)
20:06
High
2.2 m (7.2 ft)
Thu 15 Oct
2:21
Low
-2.7 m (-8.7 ft)
8:23
High
2.1 m (7.0 ft)
14:38
Low
-2.6 m (-8.4 ft)
20:40
High
1.9 m (6.2 ft)
Fri 16 Oct
2:51
Low
-2.3 m (-7.6 ft)
8:54
High
1.7 m (5.5 ft)
15:14
Low
-2.4 m (-7.8 ft)
21:20
High
1.3 m (4.4 ft)
Sat 17 Oct
3:32
Low
-2.1 m (-6.9 ft)
9:38
High
1.2 m (3.9 ft)
15:59
Heights are relative to mean sea level — a negative number means the water is below the yearly average level, not above a chart datum. These are modelled tides, not an official table. Times are local (BST). Modelled for the water off Newquay harbour. This is a global tide model, not the Admiralty's tide table for the port — close enough to plan a walk or a swim around, not close enough to navigate by. Times here are shifted 34 minutes later than the model's own output. Checked against published tide tables for Newquay across 1–7 October 2026 — 26 successive highs and lows — the model ran 34 minutes early on average, never less than 24 or more than 48, while its tidal range came within 5% of the published one. So the timing is corrected and the heights are left alone.
Predictions, not measurements
These are astronomical tide predictions. Wind, air pressure and storm surge can push the real water level well above or below them — in bad weather, check the the Met Office forecast and warnings at its UK weather warnings before trusting a number here. If anyone is cut off by the tide or in trouble in the water, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Do not try to wade or swim across a rising tide, and do not go back for a dog.
Modelled tides for Newquay from the Open-Meteo global tide model (CC BY 4.0) — an estimate, not an official tide table. Retrieved 12 October at 12:48.