In 1334 Mawgan Porth is known as Porthglyvyan, Cornish for cove of the little wooded valley river, and later as Porthmaugan in 1755, Cornish for cove of St Mawgan. Mawgan Porth in North Cornwall is a fairly exposed river break that has quite consistent surf and can work at any time of the year. Ideal winds are from the east. Groundswells and windswells are equally likely and the ideal swell direction is from the west northwest. Waves at the river tend to peel to the left. The quality of the surf isn’t affected by the tide.