Storm Watching in Cornwall: Where to go and how to do it safely

Few places are as closely associated with Cornwall's winter storms as Porthleven. When Atlantic weather reaches the south-west coast, the harbour and surrounding coastline can become extraordinarily dramatic, with waves breaking beyond the harbour and spray rising above the sea.

This is also somewhere to be particularly cautious. Do not approach harbour walls, sea defences or exposed rocks in rough conditions. Watch from a properly sheltered location well away from the water, then make the most of Porthleven's restaurants, cafés and pubs once you have had your fill of the weather.

The coastline around Godrevy and Gwithian gives you a much wider view of the weather. From safe, recognised viewpoints inland from the cliff edge, you can watch Atlantic swells move towards the long sweep of St Ives Bay, with Godrevy Lighthouse sitting offshore.

It is particularly beautiful when a weather front is beginning to clear and patches of light start breaking through the clouds. Keep well back from exposed edges and avoid heading down onto beaches when large waves or high tides are forecast.

For a real sense of Cornwall meeting the Atlantic, head west towards Sennen, St Just and Cape Cornwall. This is some of the county's most exposed coastline, with broad horizons and a landscape that feels especially elemental in winter.

Rather than heading towards the shoreline during rough seas, choose elevated recognised viewpoints well back from cliff edges. Cape Cornwall and the wider Penwith coast can be spectacular, but conditions here can change quickly, so the forecast should always shape the plan.

The north coast around St Agnes, Trevaunance Cove and nearby Porthtowan combines Atlantic surf, steep cliffs and huge skies.

In winter, this stretch of coast can feel wonderfully elemental. Watch from safe viewpoints above the coast when conditions allow, then head back into St Agnes or Porthtowan for a long lunch or something warm. It is a particularly good area for combining dramatic weather with village life and slower winter days.

If you want to see the Atlantic moving in across a broad sweep of coast, Fistral Beach and Newquay are hard to beat. Winter surf can be spectacular, particularly when viewed from higher ground or from one of the buildings overlooking the bay.

Newquay also gives you plenty of places to retreat indoors, so you can experience the drama without committing to a long exposed walk. Keep off the shoreline in large swells and remember that the sea can travel much further up a beach than it first appears.

There is something particularly atmospheric about The Lizard in winter. Headlands, open skies and rugged coastline make the peninsula feel wonderfully remote when the weather moves in.

Rather than seeking out the most exposed point during a storm, enjoy the landscape from recognised paths and sheltered viewpoints when conditions allow. Cadgwith, Mullion, Coverack and the coastline around Lizard Point all offer different perspectives on this wild corner of Cornwall.

Storm watching does not always have to mean standing above crashing Atlantic cliffs. Mount's Bay, stretching around Penzance and Marazion, offers huge skies and expansive views across the water.

Watch showers track across the bay, see St Michael's Mount disappear into mist and reappear again, or simply find a window overlooking the sea and settle in. For a gentler introduction to Cornwall's winter weather, it can be a particularly lovely choice.

This is the most important part. Large waves can travel much further inland than they first appear, including across beaches, sea fronts and harbour walls. Conditions can also change quickly around exposed headlands and cliff tops.

• Stay well back from the sea and never stand on harbour walls, exposed rocks or sea defences during rough conditions.
• Keep away from cliff edges and unstable ground.
• Check the weather forecast, weather warnings and tide times before setting out.
• Follow local closures, signs and Coast Path diversions.
• Wear warm waterproof layers and footwear with good grip.
• Keep children and dogs close.
• If the weather feels unsafe, stay indoors.

The Met Office and South West Coast Path both provide useful safety guidance. If someone gets into difficulty at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

There is another way to storm watch in Cornwall, and it may be our favourite. Wake slowly. Make coffee. Pull a chair towards the window and watch the weather arrive without putting your coat on at all.

A coastal home with wide sea views gives you the theatre of the storm without needing to chase it. Rain moves across the glass, the horizon disappears and reappears, and the sea changes almost by the minute.

Our Storm Watching Escapes bring together homes with panoramic windows, elevated coastal settings and interiors made for slower autumn and winter days.

Some of Cornwall's best winter moments happen once the worst of the weather has moved through. The clouds begin to lift, light catches the water and suddenly there is a window for a walk before the next shower arrives.

That is the beauty of a winter stay here. A morning watching the Atlantic can turn into an afternoon on the coast path, followed by a long lunch, a pub stop or a quiet evening back at your Gem.

The weather does not have to interrupt the holiday. Often, it becomes one of the things you remember most.