Where Tolcarne is
Tolcarne is a crescent-shaped cove in the same cliff line as Great Western and Lusty Glaze, on the north side of Newquay's centre. Most of the time it looks like the other town beaches. When a bank lines up against the cliff, the wave known as the Wedge can turn hollow and fast. It is a local landmark, not an everyday learner peak, and it is the reason people make a point of checking this cove rather than stopping at Towan.
You get there on foot from the town cliffs. If you are already walking the coast path between Great Western and Lusty Glaze, Tolcarne is the bay in the middle.
Swell and wind
Tolcarne still sits in the lee of the headlands, so it needs swell to wrap before it has much size. When that happens the Wedge can be much heavier than the crumbly waves at Towan on the same morning. Other days it is just another sandy cove with scattered peaks. Do not assume it is firing because Fistral is.
Wind from the south is generally the kinder direction along this north-facing stretch. A fresh northerly adds chop. Use the live forecast for Tolcarne rather than guessing from Fistral's reading. The heights on this coast are often quite different from one cove to the next.
The Wedge and the tide
The short description on the homepage calls the Wedge a powerful left-hander that shows around mid tide. Treat the direction as something to check with your eyes: look at which way the shoulder is running before you paddle, rather than trusting a label. The mid-tide note is the part worth planning around. It does not mean the rest of the cove is useless at other stages, only that the named wave is associated with that part of the tide.
If you are not sure you want a fast, hollow section, surf a different peak in the bay or walk back to Great Western. The rating for Tolcarne is intermediate. It is a poor choice for a first surf on a day when the Wedge is actually breaking.
Before you go
Lifeguard cover is listed as summer season. Even then, a heavy wedge is not a flagged swimming spot to treat casually. The site marks Tolcarne as having dog restrictions, so do not assume a dog can come onto the sand. Read the notice.
Parking is in town, above the cliffs. The peak is short and intense when it is on, and people collide when it is crowded. Sit and watch a few waves, then go one at a time. If it is beyond you, Lusty Glaze and Great Western are the neighbouring choices, and Towan is the mellower one.