South Wales UK - this winter

[MrNoisy]

hi all, i'm a beginner and will be working in cardiff over the winter (dec - jan). Any tips on good beginner spots or, more importantly, where not to go due to currents etc. I'd like to stay out out of everyone's way and therefore not upset anyone while i'm still learning. cheers!

[Midnight Rider]

Llangenith in the Gower is probally your best bet.

[MrNoisy]

Thanks dude

[yesmate]

yes - llangennith. obviously don't go to any reef breaks and i wouldn't go to freshwater west in pembrokeshire - its quite dangerous for beginners. pembrokeshire is good for learning. newgale is the best place in pembrokeshire but tends to be blown out and isn't very sheltered. whitesands is okay when your better but don't get in anyones way there haha. good luck have fun caswell bay in swansea is good and rhosilli is awesome too. plenty of places to choose from XD

[esonscar]

Rhosilli is 2 feet smaller than Llangennith usually - useful for deciding where to go.

If you can paddle out and surf quite well be warned:
When Llangenith is big - say 8 to 10 foot - don't go there, the impact zone rip might drag you effortlessly outside into hUUUUUUge faces even though you just paddled towards the big stuff for a look !

(sand biters should be okay).

My experience:
I went in one day at 8 to 10 foot (20 foot plus faces) just to paddle and duck dive out as far as I dared for a looksee - then suddenly ‘ wtf ’ ! I was outside !!!!! in bonkers big surf !

A rip had just pulled me out sea and dropped me off into the peaks !

Took a long time to get back in – belly rode some giants to get back to shore – took along time.

I was perturbed even though I was mega surf fit !

Hwyl I chi !

[Sillysausage]

better off going to porthcawl if you're in cardiff and only a beginner because it's half the distance and still gets enough swell. there are spots on the way to porthcawl although most not suitible for beginners, southerndown can be worth a look but better off getting there at low tide as in the winter it turns into a reef at high. obviously the gower has better spots but as a beginner its not usually worth the longer trip unless there's very little swell around.