Beginners/Intermediate Surf Spot In the UK

[nicholasandnick]

Hi Guys

I have just moved over to the UK from Oz. Me and group of my friends are looking to find a good surf spot which accommodates for beginners & intermediates in the next 2 weeks. Does anyone have any good locations.

I have been searching the net and found some locations such as Woolacombe, Porthcawl, Croyde, The Mumbles/Gower, Saunton Sands. But i am unsure whether these are any good. Can anyone recommend any places please. Also maybe not too crowded as some of my mates are beginners.

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

[lisaUK]

I know you'll get a lot more expert answers than this, but this will start you off anyway.

Widemouth Bay, Bude, North Cornwall isn't the best surf spot in Cornwall, but I'd say it's not bad. It should definitely be OK for beginners, but for intermediate it would be pretty weather dependent (check Zuma Jay surf cam http://www.zumajay.co.uk/surf-check-wid ... de-webcam/).

One of the real plus points of Widemouth is that you get to park the car right on the beach just about, which is a real help when you want to unload, or just see your car from the water. It's a council run carpark, so costs a few quid. In season (Easter to late Sep) there are life guards, and you can leave the car keys with them (or under the hub cap....) - but the lifeguards go off duty at 6pm so you'd have to collect by then (or be stranded...).

There's also quite a lot of holiday cottage accomodation just behind the beach, so you could be based there and just walk in and off the water daily. Quite a few casual eateries (and one v. nice one called Elements on the cliff top - for the last day blow out!). There's some camping too nearby, and one of those holiday chalet villages further along, but would be a bit of a trek with boards and no car. Or you could stay in Bude itself (need transport, it's a couple of miles north). Bude has two other surfing beaches, Summerleaze/Middle Beach and Crooklets, which are generally less good than Widemouth, but depends on daily conditions. Warning - Sumerleaze failed the clean water test by the Marine Conservation Society!

Widemouth has a good few surf schools that mostly cater to local schools and tourists, supply wet suits (you'll need summer wet suits in Cornwall!)(possibly shorties OK as water warms) (but the upside is no sharks.... )and boards. There are some on the spot board hire places too, no idea of the quality of the boards or the range. Better to hire from Zuma Jay in Bude but you would need transport then.

I don't know how much localism there is, but in the main school hols season (End July through end August in the UK) the beach is pretty much family full, with surfers kept to a separate areas (two on Widemouth) and policed by lifeguards on jetskis. Body boarders in the swim-only areas. It can get croweded. I would surmise that most locals (and non-beginners) will take to the water early and late to avoid the holidaymakers.

If you have transport, then of course you can drive north and south to other surf spots. Newquay is probably about an hour and a half's drive away, Croyde ditto in the other direction.

PS - lots of your fellow compatriots in Cornwalll

[surf patrol]

lisaUK - that was an expert answer

[nicholasandnick]

Thanks for your reply Lisa.

My UK friends have been piping on about Woolacombe, Croyde & Saunton Sands as there are a few options near each other, plus they said its more consistant. I am up by Stratford so this is not too far from me, am I right??

[marieann]

"I think this list would be helpful to you: http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Europe/UK/Devon_North/ those are wonderful surfing spots in North Devon. They're good spots that aren't so crowded.. perfect for you guys like Porlock Weir Somerset. Have you booked a holiday accommodation already? I bet you should get from (unecessary advertising url removed KS) Many of the Blue Chip On The Beach properties are specially equipped for surfers - with secure outside storage for surf boards, wetsuits and beach equipment and outside or downstairs showers for getting clean after a day in the waves. There’s even more good news, as guests of our UK beach holidays receive a 15% discount at Rip Curl ESF Surf School in Newquay.
"

[Albie999]

I will add a reply about the other spot you mentioned, Porthcawl.

The conditions vary a lot here, you have Rest Bay and Coney Bay/Beach. Coney Bay seems to be a lot more shettled, and from my experience cleaner waves, however, the downside is that, if there is not a good swell about, then they can be small (I always check magicseaweed for the webcams). Rest Bay can get a lot bigger, but as it is quite exposed, if the wind is not right, it can get a real mess. However, when the conditions are right, both rest bay and coney are good ... probably more time between waves at coney, which makes it easier to paddle out

In terms of parking, it is easy at both. Parking is usually about £3 (if I remember correctly) during peak season, and about £1 out of season

There are a few cafes around, and also at rest bay, there is board hire and wetsuit hire. I can get a bit busy, like most surf sites, but I've not really had any problems with localism, although as normal .. surfing etiquette helps

There is also another surf spot that I have been told about, but not been there yet, called Aberavon. This is supposed to be good in varying conditions, and hopefully in the next few weeks I will get around to trying it