live-work-surf in the UK

[cheesemav]

Hi there everybody!
I have been a reader of this forum for some time now and I consider myself lucky to have found an amazing site like this!
As I have been visiting the UK and have lived there for a few months now I have decided to move for good. The thing is that I am looking for a city that has it all... what i mean by that: work opportunities (for engineers), surf in a decent distance and a good way of living.
As most of you guys are from the UK, what do you recommend?
Thank you very much in advance!

cheeseM

[Adam T]

Bristol is probably the nearest large city to decent surf in England, you can be at a beach in about an hour if you're up early. My family lived in Bristol before I was born and it was a bit of a dump but it's pretty nice now (thirty something years on). Or Swansea in Wales is on the coast and has decent surf too.

Try and get a copy of 'The Stormrider guide' published by Low Pressure in the early 90's or 'Surf UK' by Wayne Alderson and you'll have a good start.

[kitesurfer]

I work in southampton and whilst the south coast surf is not as consistent as the west coast we have some great breaks down here within 45 mins drive of the city. Plus the kitesurfing is better.

KS

[Fay]

I live not far from Southampton (on the adjacent Isle of Wight) and I would agree with KS. There are plenty of companies in and around that city, as well as neighbour city Portsmouth, that you could find employment opportunities with. Both are port cities (Southampton is a commercial port, while Portsmouth has cross-Channel ferries and the Royal Navy) with associated docks and companies.

As for surf, as KS says, it may not be as good as Cornwall but the South Coast has Bournemouth, 30 minutes drive from Southampton, and Brighton, 60 miles to the east, as well as my home county the Isle of Wight which sticks out into the English Channel and catches a fair bit of swell. The only downside to the Isle of Wight is that you have to pay a ridiculous amount to get here and back if you're bringing a vehicle (which is pretty much essential as public transport here is both expensive and crap!) as there's no bridge, just a couple of ferry companies one of which runs a vehicle and passenger ferry service from Southampton.

[surf patrol]

Hi cheesemav, welcome to Surfing Waves!
Some great suggestions already. Adam T's suggestion of the Stormrider Guide is a good one, and the do revise the editions, so you'll be able to get a current one. Also available for pdf download now.
http://www.lowpressure.co.uk/

[cheesemav]

Thanks for the replies guys! I will definitely read this guide. Adam T, if Bristol and Swansea are good, then what about Cardiff? Any opinions?
Does Southampton, Portmouth and Brighton as mentioned above have good conditions for surfing or do they catch a bit of swell rarely?

[surf patrol]

I'm not sure what the work situation is like in Cardiff, but if you want to work on wind turbines there should be plenty of engineering work
South Wales has plenty of good spots, but to be nearer more regular surf, Swansea would probably be better. Probably not so good for surf though.

[Fay]

Thanks for the replies guys! I will definitely read this guide. Adam T, if Bristol and Swansea are good, then what about Cardiff? Any opinions?
Does Southampton, Portmouth and Brighton as mentioned above have good conditions for surfing or do they catch a bit of swell rarely?

Southampton and Portsmouth themselves don't but, as has been mentioned, are near places which do. West Wittering (in West Sussex) is near Portsmouth and catches that bit of swell that occasionally wraps round the Isle of Wight. I have never surfed at Brighton but that does get waves and has quite a surf community.

[kitesurfer]

Does Southampton, Portmouth and Brighton as mentioned above have good conditions for surfing or do they catch a bit of swell rarely?

Just over an hours drive away on the south coast you will find my local break.



.

I've seen it get to 12ft on the face a solid 6ft swell. We get enough swell and when its lacking north devon is only 2 1/2hrs drive away. Job opportunities are so much better than they are down the west country but during the winter months your usually limited to the weekends for surfing.

KS