The Best Surfing Destinations in the UK


The mere mention of fantastic surfing destinations may conjurer up pictures of the palm trees and white sandy beaches of Hawaii or the golden stretches of sand that make up some of the best surfing Australia has to offer, but there is no need to travel that far. Here in the UK, we are fortunate to have some incredible surfing destinations of our own and all just a relatively short drive away.

Planning your trip
Of course, before you head off on your surf trip, there are a few essential things that you should consider. When picking your destination, remember to check the weather forecast as this can influence the type of surfing conditions you will encounter. If the weather is particularly adverse, then you may want to postpone your trip for another day. Check your surfboard and all your equipment over before you set off and ensure that it is all in good condition with no damage as this could harm your surfing experience and may lead to accidents. If you are going surfing in the winter, then don’t forget you will need a wetsuit. Please give this a good check as well to ensure that it has not been damaged during storage. A good quality changing robe, like the ones from Booicore, will make a practical addition to your surfing kit this season as well. Don’t forget to consider how you will be getting to your surfing destination. If you have previously travelled with other surfers and relied on them having the means to transport surfboards to the beach, now might be the time to invest in the right kind of carrier for your vehicle so that you are fully prepared for all those surfing trips to come. Now, you’re all prepared to travel, the only thing you need to do is choose from one of the UK’s many surfing destinations, the best of which we’ve listed below.

Watergate Bay, Cornwall
Cornwall is home to some fantastic surfing locations, and Watergate Bay is just one of them. With two glorious miles of sand at low tide, this is the ideal location for those individuals who are looking to learn to surf. This is certainly not one to be missed but remember that the beach can become quite crowded as high tide approaches. This is a popular destination with kite surfers as well.

Port Neigwl, Wales
Porth Neigwl also referred to as Hell’s Mouth is the most well-known and therefore popular surfing beach in Wales. Located in North Wales on the Llyn Peninsula this is a good place for intermediate and advanced surfers who come for the unbroken waves. The beach is four miles long, so plenty of room for everyone.

Croyde, Devon
This is a great beach that is popular with all surfer levels and offers a little bit of everything; there are also plenty of hire shops and surf schools so novice surfers will be spoilt for choice. At the southern reaches, the Down end is extremely popular with experienced surfers whilst the middle of the beach is more suited to the novice surfer. The layout of the beach with its sandy bottom and rocks at either end ensure that in most weathers there is a good swell and just past the south end master surfers will find an excellent breakpoint.

Thurso, North-East Scotland
One of the Scottish Mainland northernmost points, Thurso has what is perhaps the best right-hand reef break in Scotland. The cold waters and strong winds tend to attract only the most serious surfers, although it can become crowded during the summer months. Previously having hosted the O-Neil Coldwater Classic and the Scottish Surf Championships, this beach has plenty of challenges.

Of course, these are just some of the best surfing destinations in the UK, and there are many others to explore. Why not plan to visit a different destination each time you plan a surfing trip, to find your favourite surfing spot?