8 Of The Best Surfing Beaches In The UK
Admittedly, the UK isn’t the first country that springs to mind when it comes to great beaches. It may not have the warmth or, let’s face it, glamour that you get in Greece or Italy, but one thing it does have is great beaches for surfing. It might seem wild to locals who wouldn’t even think about dipping a toe in the water until they’re an Easyjet flight away, but yes, droves of tourists actually travel to the UK specifically for its beaches every year.
Thanks to huge strides forward in wetsuit technology, the cold water no longer provides an easy excuse to not give one of the coolest sports out there a try. Here is our list of the best surfing beaches in the UK, from Cornwall to the Outer Hebrides.
Sennen Cove – Cornwall
Best for: Beginners to Experts
Newquay will be taking its usual place further down on this list, but Sennen Cove offers arguably as good a Cornwall surfing experience with a far more relaxed atmosphere. It’s just about as westerly as you can go in the UK, with Whitesands Bay generally more calm and protected from the larger swells than the neighboring Gwenver Beach, so you can perfect your craft at one before heading next door to challenge yourself.
Portrush – Northern Ireland
Best for: Beginners to experts
Portrush is one of the friendliest surf towns in the UK and Ireland for beginners, as the waves are much more negotiable than other renowned surfing spots on the island found in Donegal and Clare.
Both the East and West Strand beaches are ideal spots to begin your surfing journey, as there are lots of other attractions in the holiday village if your ego needs a rest from being relentlessly embarrassed by the merciless sea. Think less 60 foot waves crashing into the Cliffs of Moher, and more catching a few breaks in between multiple pit stops to enjoy ice cream, fish and chips or even a round of golf.
Croyde – Devon
Best for: Intermediates to experts
For years, Cornwall was the first place on everyone’s lips when it came to surfing in the UK. But then Devon went and one-upped it by being named as the 12th official (and only one in the UK) World Surfing Reserve, joining the likes of Noosa in Australia, Punta de Lobos in Chile and Malibu in California. Croyde is the jewel in the Devon coastline crown, boasting world-class waves framed by spectacular dunes. It can get busy, but it’s a bucket list spot for surfers worldwide, let alone the UK.
Eoropie, Isle of Lewis – Scotland
Best for: Intermediates to experts
For those surfers looking to catch breaks without becoming part of a floating queue, you might want to think about heading somewhere remote. Step forward the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, and specifically Eoropie, the most northerly beach on the island. Sporting consistent high-quality breaks all-year round, those willing to venture this far out will be well rewarded.
Even better, thanks to the gulf stream it’s not as cold as you might expect.
Saltburn – Yorkshire
Best for: Beginners to experts
The surfing epicenter of the North-East, it doesn’t have the azure, Caribbean-like waters of Cornwall or the isolated bliss of the Hebrides, but it makes up for that in sheer, unrivalled vibes. Surfing schools and veterans alike exist in harmony amongst the relatively mellow waves and beautiful surroundings.
If you know you’ll be spending more time off the board then on, and want some good natured ribbing to go along with it (and some solidarity) then taking a beginners class at Saltburn is the way to go.
Porthleven – Cornwall
Best for: Experts
One for the experts. Porthleven offers one of Cornwall’s best surfing beaches, but the unforgiving waves are very much the sport in difficult mode: Any novice prematurely tackling the swirling surf runs the risk of being washed away to the Bay of Biscay. It’s also a great spot for any photography enthusiast looking to get that perfect cyclonic shot.
Newgale, Pembrokeshire – Wales
Best for: Beginners to experts
Newgale has a crucial advantage over its other Welsh competitors – sheer size. Stretching across 2 miles of unbroken sand, it means space fighting for surf shouldn’t be an issue. You’ll find surf classes, a campsite and a host of café’s and guesthouses, creating a relaxed holiday environment.
The surf can vary in consistency and quality along the beach, so start your day off with a long stroll along the shore while spotting where you plan to set up camp for the morning.
Fistral Beach, Newquay – Cornwall
Best for: Beginners to experts
It wouldn’t really be a surfing list of any self-respect without including Newquay’s Fistral Beach. In the shadow of the visually arresting Headland Hotel, in the summer the waves are calmer and perfect for beginners and intermediates, and in the winter they get a lot more exciting and the hardcore crowd start filtering in to brace the freezing waters in search of the perfect break.
The Cribbar, a reef at the north end of the beach, is considered to be Cornwall’s premier “big wave” spot, and can see waves as steep as 30ft.
