Autumn’s a great time to go on a surf trip in the UK and Ireland. The surf is more consistent, the beaches uncrowded and you don’t have to queue up to get a beer in your favourite pub. We’ve selected a few destinations around the country to whet your appetite for an out of season break.
Cornwall | Devon | Wales | Ireland | South Coast | Bournemout and Poole
Cornwall
Exposed to the might of the Atlantic Cornwall is the spiritual home of surfing in the UK. It’s also home to the greatest concentration of beaches, surf shops, shapers and everything surf related. Don’t think this equals crowds though. There are so many beaches on both coasts of Cornwall that a little exploration will go a long way. Sprinkle in the smugglers havens and the moors and you’ve got a complete trip.
FISTRAL BEACH – Newquay
PORTHTOWAN BACKPACKERS
This small family run hostel. Just 300 yds from one of the best surfing breaks in Cornwall, Porthtowan Backpackers offer a friendly welcome to surfers. All in all, it’s a very relaxing environment with many facilities for surfers. Autumn offer exclusive to CARVE readers see advert for details.
Web: www.sicklamelazy.co.uk
Phone: 01209 891 697
Email: [email protected]
Address: Beach Road, Porthtowan, TR4 8AA
Carnmarth Hotel
The Carnmarth hotel is ideally situated right next to Fistral Beach. The perfect place to rest your head after a day in the surf or grab some good local food whilst enjoying a sundowner on the south facing terrace.
Web: www.carnmarth.com
Phone: 01637 872 519
Email: [email protected]
Address: Headland Road, Fistral Beach, Newquay, TR7 1HN
WATERGATE BAY – Newquay
BLUe BAY HOTEL
Located halfway between Padstow and Newquay overlooking Mawgan Porth beach Blue Bay offers both self catering and hotel accommodation. Suitable for group bookings or a short break. With stunning views only 400 metres from the beach. Reasonable priced with fantastic food served in our restaurant.
Web: www.bluebaycornwall.co.uk
Phone: 01637 860 324
Address: Trenance, Mawgan Porth, Newquay, TR8 4DA
Goofy’s HOSTEL
Take a blend of facilities from Hotel, Bed & Breakfast, Hostel – together with one of Newquay’s most prominent locations and you get a Boutique Hostel. Goofys is nestled between Fistral Bay, Newquay Golf Course and the Atlantic, the ocean so close you can hear the waves, the Red Lion Pub on your doorstep, and the town centre a stone’s throw away.
Web: www.walkingonwaves.co.uk
Phone: 01637 872 684
Email: [email protected]
Address: Headland Road, Newquay, TR7 1HW
Kahuna Restaurant
With panoramic views across Tolcarne Bay, Kahuna is an enviable location and a great place to relax in this beach shack environment. They use local produce where ever possible. Sunday roasts are back on and a new log burner will be installed by the end of October so look out for the smoke signals!
Web: www.kahunatolcarne.co.uk
Phone: 01637 850 440
Email: [email protected]
Address: Tolcarne Beach, Newquay, TR7 2QN
North Devon
The top end of the south west surfing heartland is home to picture perfect villages, rolling countryside and a brace of epic beachbreaks including the jewel in the crown (and contender for best beachbreak in the country) Croyde. Popular with weekender surfers from up country thanks to the easy transport links it does get busy but there are miles of uncrowded beach to play with and options for all abilities.
Sunnymeade Country Hotel
Sunnymeade Guest House is near to Woolacombe and is a family run, friendly and affordable guest house. Plus it’s very dog friendly, has a large enclosed garden, outdoor wetsuit washing facilities, and a secure storage area for surfboards. They also serve home cooked meals, and have a licensed bar so you can ensure you’re well fed and watered before hitting town.
Web: www.sunnymeade.co.uk
Phone: 01271 863 668
Email: [email protected]
Address: Dean Cross, Woolacombe, Devon, EX34 8NT
Walking on Waves
Walking on Waves is Sarah Whiteley’s surf school at Saunton Sands. Sarah focusses on quality "hands on" tuition on the waves. It is your chance to be coached by a former English, British and European Champion with two Surf World Championships under her belt!
Web: www.walkingonwaves.co.uk
Phone: 07786 034 403 or 07772 240 894
Email: [email protected]
Address: Breakers, Saunton North Devon, EX33 1LG
Tiki Surf Shop
Tiki Surf Shop in Braunton, North Devon has been established since 1963 and has become one of the largest surf shops in Europe. We have THE UK’S LARGEST RANGE OF SURFBOARDS with over 800 boards in stock, plus Wetsuits, Surf Fashion and Winter Snow Hardware.
Web: www.tikisurf.co.uk
Phone: 01271 816 070
Email: [email protected]
Address: Caen St, Braunton, North Devon, EX33 1AA
CROYDE – Devon
WALES
With the exception of the far North coast there’s great surf all over Wales. From the reefs and points of the Vale through the beaches and mysto reefs of the Gower on up to the quiet deep bays of Pembrokeshire and onwards to the more sheltered but occasionally epic Mid-Wales and Anglesey. Great waves, stunning landscapes, heaps of history and a proud national culture make Wales an epic trip.
SOMEWHERE – Wales
TYF Adventure Centre
We’ve been teaching surfing for over 25 years on the stunning beaches of West Wales. We pioneered coasteering, started a world freestyle kayak championship and are Europes first carbon neutral adventure company. Through 1% for the planet we donate 1% of our revenue to an environmental charity.
Web: www.tyf.com
Phone: 01437 721 611
Email: [email protected]
Address: 1 High Street, St Davids, Wales, SA62 6SA
KINGS HEAD GOWER
The Kings Head is located in Llangennith on the Gower peninsula. All of our rooms are of a very high standard, with ensuite facilities, Plasma TV’s and underfloor heating. We have surf board storage, and opposite PJ’s Surf shop. Perfect for a surfing break!
Web: www.kingsheadgower.co.uk
Phone: 01792 386 212
Email: [email protected]
Address: Llangennith, Gower, Swansea, SA3 1HX
IRELAND
Out west is the place to be for quality reef surfing. Ireland’s population of 4 million means the coastline is pretty unpopulated and you can usually find a wave to yourself especially along this part of the coast. It’s a more frontier feel out west with the farming lifestyle that’s been going on for generations rubbing along with the surf scene. Plus it’s home to one of Ireland’s most famous surfing locations – Easkey.
BEACH HOUSE TEMPLEBOY
A 4 star luxury house in quiet seaside location with great beaches and wonderful views of the sea and mountains. The location is particularly suited to golf or surfing enthusiasts who want a central base to sample what Ireland North West has to offer. A major attraction is the very popular Beach Bar, an authentic old world pub/restaurant which is only 5 minutes walk across the sandy beach from the house.
Web: www.beachhousetempleboy.com
Phone: 00353 96 47124
Email: [email protected]
Address: Templeboy, County Sligo, Ireland
SOMEWHERE – Ireland
SOMEWHERE – Ireland
SOUTH COAST
The South Coast is littered with fine surf spots: beaches, breakwalls, sand bars and reefs are to be found, which on the right day can be awesome. If that’s not enough the Sarf coast is home to some of the most spectacular coastline in Britain. Add to that the cultural highlights of popular surf towns like Bournemouth and Brighton then you’ve got a trip full of possibilities.
SORTED SURF SHOP
Sorted Surf Shop is situated just 100m from Boscombe Pier surf spots and open 362 days a year and online 24/7. Surfer owned and established 2000, Sorted Surf Shop is one of the largest stockist of surfboards, SUP, wetsuits, accessories and clothing in the country. We also have the Sorted Surf and SUP school/hire right on the beach and Urban Reef cafe restaurant next to the school!
Web: www.sortedsurfshop.co.uk
Phone: 01202 399 099
Email: [email protected]
Address: 42 Sea Road, Boscombe, Dorset, BH5 1BQ
Wittering Surf Shop
Wittering Surf Shop is a "A Surfer’s Surf Shop", we stock the products and have the knowledge that you crave. Our store in the centre of East Wittering village, and is just a 5 minute walk to one of the most consistent surf spots on the south coast. We have a huge range of wetsuits and we boast a big board selection. We also have the Drift- In Surf Café.
Web: www.witteringsurfshop.com
Phone: 01243 672 292
Email: [email protected]
Address: Shore Road, East Wittering, PO20 8DY
Bournemouth & Poole
These two Dorset resorts have jointly launched a new campaign, The Coast with the Most, to highlight the wealth of watersports they offer. With their golden sands, eight blue flags and a choice of more than 25 watersports all within 10 miles, the two holiday resorts rightly claim to be the UK’s premier watersports capital.
From surfing, to bodyboarding to jetskiing and powerkiting you can do it all here. With prices ranging from as little as £10 for four hour’s surf board hire to £950 for a day trip jetting around the Dorset coastline in a gleaming Sunseeker powerboat, everyone can get on the water, whatever the budget.
Plus Poole Harbour is Europe’s largest natural harbour and perfect for every conceivable watersport. Its shallow waters make it ideal for beginners to learn to windsurf, kite-surf or sail. But to get adrenaline-junkies’ pluses racing, wake-boarding, jetskiing and Rib rides on the open sea are a must.
