Region 06 · 10 spots
Surfing in
Great Britain
Great Britain has 10 spots in The European Surf Atlas, from Thurso East to Porthleven. The best months are Sep, Oct, Nov, and the water runs from about 9 °C in winter to 17 °C in summer.
- Best months
- Sep · Oct · Nov
- Water
- 9° / 17°
- Spots
- 10
- Levels
- 3 beginner3 intermediate2 advanced2 expert
Average of all 10 spots. Single spots can work outside the peak.
The spots
- 054Thurso EastThurso, Caithness · Reef
A cold, world-class right reef barrel on Scotland's north coast, often called the best wave in Britain.
Expert only - 055Freshwater WestCastlemartin, Pembrokeshire · Beach/reef
The most powerful and consistent beach in Wales and home of the Welsh national surf championships.
Experienced surfers - 056LlangennithRhossili Bay, Gower · Beach
South Wales' swell magnet: three miles of open sand with shifting peaks and room to spread out.
All, tough paddle-out - 057SauntonSaunton Sands, Braunton, Devon · Beach
Long, gentle walls on a huge dune-backed beach make it one of Britain's classic longboard waves.
Beginner, longboard - 058CroydeCroyde Bay, North Devon · Beach
England's punchiest beach break: hollow, peaky sandbars that barrel hard at low tide.
Intermediate + - 059BudeBude, North Cornwall · Beach
Town beaches at a river mouth with surf schools, shifting banks and a harbour end that gives shelter when it is big.
All, best intermediate - 060Watergate BayNewquay, Cornwall · Beach
Two miles of open sand north of Newquay, so there is room to spread out and a peak for most levels.
Beginner to advanced - 061FistralNewquay, Cornwall · Beach
Britain's best known beach break and contest venue, with punchy, often hollow banks facing straight into W swell.
Intermediate - 062SennenSennen Cove, Penwith, Cornwall · Beach
The swell magnet of west Cornwall: when everywhere else is small, Sennen and Gwynver usually still have waves.
All, big days advanced - 063PorthlevenPorthleven, Helston, Cornwall · Reef
Cornwall's best known reef: a fast, hollow right west of the harbour that lights up on winter groundswell.
Experts only
Swell window, offshore wind, tide, size, hazards, access and a Plan B for every spot are on the spot cards in the atlas.
Getting there
Cornwall: Newquay or Exeter airport, trains to Penzance. Wales: Cardiff or Bristol. Thurso: fly Wick or Inverness, train Inverness to Thurso. Ferries to Plymouth.
A car or van is best. Trains reach Newquay, Barnstaple, Swansea and Thurso, but buses to breaks are sparse. Expect narrow lanes in Cornwall and Devon.
Newquay, Bude, St Ives Bay (Cornwall); Croyde and Woolacombe (Devon); Gower, Pembrokeshire, Porthcawl (Wales); Thurso for Scotland's north coast.
The European Surf Atlas
All 10 spot cards for Great Britain, plus 7 more regions.
The wind table tells you which spot is offshore today, the van and camping rules keep you out of trouble, and every card names a Plan B. 115 pages, €24.90 incl. VAT.