Welcome to the Cornwall Tourism Magazine - Surfing in Cornwall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surfing in Cornwall.

 

Being more or less surrounded by the sea and having lovely sandy beaches, Cornwall is blessed with some of the best surfing beaches in Europe if not the world and along with the best surfing beaches, we also have some of the worlds best surfing schools. The Atlantic ocean can be very storm at times, but it also provides the large powerful waves that makes surfing in Cornwall so exciting. Cornwall has also home for the last 10 years to one of the biggest pro-surf competitions in Europe, the Fistral Boardmasters Competition which attracts the biggest names in the surfing world. And of course, Newquay's Fistral beach has the famous ( or is that infamous ) 30 ft plus waves known as the Cribbar after the reef just off the beach. Interestingly, the Cribbar is also known as the Widow maker. Makes you think doesn't it. There is a reef a little further offshore called the Zorba where the waves can be even higher and once roughly every 18 months, the Cribbar can produce waves in excess of 50ft high. Of course, these are not for the faint hearted or inexperienced, but they do show why Cornwall is so popular with surfers. But you don't need to challenge the Widow maker to enjoy yourself.

 

 

It's all about the waves baby.

 

What makes Cornwall so good for waves are its beaches. Many of the best surfing beaches have wide, flat sandy beaches that extend out into the sea as much as a kilometre or more and when the tide comes in, the flat geography allows the surf to life up high in the air, very much like a tsunami if you like, and this produces the huge waves our surfers love. But you don't need huge waves for surfing, you can have just as much fun on smaller waves in Cornwall in the onshore areas. Of course you do have to watch out for underwater rocks and obstacles in the onshore areas which are less prevalent in the offshore areas, however, the waves can be seriously huge offshore, so you have to strike the right balance suitable to your skills. But you don't have to ride the monsters to have some fun. A 6ft swell is just as exciting and with Kitesurfing, it can be even more fun.

 

Fortunately, in terms of your skill levels, Cornwall has lots of safe beaches, which all have surfing schools, so finding somewhere safe, is never a problem. Now for some surfers, safe beaches are not enough and they go to the more risk orientated beaches, however, there are many under sea obstacles on the less well known beaches and as we don't want you having an accidents, we recommend you go to the safer ones. In addition, the main surfing beaches will have Life Guards on patrol, so if you do get into trouble, they will help you. The more riskier beaches generally don't, so just play it safe. We know you love the adrenaline rush of riding the waves, so just be safe and enjoy the waves for years to come.

 

Surfing beaches in Cornwall.

 

Cornwall is one of the best locations in the UK for catching a wave and with its sunny climate and wild Atlantic rollers has become a favoured destination for surfers. As the summer draws to a close, head for the Cornish coast for the best waves in the country. This activity, though sometimes considered to be an extreme sport, can be taken on at every level of expertise, from raw beginner to professional. Below we have listed some of the best surfing beaches in Cornwall although there are many others. And remember, you can also get some good discounts with many of Cornwall's surfing schools with our Surfing, Coasteering and Bodyboarding Discounts with the Cornwall Pass. Below we have listed a few of the more popular surfing beach in Cornwall. There are many others of course, but these are our own personal favourites and are beaches where we have surfed ourselves. Yes, even we get out of the office occasionally and hit the surf, although it is safe to say that we wont be winning any competitions! But surfing is one of those sports were the more you do it, the better you get, so we will be out again this year and doing some Kitesurfing as well.

 

Surfing in Bude.

 

Bude, a small town in the north of the county, has beaches suitable for serious surfers and the nearby Widemouth Bay is a another beautiful spot which is ideal for beginners. Whether you are seasoned but a little rusty on technique, or so green that you don’t know one end of the board from the other, there are several established surf schools in the area with competitive prices with whom you can book lessons.

 

Some other excellent surfing beaches.

 

Below are some images from some of the other excellent surfing beaches in Cornwall. We haven't included them all because of space considerations, but these ones represent some of the best surfing beaches in Cornwall and they are considered safe for most levels. However, we recommend that you always ask your nearest Surfing School to get their opinion, as we are pretty good at surfing and have no trouble on any of these beaches, but if you are a beginner, some of them may be a little bit on the wild side for you, so always play safe and make sure your skills are up to the job. And always remember, there may be hidden obstacles, so always find out about the beaches first before you take to the water.

 

Newquay.

 

Newquay, home of the British Surfing Association, is well worth a visit for surfing enthusiasts of all abilities. Watergate Bay is good for beginners and the local hostelry, simply called The Hotel, is home to the aptly named Extreme Academy, where lessons start at £30 for half a day. Fistral beach is probably the most popular surfing destination in Cornwall and is a regular host to professional competitions. Visitors to this beach will certainly find other thrill-seekers who are on the same wave-length to mull over the day’s adventures whilst sharing a post-surf drink.

 

Cornwall has a richly deserved reputation as the perfect venue for family holidays, and when it comes to surfing, children are as well-catered for as adults. Lusty Glaze Beach, a leisure and education complex in Newquay offers well-supervised junior surfing lessons for children from the age of 7, allowing parents to relax in the bar or café or take a lesson themselves.  The beach at Perranporth, a little further south of Newquay, is ideal for surfers of all abilities and the nearby locations of Portreath and Chapel Porth provide a challenge for experts. Penhale Corner is suitable for all levels, but as it is an occasional military firing range, it is pertinent to make enquiries before heading down to the beach.

 

St Ives.

 

The town of St Ives has some decent surfing conditions, including the popular Carbis Bay which is part of the larger St Ives bay. Other nearby surfing areas, including Porthmeor beach and Sennen Cove should be used only by experienced boarders. Although the majority of surfing spots are on the Atlantic-facing north-west coast, the south-east has a few places worth a visit such as the challenging Porthleven and Pentewan Bay. Equipment shops are in abundance, so there is no need to worry about kitting yourself out with the latest surfing gear. To save hauling your surfboard around especially if you are travelling by public transport, anything you need can be hired from one of the numerous outlets near the surfing beaches. If you are relying on surf hire and visiting one of the quieter locations, it is best to investigate what is on offer in order to avoid disappointment.

 

Beach safety.

 

Cornwall has a commitment to beach safety, and nearly all the main beaches have lifeguards in attendance at peak holiday times. If you have any concerns, be sure to talk to a representative and they will be able to advise you. If you are surfing remember to keep an eye out for other sea users who may just be swimming as a surf board banging into someone's head often offends. Also check out all the tidal information on the beach you are surfing from. Some beaches have vicious rip tides that can take you way out and there are likely to be rocky reefs and other obstacles under the sea that may not be visible, so just play it safe and check everything first. And if you do get any cuts or injuries, get them checked out as soon as possible. No matter how clean the beaches are, there is still a risk of infection. And if you are going to one of the more secluded beaches, always tell someone where you are going and preferable go with other people so that if you do get into trouble, others can help you.

 

Surfing Schools.

 

As with all sports, there are many different level of experience and ability when it comes to surfing and given the nature of the risks involved, you really do need to make sure you don't go beyond your skill levels, too quickly. Fortunately, Cornwall is blessed with lots of surfing schools who provide lessons to all levels. Not only will they offer you lesson and excellent training, they will also supply all the gear you need and make sure you are safe. You will find the surf schools at all the popular surfing beaches and as they are very reasonable, in terms of pricing, you owe it to yourself to make sure you get good instruction, therefore, we recommend you always go to a surf school, especially if you are a beginner or need a refresh or want advanced instruction. The guys that run these schools are all surfing enthusiasts and love their sport with a vengeance, so they will show you all the little things to make sure your surfing experience exceeds your expectations. Below are some of the best in Cornwall.

 

 

 

Adventure Bay Surf School Whitsand Bay, Millbrook, Torpoint Cornwall PL10 1JU Mobile: 07722 913 206 info@adventurebay.co.uk		Outdoor Adventure Ltd Atlantic Court, Widemouth Bay, Bude, Cornwall EX23 0DF    Tel: 01288 362900 info@outdooradventure.co.uk
Offerings: Surfing lessons, Coasteering, Surf hire		Offerings: Surfing lessons, Coasteering
About Adventure Bay: Established in April 2011 and based in the stunning Whitsand Bay, Adventure Bay Surf School is open all year round providing professional surfing tuition. We offer a range of lessons and courses to suit beginner levels right through to advanced and we work with our customers to tailor lessons.		About Outdoor Adventures Ltd - Outdoor Adventure was established back in 1981 with the vision of becoming one of the top providers of adrenaline related activities in the UK. Since then we have earned a national reputation for our unrivalled commitment and consistency to quality and safety.
Offering information: All of our Surfing lessons and related courses are run by experienced surf coaches. We have a high success rate in getting beginners to their feet within the first lesson. We can book lessons for timings that suit you and local conditions. We currently offer Coasteering routes at Whitsand Bay, Torbay, and Newquay. A typical session lasts for 3 hours and costs £35 per head. Perfect for large groups, stag/hen parties or military groups and adventurous families. Group discounts available.		Offering information: Our Surf School is based at Widemouth Bay beach, where we run our surfing lessons for complete beginners through to Intermediates.  This is a beautiful beach and an ideal place to learn to surf. The Coasteering locations are second to none. We give you the opportunity to experience Coasteering within incredible scenery, where you will be surrounded by wildlife both in and out of the ocean. Our experienced qualified instructors will take you on an amazing journey and make it as challenging as you like!
www.adventurebay.co.uk		www.outdooradventure.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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