Surfing in Devon and Cornwall 

Watergate bay Newquay

Watergate is a beach break and is about 2 miles long at low tide so aim for the north end as its sheltered by the cliffs . The rest of the beach is normally packed out in the summer months. This is why we only go there in the winter months. Yeah, it’s a lot colder but the surf is normally a lot bigger and the locals seem to be much friendlier in the winter for some reason.

At high tide the beach is about a mile long but you can still reach peaks to the north if you are experienced and want to paddle (a lot). Most of the surf shops are open all year round so you can rent a board and wetsuit and book some lessons. There are some really nice, affordable places to stay - just look around.

Woolacombe Devon

Your first surf stop on your way down south is located in North Devon. Woolacombe has a beach break and you can get very good surf on the right day but watch out for the current if you’re near the rocks. Be warned, it gets very busy in the summer months but the lifeguards do their jobs and keep the swimmers out of the surf area. Woolacombe is a great place to learn to surf on a day when the swell is about 1 -2 ft and we’ve never had any trouble there; most people are pretty friendly.

Sennen Cove Cornwall

In our opinion, the best break in Cornwall as there always seems to be waves there even when everywhere else is flat. This may have something to do with its location which is right down at the bottom of Cornwall near Lands End and just off the point where the English channel meets the Atlantic Ocean . Sennen seems to pick up just about every ripple in the Atlantic.

Watch out for the rips and undertow though, I can remember the sea pulling my feet away from underneath me there as a young whipper snapper. On a calm day, you should be able to hold your own if you can stand up, but, if the wind and swell pick u,p get out of the water and just enjoy watching the experts. Pretty friendly folk there if you don’t act like the village fool.