Surfing Destinations - West Country (and courses abroad?)
Discussion
My 12 year old has had some lessons and caught the bug. He seems to have some aptitude, and a core strength he must have inherited from his mum!
Also gives me the excuse to stay overnight with him, and sit in cafes all day with a pile of books. Getting roof bars for my car and a second hand board for him.
But I’ve been flogging the car Bournemouth (yes, I know we have occasional surf here, but not reliable enough for his current stage) to Perranporth - 179 miles, much as I (genuinely) love the A30 Exeter / Bodmin. And Perranporth is my kind of place - breathtakingly beautiful, and simultaneously tacky.
So, suggestions for reliable weekends surf destinations, as far East of Perranporth as possible, maybe into Devon?
Also the thought that he might want to do a residential course in Europe if there is such a thing? (He’s done residential basketball and really likes the physicality / being away from parents!). Would brush up language skills to boot.
Also gives me the excuse to stay overnight with him, and sit in cafes all day with a pile of books. Getting roof bars for my car and a second hand board for him.
But I’ve been flogging the car Bournemouth (yes, I know we have occasional surf here, but not reliable enough for his current stage) to Perranporth - 179 miles, much as I (genuinely) love the A30 Exeter / Bodmin. And Perranporth is my kind of place - breathtakingly beautiful, and simultaneously tacky.
So, suggestions for reliable weekends surf destinations, as far East of Perranporth as possible, maybe into Devon?
Also the thought that he might want to do a residential course in Europe if there is such a thing? (He’s done residential basketball and really likes the physicality / being away from parents!). Would brush up language skills to boot.
My eldest son and I went on a week's surfing holiday to Famara, Lanzarote. Neither of us had surfed before other than hiring a big foam board for the day in Newquay. We had lessons for 5 days out of 7 and I've never been as exhausted. Think we fell asleep at 7pm the first night!
Despite the physical workout it was a great father-son bonding experience and I would recommend as relatively cheap with guaranteed waves.
If looking for somewhere closer to Bournemouth than Perranporth it might be worth trying Woolacombe /Saunton in North Devon or Widemouth all of which are maybe an hour closer and popular with surfers. The south of Devon has Bantham but this is less reliable and more for longboards.
Despite the physical workout it was a great father-son bonding experience and I would recommend as relatively cheap with guaranteed waves.
If looking for somewhere closer to Bournemouth than Perranporth it might be worth trying Woolacombe /Saunton in North Devon or Widemouth all of which are maybe an hour closer and popular with surfers. The south of Devon has Bantham but this is less reliable and more for longboards.
Woolacombe is very popular as a surf spot, and 'only'139 miles/3hrs from you according to Google maps.
https://www.carvemag.com/2019/02/a-guide-to-woolac...
There are sometimes a couple of rip currents there to be wary of, some good local knowledge here.
https://surfing-waves.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&...
It's a big beach, lots of space, well-staffed by lifeguards
https://www.carvemag.com/2019/02/a-guide-to-woolac...
There are sometimes a couple of rip currents there to be wary of, some good local knowledge here.
https://surfing-waves.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&...
It's a big beach, lots of space, well-staffed by lifeguards
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Wednesday 31st August 22:46
There are several places in Europe on the Atlantic coast. I don't know about courses, but given the volume of surf activity at these places it must be possible.
Biarritz is a very cool place with a huge surfing vibe
Nazare in Portugal is an awesome place - and if you time it right (which you probably won't) there will be 90ft waves - which even if your son is not up to surfing them, watching them (and other people surfing them) would be a once in a lifetime experience. My plan is for repeat visits until I strike lucky.
There's also the Cote Sauvage in France - approx 8 mile stretch of sand dunes just south of the Ile d'Oleron - surf schools here probably operate out of Royan or possibly La Palmyre
If you take the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to S. Malo then Royan is about 4.5 hours - you'd be there for lunch.
Biarritz is a very cool place with a huge surfing vibe
Nazare in Portugal is an awesome place - and if you time it right (which you probably won't) there will be 90ft waves - which even if your son is not up to surfing them, watching them (and other people surfing them) would be a once in a lifetime experience. My plan is for repeat visits until I strike lucky.
There's also the Cote Sauvage in France - approx 8 mile stretch of sand dunes just south of the Ile d'Oleron - surf schools here probably operate out of Royan or possibly La Palmyre
If you take the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to S. Malo then Royan is about 4.5 hours - you'd be there for lunch.
Brilliant guys - many thanks.
Woolacombe saves me 40 miles and an hour each way. I know and like the French Atlantic coast from paragliding holidays (Dune du Pyla - want to go again after five year break, but can’t combine trips unfortunately as that would be outside school holidays). So they’re both definites.
And Lanzarote if I can persuade my wife!
Woolacombe saves me 40 miles and an hour each way. I know and like the French Atlantic coast from paragliding holidays (Dune du Pyla - want to go again after five year break, but can’t combine trips unfortunately as that would be outside school holidays). So they’re both definites.
And Lanzarote if I can persuade my wife!
SW France, from Lacanau to the Spanish border (and beyond) is great for surf, and i have spent many summers that way. However it's not the most ideal location for beginners, as the waves are a lot more powerful (especially around Hossegor) and the rips are often super strong.
Croyde is another good Devon spot. And another thumbs up for Famara in Lanzarote for learning (unlike the rest of the Lanzarote North Shore, which has some world class waves).
Croyde is another good Devon spot. And another thumbs up for Famara in Lanzarote for learning (unlike the rest of the Lanzarote North Shore, which has some world class waves).
Octoposse said:
Brilliant guys - many thanks.
Woolacombe saves me 40 miles and an hour each way. I know and like the French Atlantic coast from paragliding holidays (Dune du Pyla - want to go again after five year break, but can’t combine trips unfortunately as that would be outside school holidays). So they’re both definites.
And Lanzarote if I can persuade my wife!
You could also try croyde aswell as woolacombe. Woolacombe saves me 40 miles and an hour each way. I know and like the French Atlantic coast from paragliding holidays (Dune du Pyla - want to go again after five year break, but can’t combine trips unfortunately as that would be outside school holidays). So they’re both definites.
And Lanzarote if I can persuade my wife!
Bude (widmouth) is also a Great shout.
Mopey said:
Octoposse said:
Brilliant guys - many thanks.
Woolacombe saves me 40 miles and an hour each way. I know and like the French Atlantic coast from paragliding holidays (Dune du Pyla - want to go again after five year break, but can’t combine trips unfortunately as that would be outside school holidays). So they’re both definites.
And Lanzarote if I can persuade my wife!
You could also try croyde aswell as woolacombe. Woolacombe saves me 40 miles and an hour each way. I know and like the French Atlantic coast from paragliding holidays (Dune du Pyla - want to go again after five year break, but can’t combine trips unfortunately as that would be outside school holidays). So they’re both definites.
And Lanzarote if I can persuade my wife!
Bude (widmouth) is also a Great shout.
Polzeath is a nice beach break and our usual spot. It can get very busy during summer months but there is more space when the tide goes out. There are plenty of other breaks on the other side of the Camel if swell/wind aren’t working for Polzeath.
Staunton or Putsborough/Woolacombe are friendlier breaks than Croyde when there is a bigger swell (Croyde can be quite closed out unless you are a decent surfer).
Fistral in Newquay is also a nice break but obvs busy.
I have no experience of European surf camps but did research them a few years back for a possible holiday. Portugal’s silver coast has a few, Morocco is another destination and as has been said already S/W France.
Staunton or Putsborough/Woolacombe are friendlier breaks than Croyde when there is a bigger swell (Croyde can be quite closed out unless you are a decent surfer).
Fistral in Newquay is also a nice break but obvs busy.
I have no experience of European surf camps but did research them a few years back for a possible holiday. Portugal’s silver coast has a few, Morocco is another destination and as has been said already S/W France.
witko999 said:
I'm not sure paying £5 per wave for a beginner to fall off after 2 seconds is good value. He'll get much more out of sessions in the sea.
Is that how much it is ?Surely he'd get limited amounts of people in the line up and a guaranteed wave every minute or whatever it is compared to completely random in the sea
It's about £50/hr or thereabouts. I haven't surfed at Bristol, but have surfed at Snowdonia. It's a turn based system, not a free for all, and by the time you've caught your wave, ridden it, got out of the way, waited for the others to get their waves, got back into position, then caught the next wave, then yes, I'd say you'd be doing very well to get 10 waves in a hour.
Plus, a beginner would have to go on the beginner wave. It certainly wouldn't be worth £5/wave for whitewater.
Plus, a beginner would have to go on the beginner wave. It certainly wouldn't be worth £5/wave for whitewater.
Spent a week in Putsborough/Woolacombe at the end of August/start of September.
Took our bodyboards, surf was a foot at it's best every day!
Great for swimming and weather was very good but bit of a disappointment.
Only day there's was a bit of swell we had booked a fishing trip but caught nothing in 2 hours
Took our bodyboards, surf was a foot at it's best every day!
Great for swimming and weather was very good but bit of a disappointment.
Only day there's was a bit of swell we had booked a fishing trip but caught nothing in 2 hours
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