Top Six Beginner Surf Locations - UK

The UK has a wealth of excellent surf spots. Big names that have become part of the fabric of UK surfing culture and tradition. From Fistral’s consitency, to Croyde’s powerful peaks, to Thurso’s icy giants, there are legendary spots that create legendary surfers decorating the edges of this island.

Alongside the renowned breaks, there are also a host of hidden surfing gems that warrant a mention. Places that offer a surfing home to riders of all abilities. Waves that welcome the surfer looking to cut their carving teeth and grow into a wave-ripping monster. These are not always the places we think of when UK surfing is mentioned, but perhaps that is a little part of their magical allure.

And, importantly, all these breaks are ideal for beginners!

Join us for a brief tour around six unsung heroes of beginner UK surf breaks.

6.  Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon

Let’s begin in Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon. A place of outstanding natural beauty and outstanding natural waves. The location has a number of great little breaks suitable for the beginner surfer.

This little slice of heaven offers the promise of long dreamy rides for those setting out on their surfing journey. Blessed with stunning turquoise water the beginner waves in the area are ripe for cruising down the line and embracing the joy of that first time you stand on a board and see the ocean shift beneath you.

The beginner waves breaks over sand so offer a relatively gentle wipeout. When taking a breather you can soak up the glorious surroungdings in this area of outstanding natural beauty. Bigbury's most famous landmark, which happens to overlook the beach itself, is Burgh Island. This island is accesible at low tide when the receding waters reveal a causeway that links it to the beach.

It is also home to ASI accredited school, Discovery Surf School, who will be on hand to guide you through the intricacies of the break during one of their popular lessons.

5. Gwithian, Cornwall

Gwithian is a place that holds true magic for the surf-hungry traveller. A long stretch of coastline and beach that can accommodate every level of surfing need. Sitting just south of the break at Godrevy, Gwithian tends to offer a more forgiving wave. With great consistency, the break throws out long lefts and rights right up to high tide.

The gentle slope of the beach offers a slower breaking wave, allowing extra time for beginner surfers to find their feet. But, the break can get a decent sized rideable wave all year round and is a prime spot for all abilities. Due to this stretch of beach being so big, it is usually possible to find a nice uncrowded section to call your own.

It offers decent clifftop parking and a short picturesque walk down to the sand. Take the path as the cliffside descent can prove hazardous and ultimately not as time-saving as it first appears.

Home to ASI accredited school, Gwithian Academy of Surfing, visitors looking for some education and lessons in the waves will be in great hands under the guidance of one of Cornwall’s premier surfing schools.

4. Belhaven, Scotland

A little slice of beginner surfer heaven lives in Scotland and calls itself Belhaven. The most northerly of our countdown, Belhaven is a genuine haven for surfers setting out on the path to greatness. Situated on the North Sea coast approximately 30 miles east of Edinburgh, this break holds a good, forgiving wave.

The huge unspoilt beach and surroundings are drenched in the sort of charm that only heightens the joy of a surfing session. This gentle beach break offers lefts and rights with good consistency and is rarely crowded, meaning you can surf to your heart’s content without fighting for waves or testing your patience to its limits.

The Belhaven Surf Centre is situated here and is home to ASI accredited school, Coast to Coast Surf School. The friendly folk of Coast to Coast will give visitors a warm welcome and a wave or ten with their range of lessons and hiring opportunities.

3. Newgale Beach, Wales

If you want a break that fires with unerring consistency all year round, then Newgale in the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park is a surfer’s paradise.

Offering waves for all abilities, it is a place that can take you from those first tentative sessions right through to the pinnacle of your surfing adventure. This west facing beach is home to consistent banks and a friendly local crowd. Even when the holiday season influx takes hold, this two-mile stretch is big enough break that the crowds can be avoided.

Newgale is a treat for surfers both in terms of waves and the wonderful surrounding visions of nature in full bloom.

For those seeking a few pointers, ASI accredited school, Pembrokeshire Surf School are on hand to guide the way to a surfing future. This well-established and highly regarded school have been the starting block for many who sought a little more surf in their lives.

2. Tynemouth - Longsands, Tynemouth.

We venture to the opposite coast next where another gem of a wave awaits in the cold waters of the North Sea.

Perhaps you need to be made of stronger stuff to venture out into the cold water, but when you are welcomed by a consistent wave that can prove to be a truly wonderful ride in the right conditions, the cold quickly becomes a distant memory.

This beach break works right through the tides and is suitable for all levels. As a beach break, it offers a softer landing when things go awry, but don’t underestimate it, this place has been the proving grounds for a number of future surfing professionals.

Those seeking a lesson or three will find all-female ASI accredited surf school, Yonder, primed and ready to get you up and riding in no time! Their vast knowledge of the area and this local break have already proved the start of many a surfing adventure.

1. Whiterocks Beach, Northern Ireland.

And finally, we arrive in Portrush on the north coast of Northern Ireland and in the waves of Whiterocks beach. A beach break that proves a wonderful training ground for aspiring surfers situated in simply stunning scenic beauty.

Firing on all tides this beach break delivers rights and lefts that will see you surfing from dawn to dusk in conditions that will heighten your natural surfer’s instinct for waves. There are few beaches so spectacular and so well-suited to the beginner surfer as Whiterocks is. A perfect combination of idyllic scenery to take the breath away and crystal waves to get the heart pumping.

To ensure you are as safe as can be and also getting the right surfing education, ASI accredited school, SUB6 are in place with a wealth of experience and knowledge at their fingertips with which to guide you.

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And there we have it. A quick run-down of a few choice breaks that welcome beginner surfers and beyond with open arms.

Stay tuned as ASI explore a few other parts of the world to see what is on offer for the beginner surfer. Next stop, the surf-soaked land of Australia!