Want to surf great waves in remote UK locations? Get a caravan!

Aug 13, 2012 BY AWE365 Team

Some of the best surf available is located in remote places: in hidden coves, on the shores of mountain ranges, amid the ruins of ancient castles and on the fringes of dense forests.

Flickr Image by Jo Munday

If you travel to one of these destinations in a caravan then you’ll be truly self-sufficient; you won’t be held back by lack of catering or accommodation options. You can throw your Firewire Dominator shortboard in the back and go pretty much anywhere for the big surf. It’s a fun and adventurous way to practise your favourite sport.

So which are the best surf spots in the UK for caravan owners?

Wet in Wales

Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire has been deemed so out of the way that there’s a military firing range south of the beach. The drink can be dangerous too – if you’re a newbie – as the reef breaks are perhaps the gnarliest in Wales.

Aside from that, the peaks are consistently high and beginners can learn how to take them on after a few lessons at Outer Reef Surf School. Within an hour you should be able to paddle out and catch a wave. If you’re more committed you can join a multi-day surf camp and hone your skills.

Splashing in Scotland

With its 15 foot maximum walling right-hander swell, Thurso East is Caledonia’s best. Although sharp and potentially dangerous, the Caithness flagstone reef offers super-fast breaks that have been tested in many a pro competition over the years.

The best swell directions are north, northwest and northeast. On a good day the length is 150 to 300 metres.

With the ruins of Thurso Castle and dramatic headlands hereabouts, this is a pretty place to park the caravan for a few days.

For Your Parking Convenience

There’s a burgeoning number of beaches across the UK with caravan parks attached to them. Although you should take out caravan insurance wherever you plan to go, staying at a proper park is more secure than stopping for the night in a field.

Llangennith in Gower, Wales, may be getting popular – certainly when the breaks are good in July and August – but you can retreat from the grockles to the well-maintained Hillend Caravan Park on a bluff above the beach. The vistas of the ocean are spectacular, to say the least.

Llangennith can get waves of up to 20 foot, but there’s you might get knackered paddling through the white water. Beware of rips too.

Bantham has the accolade of enjoying more swell than any other surf spot anywhere on the south Devon coast. Longboarders will love for the long ride options here, but there’s a cheeky rip to watch out for on the east side.

The fine yellow sand of the clean beach is a draw too.

For your convenience there’s a little convenience shop and a decent pub just minutes away from the shore.

Ten minutes’ drive from Bantham is the hedge-encircled Parkland Caravan Site with electric hook-ups and an indoor games area. This is a pleasant and picturesque place to bed down after you get wet.

 
Cornwall, Devon, Europe, Scotland, United Kingdom, Wales
Surfing
Reef Breaks
Travel Articles
 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Related Articles

 

Where to stand up paddleboard in England? 6 best English SUP spots

If you want to know where to stand up paddleboard in England then start with your nearest body of water. Whether it is coastal, river or lake there is bound to be...

Activities: SUP
Read Article
 

Review of Les Menuires Summer Activity Holiday in Belleville Valley

Do you fancy an alternative to the annual summer beach holiday this year? If like me, true relaxation comes your from trying out new experience, rather than bagging...

Activities: Cycling eBiking Hiking +
Read Article
 

Italy Overland Holidays, Tours & Italian Road Trips

Italy overland holidays have it all! From rocky coasts to volcanic peaks and Alpine passes to rolling idyllic fields there's some of the most picturesque roads in...

Destinations: Dolomites Europe Italy +
Read Article

Newsletter sign up