Surfing in Cornwall : A Beginners Guide

'When in Rome.. You have to have a Pizza'

- Unknown

Cornwall is infamous in surfing scenes the world over which has meant that some non-surfers have caught wind of its magical blue waves and deceptively clear waters over the years. In this, the amount of people who come to Cornwall without ever having surfed before and wish to not be a novice before they leave rises every year.

So this is our beginner's guide to the 'pizza of Cornwall'... also known as Surfing.

When?

(Photo Credit: @crawforddavies on Instagram)

Before you worry about which beach to go to and who to go with it's probably best that you're sure what time of year you want to surf in.

Generally, the waves are bigger in the months that are windier (October to April) and these colder seasons reduce the amount of tourist's on the beach drastically.

This being said, surfing cornwall in the summer is much more like the movies. The weather is tropical, the waves are easier to learn and the number of other learners to befriend skyrockets.

Moreover, the less hardcore beginners among you may favour the warm and busy summer over the technical 'peak' of our surfing season.

Where?

(Photo Credit: @rebecca_hawkey on Instagram)

Now that you've decided whether or not you'll be surfing in December, it's a good time to discuss where it is you should actually be surfing.

A general rule of Cornish thumb is that the North Coast has the rough seas and big waves and the South Coast is relatively calm.

Thus most North-Coast beaches are surf appropriate. However, we do still have our favourites!

Fistral Beach in Newquay is our pick for the winter because of its epic, consistent waves and active community of surfers year-round. Although, as it is the UK's most famous surf spot, in the summer months the amount of people on the beach and in the waves can make it difficult at points to get a surf done at all.

Perranporth Beach is a fantastic option for beginner's year round just because of how much space their is. There are consistent waves that change in size depending on the offshore wind that day and a few lovely cafes and pubs nearby for socialising. It is also an amazing spot to watch the sunset.

Polzeath Beach, Padstow is similarly perfect for a beginner. There are always surfers regardless of the weather and the slightly inland position of the beach in comparison to more portruding spots like Sennen Beach means the waves rarely pick up to an intimidating size for beginners.

To find out the suitability of any of these spots for waves on the day your traveling you can check out their surfing reports here.

With Who?

(Photo Credit: @hickiesimon on Instagram)

For lessons, we recommend the talented and established St Ives Surf School, Escape Surf School Newquay and Big Blue School in Bude. Three locations in three surfing hotspots, even for Cornwall, and a collective industry experience of 40 years, means that these schools are our picks to get you from novice to aquaman in no time at all.

For those of you who have already done lessons or are specifically looking to meet other surfers before you dive in. Surf clubs like the Newquay Women's Surf Club, Eskinzo Surf Club and West Cornwall's Boardriders are a great place to meet likeminded inviduals of a similar skill level. Clubs generally offer mixed age events like the Ekinzo Sunset Surf and split-by-age sessions which are more focused on development so get in touch with them to see what would work for you and your skill level.

Where to Stay?

As this is the Select Cornwall blog, we have a few guiding thoughts on where to stay to get the most out of your first surf trip to the south-west.

Our first recommendation is more of a philosophy: avoid staying close to one beach at the expense of your accessibility to others. Cornwall is enormous, and staying in Newquay is a fantastic idea for a short surfing break. However, for those visiting for longer or who want to see more of Cornwall in their trip, being a 3 hour return journey from some of Cornwall's most beautiful beaches (and sights) is something to consider.

With this in mind, we have two special accomodations to suggest:

Our first pick is this gorgeous St. Ives offering equipt with high ceilings, coastal views and a private hot tub. In St Ives you'd be located in the centre of the North Coast's great surf spots and just 2 minutes from St Ives Beach which is no slouch itself.

Our second pick is 10 minutes further from the coastline and a sensational deal. 1 bedroom, a hot tub, mood lighting and a fantastic location all for just £78 a night! Just for good measure it is also beautifully decorated and has its own log fire.

And that is our beginners guide to surfing in Cornwall! Check out our other blogs here and tag us on Instagram (@select_cornwall) if you do decide to give any of these spots, clubs or classes a try!