My Favourite Surfing Spot

wELCOME Peak time ... regular swells and less crowds make autumn a great time to surf.

Surf's up in the UK this month – in fact it'll be up for considerably longer than that, but between now and mid-November is prime time for hitting the waves since relatively mild air and water temperatures combine with regular swells and less crowded beaches to give the best conditions of the year. Here are ten of the best options for some autumn surf action.

BEGINNERS

1. Watergate Bay, Cornwall

Watergate Bay has two miles of beach at low tide, so if it's crowded in Newquay this is a good option – although it does get busy towards high tide. The Xtreme Academy teaches surfing here, along with various other so-called "extreme" sports, and beach cafes include Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall.
Surf board: The very contemporary Watergate Bay Hotel is as surfer-friendly as it gets - you can even walk from room to beach in your wetsuit.

2. Saltburn, Cleveland, north-east England

Saltburn is one of the original centres of the north-east surf scene and the locals are friendly despite the busy waves. Good beginner waves can be found either side of the pier. The guys at Saltburn Surf Shop above the beach can provide everything from lessons and hire to advice and new boards, and after thrashing around in the cold North Sea there's the option of great coffee and smoothies at Camfield's Coffee Bar, or beer and pub meals at The Ship, both right above the beach.
Surf board: The Spa Hotel overlooks the beach and is also within easy reach of the pleasant town centre.

3. Pease Bay, Borders, Scotland

One of the centres of the burgeoning Scottish surf scene and thus one of the most popular breaks in Scotland, with a good beach break and a more challenging reef for better wave riders. As local surf school owner Sam Christopherson says, "Surfing in the south-east of Scotland has seen a huge explosion in numbers … everyone is just enjoying the ocean!"
Surf board: The St Vedas Hotel at nearby Coldingham offers surfer-friendly accommodation, surf shop, surf hire and lessons.

4. Llangennith, Gower, Wales

Possibly the most popular surf spot in Wales, with beach breaks all the way along its three-mile length. It's always crowded when there's a good swell running, but if you're prepared to walk along the beach you should be able to find less busy peaks. Once the waves get bigger the paddle out through line after line of white water can be exhausting though, and you'll also need to watch out for rips. kah kah kah