Offers of Surfing Pembrokeshire

The Pembrokeshire coast truly deserves its reputation for being one of the best holiday destinations in the UK. Sunbathers flock to the sandy beaches of Tenby and Saundersfoot, while hikers take on the 186 miles of coastal paths. But there’s another, less widely known attraction that draws a different kind of visitor to the Southwest tip of Wales: the waves. The Atlantic Ocean produces powerful swells which, with nothing that gets in their way, arrive on the beautiful shoreline of Pembrokeshire and provide the breaks, wedges and swell-lines that surfers love.

The rugged coast of Pembrokeshire is made up of three peninsulas which means that there are beaches which look both North and South. The waves that come off the Atlantic hit the South facing beaches and can provide experienced surfers with some of the biggest waves and best rides in the country, while the North facing beaches are more protected and have smaller, more manageable waves which are great for beginners. With the added benefits of year-round reliability, clean water, and spectacular coastal scenery, Pembrokeshire is a hidden gem for surf enthusiasts of all abilities. Whether you’re coming to the area specifically to surf, you’re spending your summer holidays on Tenby beach, or you live here, there’s a plan for everyone, without the jumped up prices of more well known surfing spots.

What are the best surfing beaches in Pembrokeshire?

• Whitesands Bay: probably the most popular surfing beach in the region, Whitesands Bay is a West facing bay on the rocky northern peninsula of St David’s. It catches some big waves off the Atlantic, perfect for advanced surfers, but Ramsay Island provides some shelter for the left side of the beach, where beginners and improvers will find more suitable waves. The white sands that give it its name and attractive headlands on either side make this a popular spot for other visitors as well, so it can get quite crowded in the summer.

• St Bride’s Bay: between the two northern peninsulas, this wide bay contains a couple of interesting surfing beaches. The first is Newgale, a southwest facing beach with good exposure to the swells. It’s two miles long, which means that everyone can find space in the breakers, and you can count on a steady stream of mid-height waves to come in. These are good for beginners who are building up their stamina and confidence, but more experienced wave chasers might prefer the left hand barrel wave that comes in at Broadhaven. This is a tough beat to tame and it’s hard to paddle out to catch it too, so this one is for experts.

• Southern peninsula: facing directly into the Atlantic swells, two remote spots in Southwest Pembrokeshire are the best bet for catching the perfect wave. Marloes Sands is a bit of a walk from the nearest car park, so you’ll likely have a lot of space to enjoy the waves, but look out for rip tides. Freshwater West, or Freshwest for short, is famous for hosting the annual Welsh Nationals surf championships, and you’ll soon find out why if you make the journey out here. The surf is consistent and among the breakers you can regularly find 2.5 metre monsters which create tubes to ride through.

• Manorbier: not far from Tenby, Manorbier is a beach with two faces. The first comes out at low tide, when low power waves are ideal for surfing newbies, while at high tide there are reef breakers which provide some fun rides for the more advanced surfers. Its golden sands, cliffs and dunes, and mediaeval castle and church that sit above the beach make it a great place to spend the whole day, in and out of the water.

What kind of experiences are on offer?

- If you haven’t surfed before or you’re not confident enough to get out on the waves alone yet your best bet is a surf lesson. You can find surf schools at a number of the beaches around the Pembrokeshire coast, including Whitesands Beach, Newgale and Freshwater West, where your surf instructors will give you some coaching on the sand before helping you find the most suitable waves for your ability. Once in the water, they can hold you in place so that you’re ready to launch yourself with the wave and, hopefully, get onto your feet for a radical ride. The typical length of a lesson is 2 or 2.5 hours. There are also lessons and coaching available for those of an intermediate level and top level competition standard surfers who want to refine their technique, or learn about the local conditions before a competition.

- A lesson can be a good way to get a taste of surfing - and of saltwater! - but a course is the best option if you want to take this sport seriously. There are weekend courses on offer, or you can turn your surf experience into a holiday at a surf lodge, where accommodation is included alongside the surfing. You’ll spend your days with like-minded people, so this is an awesome surfing and social experience.

- Of course, there’s always the possibility that you already know what you’re doing, but you don’t have the equipment to take to the surf. Well you’re in luck. You can contact one of the many equipment hire services to get kitted out with a board and, if necessary, a wetsuit, and have fun on your own terms.

Requirements to do this activity

Surfing can be an activity for the whole family in Pembrokeshire - indeed, you can even book a lesson as a family and have the expert input of an experienced guide. You can also arrange lessons on a one-to-one basis, or as a group of up to four, but you can also join a group lesson as an individual. Surf boards have to be pretty big in order to support a person and keep them stable on the waves, so smaller children will be better off bodyboarding, at least until they’re 8 years old.

As we’ve mentioned above, it doesn't matter how much experience you have or what kind of wave you want to catch, you’re going to be able to find it in Pembrokeshire. We’ll just suggest that, if it’s your first time, you come in the warmer months of the year, as there are more lessons available and you won’t have to worry so much about wetsuits, boots, and other equipment to protect you from the cold.

Surf’s up here, are you up for it? Come on and make a booking!