Best Winter UK Surf Breaks

For many UK surfers, Winter is often their favourite season, with much quieter beaches and typically bigger, more powerful swells.

In this guide, we take a look at some of the best winter surf breaks in the UK, giving you the lowdown on each one.

The reality of winter surfing in the UK

Winter surfing in the UK has a real mixture of pros and cons...

For

• Winter storms in the Atlantic and North Sea will be producing bigger, much more powerful swells, so if you're after big waves, you should be in with more of a chance.
• Bigger swells can also mean that there's a host of surf spots that remain dormant in other times of the year, but in Winter start to light up.
• The crowds are often less, with some people only wanting to surf in the warmer months.

Against

• The stormier weather can also mean stronger winds that can blow-out many of the regular beaches, especially those that have no protection from the prevailing onshore winds.
• Shorter days mean less surfing hours. This can be particularly frustrating for those who work standard 9-5 hours, as dawnies or post-work sessions are a no-go.
• It's cold! Despite the advances in wetsuit technology it's still cold, so sometimes getting motivated to leave your warm house and plunge into water with temperatures just above zero degrees, does not feel like fun!

Despite the potential negatives, we think surfing in the winter is well worth it, especially if you choose the right place to surf.

Five top UK winter surf breaks

Below are five surf breaks that are synonymous with winter surfing in the UK.

There's lots of places of course we haven't mentioned here - breaks that offer shelter from the wildest storms, but deliver perfect conditions. As always with surfing, the phrase "seek and you shall find" is key in the winter, so get out there and explore. 

Thurso East, Scotland

Thurso East is one of the mainland UK's most northerly surf spots, situated in Caithness, Scotland and close to John O'Groats. Despite its location, surfers from far and wide have been making the long drive north for years to sample what it has to offer.

On its day, powerful, barrelling right-hand waves break over a shallow and rocky reef, making this a spot for experts-only,

Ideal conditions here are a large northerly or north westerly swell, with winds from the west or south west. 

The best tide is mid-high, with too much of the granite reef exposed on a low tide.

The biggest swells result in waves of 10ft plus, giving you arguably some of the best rides of your life.

Porthleven, England

Another spot for advanced surfers is Porthleven in West Cornwall. It's a reef break that comes into its own in the Winter, due to its location of exposure to the Atlantic swells. 

When a west or southwest swell combines with a northerly wind, Porthleven serves up hollow, barrelling lefts and rights.

It really turns on in the 6-8ft range and the tight peak means competing for waves with the core group of locals is likley. 

Kimmeridge Bay, England

Situated on England's south coast, Kimmeridge Bay offers several different breaks that are all much better when the larger winter swells make it up the English Channels.

Due to the coastline facing the prevailing south westerly winds, you need to time it with a big south westerly swell and a north easterly wind, to produce clean conditions.

The three breaks are:

The Bench/Broadbench - holds waves up to 12ft and produces fast and hollow waves for advanced surfers only. Due to the spot being just off land owned by the Army, access is often not permitted (usually when both the guns and the waves are firing!)

The Ledges - more of a longboard spot, but it's a really long paddle out, so you will need to be confident to do that.

The Bay - needs a very big swell to work properly, but when it does, the rides are long.

Llangennith, Wales

Llangennith, situated on the Gower Peninsula, offers more accessible surf for all abilities, even in winter. With its wide sandy beach, Llangennith can handle large winter swells, often peaking at 5-7 feet.

A southwest or westerly swell paired with light offshore winds from the east or northeast makes for clean, rideable waves.

While the break can be forgiving, it can get punchy and powerful during winter storms, so always check the conditions before paddling out.

Portrush, Northern Ireland

Portrush is a top surf destination in Northern Ireland, and its beaches come alive in winter.

East Strand is the go-to spot when the winter swell hits, with waves ranging from 4 to 6 feet on average. The beach faces north, so it works well with northwest swells and southeast winds.

For more advanced surfers, nearby White Rocks Beach offers steeper, more challenging waves, while East Strand is perfect for intermediate surfers looking to improve their skills.

Winter swells here are consistent, and the beach is relatively protected from the harshest winds.

In conclusion

Winter is a great time for surfing in the UK and there's plenty of spots to choose. Just make sure prepared with the right wetsuit and gear to keep you warmer and in the water for longer.

Need to keep warmer in the water this winter? Check out our range of wetsuits and wetsuit accessories.

Main image: Thurso East - Wavelength/Grant Coghill