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1.Gwithian Beach, St Ives Bay Cornwall
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
Gwithian is most consistent for swell and S-SW and NE winds. It’s also one of the most beautiful beaches in the west country where they talk a bit funny like. Between late September and June, this is the best place to catch some Atlantic lefthanders. The rest of the time the beach is off limits. Strongest currents are during mid-tide so be sure to clear out before it pushes in. A good place for beginners to get started is Ocean High in Marizon. Book a chalet or bed & breakfast for some cheap accommodation. Gwithinian Chalets or visit Cornwall Online.
2. Island of Tiree, Hebrides
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
If you ever feel like you need to get away from humans or civilisation all together, go to the Island of Tiree off the western coast of Scotland. To be fair supermarkets do exist and since it is still Scotland there’s still a good share of pubs. This flat island offers the most unspoilt beaches in the UK with turquoise waters and huge swell on the one side and no swell on the other. It’s supposedly one of the sunniest places in Britain… Completely untrue… In terms of conditions the place rips. The beaches face all directions and the spots are plenty. There is even a shallow loch which provides great conditions for beginners. Avoid going in the winter – it gets dark at 3 pm and huge gales come rushing in at 80 mph. Nobody wants that. Kitemare. Book courses and accommodation at the Tiree Surf Academy. Ferry services operate from Oban and the closest airport is Glasgow.
3. The Ray, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
Maybe you want a quick escape from the city… Maybe you can’t be bothered to board the plane from Gatwick to Glasgow to Oban to Tiree. If that’s the case then The Ray is the place for you. Head an hour east from London to Chalkwell for some of Britain’s finest estuary and flat water sailing. At low-tide comes out The Ray – iron board flat water – perfect for beginners and perfect for speed. Check the timetables. The best time to get out there is about five hours after high water, giving you four hours of sailing. Locals say never sail at high tide, there’s no place to launch and there is no soft landing. Visit South End Kite Surfing for some courses. If you are feeling adventurous and would like to spend the night in Southend why not try the Holiday Inn close to the pier and enjoy a night of gambling at one of Southend’s spectacular casinos.
4. Rhosneigr, Anglesey
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
Even though it’s not much of an island, the Welsh have insisted on calling it an island. So if you’re after an ‘island’ retreat why not head to Anglesey for some pumping waves. Rhosneigr is just on the south west coast of Anglesey complete with a fish and chip shop, toilets, a bar, camping and of course a kite surf shop. There are two bays of which only one is suitable to surf from because of the rocks. There’s also a strong rip at the southern end of the beach which can take you out to Dublin so watch out. Check out the wind forecast for Rhosneigr on XC weather. There’s also plenty of accommodation including camping and hotels.
5. Weymouth Harbour, Dorset
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
This place is all about speed. The Weymouth and Portland Kite Surfing Club is known to be the oldest kite surfing club in the UK. The guy who runs the show is one of the world’s best instructor trainers and a founder of the British Kite Surfing Association. Surfers head here because if the great sandy bottom and shallow water, not a rock in sight. The winds are consistent and conditions are suitable both for pro’s and beginners. Check out the tide times and weather here.
6. Shoreham Beach, West Sussex
Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
Just a few minutes from Brighton in the car, Shoreham offers both waves at high tide and shallow fun times at low tide. Winds are predominantly SW and the good thing is there is no groyns so high tide, low tide, it don’t matter. A good website to get the wind forecast is XC weather. There’s plenty of hotels, hostels and B&B’s in Brighton and Hove, the nightlife isn’t half as bad either. Enjoy!
