Bristol is becoming more and more of a hotspot for surfing, thanks mainly to The Wave in Easter Compton, which opened back in 2019. Both experienced competitive surfers and those just starting out take to the artificial waves, to build on their skills and enjoy consistent surfing conditions and the other amenities the attraction has to offer.
When the time comes to brave the actual sea and catch a few waves in the real world, where can people in Bristol go that isn't too much of a trek? Most of us would love nothing more than to head down to surfing havens like Newquay, but is there anywhere we can practise en route?
Unfortunately, once you've got the hang of it, there's no choice but to travel to your next surfing challenge for real - being a city with no beaches of its own, Bristol itself doesn't have many more options. It does, however, have relatively quick and easy access to surfing spots in Devon and South Wales, making it a great place to start up the sport.
Read more: Bristol man paralysed from waist down is now surfing for England in World Championships
With the World Surf League in full swing abroad right now, there's no time like the present to take up surfing - whether you've always wanted to become a surfing pro, or you just fancy trying something new. Fortunately for us here in Bristol, there are in fact a number of places to surf in the sea nearby - we've listed those that are around a couple of hours' drive away.
Do you know of any surfing spots we should include on this list? Or do you have a surfing story you'd like to share with us? Let us know in the comments below or by emailing ellie.kendall@reachplc.com.
Porthcawl
Porthcawl - just over two hours from Bristol - is described by Surf Atlas as being the "best surf spot in the vicinity of Cardiff" because "it's one of the first Welsh coastal towns to have a directly West-facing beach". Here you have two surfing options - Rest Bay and Coney Beach.
Rest Bay is one of the most popular surfing destinations in South Wales and the closest surf beach to Bristol. It's common knowledge that, on most days at least, you'll likely find a rideable wave here and, what's more, the beach is a long and sandy one which makes for a good day out, too.
It's also the more exposed of the two beaches and experts say it provides "decent" surfing for all levels, depending on the tides and swell size. While Coney Beach is more suitable for the more advanced surfer but requires decent northerly offshore swells.
Lynmouth
Another destination just over two hours from Bristol is Lynmouth and is probably one for intermediate to advanced surfers, as many flock here. According to Honest Surf, this North Devon location is surfable through all tide ranges but wave size does decrease with the dropping tide.
Magic Seaweed says Lynmouth is considered by many as "one of the UK's finest pointbreaks" and adds: "Due to its sheltered, Northerly perspective, it takes a large Westerly or huge Southwesterly swell to shake this sleeping point awake. When these conditions combine with light Southerly/Southeasterly winds, long lefts wind down the boulder point, generating walls that can reel for over 300m.
"Due to its reputation and as one of the few sheltered spots on this coastline, when it goes off, the crowds will be on it - many travelling long distances."
Woolacombe
If you continued on your journey for another 10 minutes or so, Surf Atlas says you will reach the "jewel of the North Devon coast for surfers" - Woolacombe. This one is described by the experts as being possibly "the most reliable option when it comes to Bristol surf" on the near coast, for a few reasons.
Woolacombe's coastline is "really long and wide" with plenty of space for surfers - a must considering how popular it is. It also offers "slightly mellowed out beach waves", a long shallow beach and a reef break meaning it can be surfed on all tides, while also being a great place for learners and advanced surfers alike to enjoy.
Croyde Bay
Nearby there is also Croyde Bay, described by the surf school there as "one of the best surfing beaches in the UK". Magic Seaweed says: "The currents and swells conspire to produce heavy, low-tide barrels and excellent waves as the tide pushes in.
"The average surf here tends to be a bit smaller than in Cornwall, but six-foot Croyde can offer board-breakingly good Hossegor-like conditions." One recent visitor wrote on TripAdvisor: "Beautiful beach, well life-guarded sea and great for body boarding, get a good wave and it’s 50 yards+ coming in on the surf."
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- Cornish tourist hotspots that visitors say they'd never return to
- The Bristol Channel beaches where you should never go swimming
- The little-known West Country beach 'like Thailand' where you can beat the crowds
