A SWELL TIME ON BOARD
Surfing experts on the best beaches in the UK to take a thrilling breaker
You don’t need to travel to Hawaii or California for spectacular surfing. Lonely Planet’s new book, Epic Surf Breaks Around the World, offers 50 first-hand accounts of famed and fearsome beaches across 34 countries – including the UK.
Surfers already know how awesome Newquay is, so here we highlight other top British shores to take your board and ride the waves...
Epic Surf Breaks Around the World, Lonely Planet, £24.99. shop.lonelyplanet.com
Extracted by Vicky Lissaman
Staithes, North Yorkshire
By Alf Anderson
Staithes is tucked away amid crumbling sea cliffs on the edge of the rolling North York Moors.
The lanes that lead down to the shore are so steep and narrow that only locals are allowed to drive past the pastel-painted cottages with their red-tiled roofs.
This rugged coastline is free of the 60 years of surf culture and associated hype found in places such as Newquay. The nearest surf shop is up the coast in Saltburn.
Few who love the sport up sticks and move to Yorkshire for their regular fix, but it’s not a spot for tyros.
Try taking off on one of the bowly lefts that mark The Cove, feeling that weightless drop before hooning along the face and seeing the lip of a barrel unfurl.
There is also The Point, a hollow left which can also provide a very short, shallow right, and The Harbour, a lefthand peak breaking in front of the harbour wall. It’s a goofyfoot paradise. The cold may get you, but you can always warm up in the Cod & Lobster with a pint of Yorkshire ale.
FACT FILE
Type of wave: Left-handed breaks on shallow reefs.
Best conditions: Low to mid-tide on northerly swell and southwesterly winds.
Getting there: Park above the town at Bank Top (fee) or Cowbar Lane (free).
Where to stay: Plenty of B&Bs and campsites
Good to know: Use a high-performance shortboard or a semi-gun for bigger days. Wear minimum 5/4mm wetsuit, boots, hood.
‘‘ Feel that weightless drop before seeing the lip of a barrel unfurl