Jump off a cliff into the ocean for fun? Go surfing? These are just two of the many watersports being enjoyed in the UK. As an island nation, it is not surprising that water sports are among the most popular outdoor activities. From swimming to kayaking, paddleboarding to snorkeling, the range of activities is constantly increasing – and they are prepared to experiment.
According to the Annual Watersports Participation Survey undertaken on behalf of leading marine organizations such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, The Royal Yacht Association and British Canoeing, approximately 3.9 million UK adults took part in one or more of 12 core boating activities in 2018, namely sail boat racing, yacht racing, yacht cruising, powerboating, general motor boating/cruising, canal boating, canoeing, rowing/sculling, windsurfing, water skiing, wakeboarding and using personal watercraft.
Many of these sports have long been popular within the UK. Wherever you go, there are places to enjoy some form of watersports whether it is by the sea or just visiting the local swimming pool. Children learn to swim at school, and taking part in watersports is actively encouraged. Almost every coastal town has its yacht club, while boating activities can be enjoyed on countless inland lakes such as the Norfolk Broads where boats can be hired by the day or week to explore the hidden corners of the countryside.
Experimentation and trying something different is very much the key to modern UK watersports. It also offers some great opportunities for travelers within the UK to explore a different facet of the country.
Take surfing for example. Many visitors would not expect to find an active surfing community around the British Isles. But according to surfers, the coastal regions, especially on the western side of the country, offers some great surfing opportunities. It has actually become one of the fastest growing sports.
Newquay in Cornwall is said to possess some of the best surf spots in the country, and has been described as the capital city of British Surfing. Good beaches include Sennen Cove, Watergate Bay, Towan Beach, Fistral Beach, St Agnes, Porthtowan, Praa Sands and Porthleven. Many of the best surfers in the world can be seen in action on this area. Good camping & caravan sites in the area include Travella Park and PorthBeach holiday park.
Many serious surfers head for the wild Atlantic waves in remote spots of Northern Ireland especially around Donegal while a more casual holiday atmosphere can be enjoyed at Portrush. Maddybenny Farm is a popular camping spot for surfers as it offers a quiet location close to the surf.
Wind surfing is quite popular within the UK [Photo/Visit Britain]
Much further north in Scotland, the Isles of Lewis and Harris offers some of the most consistent waves to be enjoyed in Northern Europe. Surprisingly, the water here is not as cold as you might expect due to the proximity of the Gulf Stream. In the autumn, sea temperatures have been known to be as high as 16 degrees Centigrade.
Over on the East Coast of Scotland, Pease Bay near Edinburgh has been attracting surfers since the 1960’s. Surfing specialists do say that it is a location best suited for skilled participants rather than novices, due to the fact that the sea breaks over cobbles and can be quite shallow at low tide.
Yorkshire too also offers good surfing if you know where to go. Saltburn tends to be the favored venue for surfers, who tend to gather on either side of the 600 ft Victorian pier. This spot has been described as offering some of the most challenging reef breaks to be found in the UK. When the surf is not running, there is plenty to explore in the area including one of the world’s oldest water powered funicular railways taking tourists up the sea cliffs to the town high above. If you are lucky, you may even find yourself in town on a night when the infamous ‘Yarnbombers’ decide to cover the town with inspired knitted creations unexpectedly. The Camping & Caravanning club has sites in the area, and there are numerous other good options such as the Alders Caravan Park and Betton Farm Camping & Caravanning.
Wales too has good surfing potential. Porthcawl Beach in South Wales is suitable for all abilities. In the right conditions, the break can run for over 300 feet. Further west Rhossili Bay, on the Gower Peninsula near Swansea, is a popular destination. Rhossili is a spectacular destination with over 3 miles of golden beach edged by dunes leading to the stunning rocky outcrop known as Worms Head at the far end of the beach. Quite big swells are often experienced here, and if you have energy afterwards it is worth climbing up the Rhossili Downs to enjoy spectacular coastal views, or following the coastal path around the Gower Peninsular. Plenty of camping & caravanning sites can be found throughout the area, including many farms hosting just a few pitches.
Head into North Wales to the Llyn Peninsular for surfing particularly suitable for experienced surfers. The stretch of sand and shingle offers numerous beach breaks as well as a small reef at the end of the bay. Sufficient to say that one of the spots Porth Neigwl can be translated into English as ‘Hell’s Mouth!’ Trehili Farm offers a campsite just above the beach, perfect for quick access to the waves.
While in North Wales, it is also worth considering visiting Adventure Parc Snowdonia, at Dolgarrog in the Conwy valley. Back in 2015, it was the site of the world’s first artificial surfing lake and has proved a very popular attraction ever since. Depending on where exactly you choose to surf within the lake, you can take advantage of different wave heights suitable for everyone from novices to experts.
Time it right and you can surf the spectacular Severn Bore, which surges up the Bristol Channel several times a year. The Bore can reach up to nearly 7 feet high, with speeds of over 12 miles per hour, which means you do need to be an expert to try it.
Another increasingly popular watersport is coasteering. It is very simple – don a wet suit and helmet, then jump off a cliff into the sea and navigate your way round the coastline clambering over rocks, or swimming when necessary. This water sport started in Pembrokeshire, South Wales back in the 1990’s and has steadily spread onto other locations over the years. It is a quite unique experience, but for safety one should be in a group when participating! Most coasteering activities take place around the Welsh coast, as well as Dorset, Cornwall plus Argyll and Angus in Scotland.
Preseli Live Venture at Haverfordwest is one of the leading coasteering operators, and is opening its own campsite in 2020. It takes groups to coastal sites around Pembrokeshire enabling participants to explore the coastline from a very different perspective. After jumping into the sea, it can involve swimming into sea caves, climbing through natural rock arches and perhaps swimming alongside passing Atlantic grey seals. There are no seasonal constraints on coasteering in the area, it takes place even during the winter. If the sea is really rough, participants are often taken to The Blue Lagoon at Abereiddi where a sea swamped slate quarry, complete with a 32 foot leap from the top of the cliff, provides a challenging experience.
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