Surfing Porthcawl 20 prices and offers 2025

It’s the King of Cool as far as water sports go, but many people in the UK still think that surfing isn¡t for them. Perhaps they’re worried that it’s difficult, dangerous or simply too cold in British waters.Well, they obviously haven’t heard of the beaches of Porthcawl, often referred to as the Gold Coast of Wales. And for good reason: Porthcawl is on the South coast of Wales on the Bristol channel, which is essentially an extension of the Atlantic ocean. It has several beaches that face Southwest, where you can take advantage of the oceanic waves and swells to pull some radical moves.

When it comes to difficulty and danger, you don’t need to be put off surfing. Catching a wave and getting up on your feet on the board can be a daunting prospect, but in Porthcawl you can take lessons with some top tier surf instructors who’ll show you the basics on land and help you ride the surf in the water, as well as making sure you don’t get hurt. And the Summer months in Porthcawl boast many warm and sunny days, with an average of over 200 hours of sunshine in July alone. And as if that wasn’t enough, it’s less than half an hour’s journey from Welsh capital Cardiff. With so much to attract you to Porthcawl, you don’t need to spend money on tickets to Australia in order to find a surfer’s paradise!

What are the best surfing beaches in Porthcawl?

• Rest Bay: the most reliable waves in town come into Rest Bay. The best conditions are at low tide when the wind is blowing from the East, but it can get crowded at peak times. As Porthcawl’s most famous beach, it hosts the annual British Longboard Union surf competition which brings surfers from far and wide to ride the Welsh waves. Rest Bay is a blue flag beach with a lifeguard service in the Summer.

• Coney beach: named after New York’s famous Coney Island amusement park, this is a sandy beach that’s perfect for beginners to enjoy some surfing. The waves never get too high, and the Porthcawl harbour wall protects the sand from the worst of the wind so this is a less extreme place to build up confidence. Be careful of rip tides at low tide, and talk to the instructors and lifeguards if you have any concerns.

• Porthcawl Point: a lighthouse stands at the end of a rocky headland known as The Point. The waves here are the biggest in the area and they’re reserved for experienced surfers. If you know how to handle a board, you can float offshore waiting for the perfect breaker, and you might have it all to yourself.

• Aberavon: up the coast at Port Talbot there’s also some good surfing opportunities. The 5 kilometre stretch of sand at Aberavon is a great background for a surfing surfari, and it’s patrolled by the lifeguards who keep an eye out for everyone’s safety.

What kind of experiences are on offer?

- For first timers and inexperienced surfers who need some tips and tricks in order to ride the best waves, we recommend taking surf lessons. Single lessons usually last 2 hours and include all the equipment that you need, that’s a board and a wetsuit. You’ll start on one of Porthcawl’s beaches, where your instructor will explain the basics and give you some training that mimics the process of catching a wave in the sea. Then you’re ready to get into the water, taking position in front of the incoming waves and, with the instructor’s help, launching yourself along with them at the crucial moment.

- One lesson is good, but you’re not going to be a champion surfer by the end of it. To become King or Queen of the surf, you’ll need to enrol in a course. These can take place over several days in a week in the Summer, but at other times of the year it can be easier to arrange it over several weekends, especially if you don’t live in Porthcawl. Courses aren’t just oriented to beginners, whether you’re trying to improve your technique or need a refresher after not surfing for a while, there’s a course for you.

- Sometimes even the best surfers find themselves without their boards, but don’t worry, equipment hire is available year round in Porthcawl. You can rent wetsuits and boards by the hour or day depending on how long you want it for, before showing off what you’re capable of on the waves.

Requirements to do this activity

Some surf schools in Porthcawl can take children as young as 6 or 7 years old out onto the waves. They can have single lessons or really get into the sport by taking a course. If you’re in Porthcawl for the Summer holidays, a couple of hours’ surfing every day for a week is the perfect way to keep your kids occupied! As well as kid’s courses, there are courses for adults which are from 16 years old and up.

Lessons can be organised one to one, to get the full attention of the instructor, or you can choose to be part of a group lesson. This is the cheaper option, but individual tuition isn’t expensive either. You can also bring a group of friends, or your child and their friends to Porthcawl for a birthday party group session, where the focus is on the fun!

When is the best time to come?

There’s a trade-off involved in choosing the best season for surfing in Porthcawl and other parts of the South Wales coast between water temperature and wave size. Waves tend to be bigger in winter, but the water is also colder. That’s fine for beginners, because they can catch their first waves in warmer conditions. Serious surfers looking for big waves though will have to face the cold. The good news is that there’s wetsuit hire available year round to keep you warm, and the waves come thick and fast enough for you to stay active on the board - and when you catch the perfect wave you’ll forget all about the temperature!

Riding the waves in this city is an experience to exceed your expectations, but don’t take our word for it - find out for yourself!