Swell OtterWales · Surf travel guide
Surfing in Wales
From the Gower and Pembrokeshire to the Llyn Peninsula: a long, varied coast with waves for everyone.
- Breaks
- 36
- Best months
- Jan, Mar, Nov
- Sea temperature
- 8–18°C
- Consistency
- Medium
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Pembrokeshire surf spots
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Freshwater West surf forecast and guide
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Manorbier surf forecast
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Broad Haven surf forecast
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Newgale surf forecast
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Whitesands Bay surf forecast
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Freshwater East surf forecast
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Marloes Sands surf forecast
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Broad Haven South surf forecast
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Poppit Sands surf forecast
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Tenby South Beach surf forecast
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West Angle Bay surf forecast
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Druidston surf forecast
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Abereiddi surf forecast
Glamorgan surf spots
Gower surf spots
Ceredigion surf spots
Llyn Peninsula surf spots
Anglesey surf spots
Gwynedd surf spots
The Swell Otter take on Wales
The best all-round surf country in Britain after Cornwall, and far less crowded. Pembrokeshire alone is worth the trip.
Wales has variety most regions can't match. Pembrokeshire faces the Atlantic and has powerful beachbreaks like Freshwater West. The Gower has point and reef waves a short drive from Swansea. Porthcawl and the Glamorgan coast are a weekday escape from Cardiff. Up north, the Llyn Peninsula and Anglesey switch on in swells that leave the south flat.
What ties it together is the tide. The Bristol Channel has one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world, so a spot can go from perfect to gone in an hour. Our forecasts show tide alongside swell for exactly this reason. Plan sessions around the tide first, then the wind.
Wet weather is the trade-off. Bring layers, a flask and a decent changing robe, and you'll get waves in Wales that would be crowded anywhere else in the UK.
- When we'd go
- Autumn for the warmest water and most swell, spring for lighter winds.
- When we'd skip it
- Remote Pembrokeshire beaches alone on a big day. Rescue cover is thin.
Our take, by Tom Otto, checked against three years (2023–2025) of wave, wind and sea temperature history for these breaks.
Wales spot guides
Surfing in Wales
Wales has a long, varied coast. Pembrokeshire faces the Atlantic and picks up the most swell, the Gower and Porthcawl offer reefs and beaches close to Swansea and Cardiff, and the Llyn Peninsula and Anglesey in the north catch swells that wrap up the Irish Sea.
The Bristol Channel has one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world, so timing your session with the tide is key in the south. Autumn and winter bring the most swell, and spring often brings lighter winds. Summer can be quiet, but the Pembrokeshire beaches still pick up something most weeks.
Positives
- Consistent Atlantic swell in the south-west
- Uncrowded spots in Pembrokeshire and the Llyn
- Good beginner beaches
- Close to Cardiff, Swansea and the Midlands
Negatives
- Wet climate
- SW wind is often onshore
- Big tides change spots quickly
- Remote beaches lack facilities
When to surf in Wales
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf | ||||||||||||
| Typical size | 4ft | 4ft | 3ft | 2ft | 1ft | 2ft | 2ft | 2ft | 2ft | 3ft | 3ft | 4ft |
| Surfable days | 78% | 67% | 74% | 64% | 45% | 32% | 36% | 37% | 52% | 64% | 69% | 57% |
| Good days | 35% | 31% | 34% | 24% | 10% | 6% | 6% | 9% | 15% | 25% | 27% | 23% |
| Big days (8ft+) | 15% | 9% | 8% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 10% | 13% |
| Wind | ||||||||||||
| Average | 13mph | 13mph | 12mph | 12mph | 10mph | 11mph | 11mph | 12mph | 12mph | 12mph | 12mph | 15mph |
| Offshore days | 21% | 25% | 27% | 27% | 26% | 15% | 10% | 14% | 23% | 23% | 24% | 21% |
| Water | ||||||||||||
| Sea temp | 9° | 8° | 9° | 10° | 13° | 16° | 17° | 18° | 17° | 15° | 13° | 11° |
| Wetsuit | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 4/3 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 4/3 | 5/4 |
| Weather | ||||||||||||
| Max air | 8° | 9° | 11° | 13° | 17° | 18° | 19° | 19° | 18° | 15° | 12° | 10° |
| Min air | 4° | 5° | 5° | 7° | 10° | 12° | 13° | 14° | 13° | 11° | 7° | 7° |
| Rain | 155mm | 114mm | 143mm | 123mm | 71mm | 86mm | 123mm | 121mm | 186mm | 163mm | 171mm | 208mm |
| Wet days | 14 | 13 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 |
Worked out from up to ten years (2016–2025) of hourly Open-Meteo history (CC BY 4.0) using the same star ratings as our forecasts. Surfable means at least one 2-star hour in daylight, good means 3 stars. Temperatures in °C.
Wetsuit by month
Boots from November to May, plus gloves and a hood when the sea drops below 10°C.
The break lowdown
How the 36 breaks here compare.
Ability
Type
Bottom
Consistency
Crowds
Direction
Travel information
- Getting around
- The M4 runs along the south coast to Swansea, then the A40 and A477 head west to Pembrokeshire. The A487 follows the west coast north, and the A499 and A497 reach the Llyn. Porthcawl to Freshwater West is about 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Where to stay
- Porthcawl and the Gower for the south-east, St Davids, Tenby or Pembroke for Pembrokeshire, and Abersoch or Pwllheli for the Llyn.
- Hazards and hassles
- Strong rips at Freshwater West, rocks at Rest Bay, fast tides across the region and limited rescue cover on remote beaches.
- Handy hints
- Check the tide times first. A couple of hours can make all the difference here.
Wales surf questions, answered
Where is the best surfing in Wales?
Pembrokeshire and the Gower have the best and most consistent surf in Wales. Freshwater West, Llangennith and Rest Bay in Porthcawl are the best-known breaks. North Wales, including Hell's Mouth on the Llyn Peninsula and Rhosneigr on Anglesey, works on different swells and is usually quieter.
When is the best time to surf in Wales?
The best time to surf in Wales is January, March and November, the most reliable months across the breaks we forecast there. In three years (2023–2025) of history, about 67% of winter days and 35% of summer days had at least one surfable (2-star) session, so summer is the smallest and quietest season.
What are the best surfing beaches in Wales?
Freshwater West, Newgale, Whitesands Bay and Manorbier in Pembrokeshire; Llangennith, Caswell Bay and Langland Bay on the Gower; and Rest Bay, Llantwit Major and Southerndown in Glamorgan are the most popular surf beaches in Wales.
Is there surfing in North Wales?
Yes. Hell's Mouth (Porth Neigwl) and Porth Ceiriad on the Llyn Peninsula, and Rhosneigr and Aberffraw on Anglesey, are North Wales's main surf spots. They need a big south-west swell or a westerly storm in the Irish Sea.
Is Llangennith good for surfing?
Yes. Llangennith, at the north end of Rhossili Bay, is the Gower's most consistent surf beach and one of the best in Wales. It picks up most westerly swells and is a good spot for all levels.
Where can I learn to surf in South Wales?
Rest Bay in Porthcawl, Llangennith and Caswell Bay on the Gower, and Newgale and Whitesands in Pembrokeshire are the best places to learn to surf in South Wales, each with surf schools nearby.
How much do tides affect surfing in Wales?
A lot. The Bristol Channel has one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world, so many South Wales breaks only work at certain stages of the tide. Always check the tide alongside the swell and wind.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Wales?
Surfing in Wales needs a 5/4 wetsuit with hood, boots and gloves in late winter, when the sea drops to about 8°C, and a 3/2 in late summer, when it reaches about 18°C.
More UK surf regions
Tom Otto
Tom Otto built Swell Otter, the free surf forecast for the UK, and writes its spot guides. Every guide is checked against years of wave, wind and sea temperature history for the break, so the advice matches the numbers and not just the postcards.