BRAVING THE WATER IN WINTER

We often associate surfing with summer, but many UK surfers happily do it all year round. With the right kit and a little winter sun, it’s an invigorating and fun activity, says Ruth Pocock

- Ruth Pocock

For most of us, surfing goes hand in hand with blue skies and sunshine. It’s board shorts and bikinis, maybe Patrick Swayze cruising in Point Break or those giant wave surfers that hit the news.

In the real world, and especially here in the UK where balmy summer days are few and far between, surfing is something that hundreds of people do every day of the year, rain or shine. From world-class icy right-hand breaking waves in Thurso East on the very tip of Scotland, to reliable beach breaks in Sennen on the far western shores of Cornwall, there are surf spots all around our thousands of miles of British coastline. With the right kit, it’s a sport you can do in all weathers, not just as a summer beach activity – and in fact there are some huge benefits to getting out on the waves during the colder seasons.

‘Winter surfing here for me is about little surf trips to hidden corners to find surprises, and then we get to huddle in a cosy pub with a roaring fire after,’ says keen winter surfer Brett Morison, 45, from Newquay.

There’s nothing more invigorating than a road trip to the coast on a crisp winter weekend, bundled up in the car with the heat on, the roads free of summer traffic, and the beaches blissfully empty. Places to stay and surf lessons are cheaper in the winter months, and it’s easier than ever to get to Cornwall with direct flights from Heathrow to Newquay in less than an hour.

EVERY DAY IS SWELL