For surfing history
by the sea,outdoor pursuits,Southwest,UK travel,exercise,Coast,learn something new
Newquay, Cornwall
Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall
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The epicentre of UK surfing, Fistral is the home of the British Surfing Association and hosts the Relentless Boardmasters, Britain\'s biggest surfing event, every August. No wonder, because when the conditions are right, Fistral\'s wide, sandy beach serves up some of the best waves the UK has to offer. But, as befits the town in which British surfing first took root in the early 1960s, there are plenty of surf schools catering for beginners. One of the best is provided by the English Surfing Federation, a short walk from Fistral at Carnmarth Hotel.
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Lessons last for two hours and the price of £30 includes use of all equipment (01637 879571, www.englishsurfschool.com).
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For a chilled-out vibe
by the sea,outdoor pursuits,Southwest,UK travel,exercise,Coast,learn something new
Sennen Cove, Cornwall
Sennen Cove, Cornwall
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An exquisite bay in the far west of Cornwall, Sennen Cove has a chilled-out vibe that dates back to the early 1970s, when the area was the home of Skewjack, Britain\'s one and only surf village. There are two local surf schools - Smart Surf, on the esplanade, and the Sennen Surfing Centre, underneath the award-winning Beach restaurant. Both are excellent but to rub shoulders with an elite athlete, contact Smart Surf, one of whose instructors, Sam, is both a pro surfer and a pro boxer.
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Smart Surf\'s five-day courses are £100 (01736 871817, www.smartsurf.co.uk). Sennen Surfing Centre\'s lessons from £25 (01736 871227, www.sennensurfingcentre.com).
For all mod cons
by the sea,outdoor pursuits,Southwest,UK travel,exercise,Coast,learn something new
Woman surfing in the sea
Watergate Bay, Cornwall
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With its chic and relaxed Hotel and Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay was set up be ‘a ski resort on the beach\'. It offers just about every water sport imaginable (including indoor swimming - the hotel has a pool) and even has a celebrity chef\'s restaurant on its doorstep with Jamie Oliver\'s Fifteen. Just a few miles from Newquay airport, the Hotel and Extreme Academy is also handy for those who want to fly rather than drive to the surf.
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A half-day lesson can be arranged through the hotel, £30; private lessons can also be arranged (01637 860543, www.watergatebay.co.uk).
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For Devon cream
by the sea,outdoor pursuits,Southwest,UK travel,exercise,Coast,learn something new
Croyde bay, North Devon
Croyde Bay, North Devon
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James Cracknell, renowned Olympic oarsman, loves Croyde so much that he named his son after it. It\'s easy to empathise with his enthusiasm. In strong swells, Croyde can offer some of the fastest waves in England, but it\'s also a great place to learn to surf. The Point Breaks surf school is fully accredited to the British Surfing Association and prides itself on a high success rate. Oh, and you can have a cream tea in Croyde afterwards.
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Beginners\' lessons, £38 for three hours (07776 148679, www.pointbreaks.com)
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For an elegant backdrop
by the sea,outdoor pursuits,Southwest,UK travel,exercise,Coast,learn something new
Bigbury-on-Sea, South Devon
Bigbury-on-Sea, South Devon
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Bigbury is a stunning place to surf, with Burgh Island and its Art-Deco hotel a stone\'s throw away. The Discovery Surf School is one of the best in the UK, though don\'t expect big swell in the summer. Owner Martin Connolly is an experienced surfer and lifeguard, having worked several seasons on Australian beaches. The maximum ratio of pupils to instructor is 6:1, which means that you\'ll get plenty of individual attention.
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Beginners\' two-hour lessons, £38 (07813 639622, www.discoverysurf.com)
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For Northern soul
by the sea,Northeast,outdoor pursuits,UK travel,exercise,Coast,learn something new
Saltburn by the sea, Redcar & Cleveland
Saltburn-By-The-Sea, Redcar & Cleveland
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The elegant Victorian town of Saltburn is a gem, with a wide, sandy beach and an immense headland jutting out into the North Sea. Saltburn is also one of the original hotbeds of the Northeast surf scene, thanks to good beginner waves either side of the pier. Saltburn Surf School, above the beach, can provide everything from lessons and hire to advice and new boards. One-on-one tuition is available.
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Lessons from £30 (07961 714993, www.saltburnsurf.co.uk).
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For stand-up paddle surfing
by the sea,Northeast,outdoor pursuits,UK travel,exercise,Coast,learn something new
Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear
Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear
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Its devotees claim that stand-up paddle surfing is the oldest form of surfing. Ancient Polynesians certainly rode boards with paddles, and now, with the likes of celebs Kate Hudson, Jennifer Aniston and even the former 007 himself, Pierce Brosnan, taking to the sport, it\'s catching on in the UK. The immaculate beach at Tynemouth is a great place to give it a go under the expert eye of Joe Thwaites, an instructor with local company Boardskillz. By the end of a taster lesson, you\'ll be ready for the challenge of conventional surfing.
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A two-hour taster lesson, £30 (0191 258 1499, www.boardskillz.co.uk).
For a man-made reef
by the sea,outdoor pursuits,Southwest,UK travel,exercise,Coast,learn something new
Bournemouth, Dorset
Bournemouth, Dorset
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Europe\'s first artificial surf reef isn\'t in Cornwall, Devon, Wales or any other of the country\'s better known hotspots, but just a few hundred metres from Boscombe Pier, Bournemouth. Even prior to its completion, the reef improved wave quality, and its arrival is an undeniable coup for an area that has long had a dedicated surfing community. A session with Bournemouth Surf School could see you surfing the man-made surf break. Or, at least, watching local experts doing their thing.
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Lessons from £25 (07733 895538, www.bournemouthsurfschool.co.uk)
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For big waves and vistas
by the sea,outdoor pursuits,Southwest,UK travel,exercise,Coast,learn something new
The Gower Peninsula near Swansea
The Gower Peninsula, near Swansea
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In the first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK, numerous beaches offer quality year-round waves, but especially Rhossili Bay to the far west. Lessons on Gower can be booked through Gower Surfing Development. Owner Simon Jayham is known for his big wave surfing exploits, and he or his instructors should have you confidently up on a board in no time. Near Rhossili is the pretty village of Llangennith, home of PJ\'s Surf Shop.
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Half-day lessons, £50 (01792 360370, www.gowersurfing.com)
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For a vibrant surf scene
by the sea,outdoor pursuits,Scotland,UK travel,exercise,Coast,learn something new
Belhaven Bay, East Lothian
Belhaven Bay, East Lothian
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The north coast of Scotland boasts one of the world\'s best waves in the reef break at Thurso East, but it\'s strictly for experts only. Further south, close to Edinburgh, there is a vibrant surf scene and an excellent place to learn in the form of the Coast to Coast Surf School. Located at Belhaven Bay, near Dunbar, instructors are all British Surfing Association qualified and offer lessons from March to November. They\'ll also take you on surf tours to some quality waves.
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Two-hour beginners\' lesson, £35 (07971 990361, www.c2csurfschool.com).
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