Europe

europe2

Europe is on the right side of the pond for waves. The most consistent season for surf is the Northern Hemisphere winter when storms formed off Nova Scotia rage across the North Atlantic, pushing waves as far south as Senegal. Although summertime also sees some swell since the prevailing winds in Europe come from the west. For most of Europe, the best combination of weather and waves occurs in the autumn, from September to November.

Modern wetsuit technology and the Gulf Stream have taken surfing in Europe to latitudes where icebergs are normally found. Norway claims the world’s most northerly surf spot on the southern tip of the Svalbard Archipelago at 74 degrees north latitude (this remote outpost is also home of the Global Seed Vault). Although lack of daylight confines most surfing in these climes to the summer months.

Further south, Scotland has become a popular destination for waveriders. Water temperatures range from 15C/60F in summer and dip down to 4C/40F in winter. The north and west coasts of Scotland see swell all year, however, the best time of year for waves is September and October. Tidal differences here — and most of the UK — are extreme. The phenomenon known as The Push — waves boosted by the incoming tide — can switch a spot from flat to fantastic in a few hours.

Ireland has some of the best surf in Europe. The island is exposed to most of the North Atlantic’s storm activity and bathed in warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Wave seasons are April-May and September-October. Summer water temperatures climb to 19C/65F and fall below 4C/40F in winter. Lots of rain year round helps keep the Emerald Isle green.

England and Wales share Ireland’s wave seasons, and have somewhat cooler water temperatures. Cornwall is a popular summer surf destination, but surfers can find uncrowded waves further afield in Devon and Pembrokeshire.

The southwest region of France has become a surf mecca in the past 30 years. Known as The Aquitaine, the coastline along the Bay of Biscay gets powerful swell rolling up out of the deep water just offshore. The surf spots are mostly sandy beachbreak with a few notable reefs and points. The golden season for waves is September and October, although May and June can also get good.

Spain harbors some fantastic breaks along its north and west coasts. Even Andalucia, in the south, occasionally gets swell. Prevailing winds are from the west: NW in summer and predominately SW in winter. Water temperatures in the north of Spain range from 12C/54F in winter to 18C/64F in summer, which means you’ll be wearing a full-suit all year.

Portugal is bathed in the Canaries Current, so water temperatures are cool year round. Air temps and swell patterns, however, make November and December the choice months for riding waves in Portugal. Winter waves can get big, topping out around 5 meters and water temps don’t stray far from 15C/60F, except in the Algarve where summer temperatures reach 21C/70F.

In the Atlantic, The Azores and Madeira get plenty of swell. With its NE tradewinds and deep-water points, Madeira is a notable big-wave destination. Prime season is November to February when heavy North Atlantic swell wraps around the island. Most of the points don’t start to work until the swell exceeds two meters; spots like Jardim Do Mar can hold up to 8 meters of swell.

The Mediterranean Sea also has a surprising amount of surf. Owing to shorter fetches, the waves are less powerful than the Atlantic, but there are active surf communities in Italy, Mediterranean France and Spain, Sardinia and Israel. The Mistral, or NW wind, is the major wave generator for the western Med, while the eastern side of the Mediterranean gets its swell from SW winds.

See More Articles About Europe

Local Weather Local Surf Links Local Surf Camps and Tours

  • Sausset Sausset On the Beach covers Surfing around the Med
  • Coldswell Surfing the UK and Ireland
  • Beachwizard The European beach guide with over 500 beaches in 12 countries.
  • localsurfer Jon Bowen’s tales of surfing the UK and abroad
  • Oceansurf Stuart B.’s surf travel videos, articles and guidebooks.
  • Surf Europe Online counterpart to the magazine: surf news, events and babes
  • Still Stoked Longboard skaters and bore riders in the UK
  • The Severn Bore The Severn Bore page has the all-important tide tables
  • Surfers Against Sewage Britain’s answer to Surfrider; a major force in coastal issues around the Realm.
  • The Irish Surfing Association The ISA is the National Governing Body for the sport of surfing in the thirty two counties of Ireland.
  • The Surf Directory A guide to UK surf spots, hotels, surf shops etc.
  • Pukas Surfboards Spanish manufacturer of surfboards
  • Costa Surf Spanish surf site based in Asturias
  • Surfers Path UK surf mag with a global outlook
  • Cedar Surfboards Beautiful wooden surfboards made in Ireland
  • Newquay Surfer Surfing news and info from Cornwall, UK
  • Natural Natural Surfing is a Spanish surf site with great photos.
  • Bathsheba Surf Full-service surf shop on St. Pirans Road, Perranporth, Cornwall, UK
  • The London Surf Club Expats and a few native Londoners dedicated to getting out of the city as often as possible
  • James Bowden Photographer Travelling surfer, James Bowden, also takes some great pics.
  • Vantripper Camper van hire in SW France makes for easy DIY surf tours.

Comments are closed.