Surfing in and near Chichester

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The surf's definitely up in England! The English coast offers some of the best and biggest surfing spots in Europe.

England receives swell on its entire coastline, and the surfing season runs from autumn to spring, producing consistent surf of 4 to 12ft at times. Extremely variable tide patterns means that the sea can rise and fall up to 15ft at times making surfing spots always changeable and therefore challenging. Summer normally provides smaller swells of between 1 to 4ft.

If you're still a 'kook' (surfer slang for 'inexperienced'), you'll find that at most seaside resorts there are surf centres that offer training, and you'll soon be standing up and riding the waves under the instructor's watchful eye. You can also hire out surfboards, and a wetsuits is a must, as the sun doesn't always come with the best surfing conditions in England.

South West England, in particular Cornwall and Devon, is a surfers paradise, with national and international championships being held in locations such as Watergate Bay. Surfers flock from all over Britain, Europe and the world to taking advantage of the pumping surf off the South West coast.

There's no better way to explore the surfing hotspots of England than to go on a fun-filled road trip. Grab some boards, wetsuits, and your friends and hit the road (and the waves!) for your great English surfing journey.

We start off our road trip with some enjoyable surfing in Bournemouth. Bournemouth is well-known for its safe surfing and clean beaches, and if you're learning to surf, this is one of the best places to start as there are several surf schools. The wind can quickly whip up waves off Bournemouth's golden, sandy beaches, and you can try and bodysurf them, or catch them on a longboard. Bournemouth has a wealth of other attractions and watersports available, and you'll definitely get your trip off to a fun-filled start.

After you've spent a few sunny days surfing in Bournemouth, make your way west to Devon, and to England's extremely popular surf sites at Croyde. Surfing in Barnstaple you'll come across three sandy beaches. all renowed for providing the best and most consistently rewarding surf in Britain. Croyde is a year-round surfing centre, with excellent surf schools, and sociable pubs and campsites catering specifically to surfers. Croyde is one of the few privately owned beaches in the country, although it is accessible to all, and this means that it's always in pristine condition. Nothing beats a few lazy days of surfing in Barnstaple, so be sure to stay over a few nights to properly appreciate the fantastic surf and lively surf-culture atmosphere.

Your road trip now takes a turn south as you head into the surfing country of Cornwall. Unload the boards and settle in for a few days of quality surfing in Newquay, England's best loved surfing town. Its awe-inspiring riviera is a mix of towering cliffs, sheltered coves, rock pool, caves and beautiful beaches.

Surfing in Newquay you'll soon notice that Fistral Beach is the most popular and famous section of the bay's golden sands. It's approximately a kilometre long, with rock pools and large sand dunes, and it has a well-known surfing centre with restaurants, shops and other facilities. The size of the surf here can be impressive, and pros will be in their element. It's normally a safe beach, but beginners should stay on the beach when the waves get too big.

Crantock Beach, backed by high dunes at one end and by steep cliffs at the other, has a good beach break, and produces great waves depending on the wind direction. It's also a perfect beach for beginners, and surfboards can be hired there.

Newquay Bay itself consists of four beaches - Towan, Great Western, Tolcarne and Lusty Glaze which form a kilometre-long stretch of sand at low tide. Brilliant waves can be had at all the beaches, depending on wind, swell and sandbanks. Towan Beach is well sheltered and so needs a good swell to work. It's especially popular with beginners. Great Western is more exposed and therefore picks up more swell, often producing perfect hollow waves. Tolcarne is rideable on all stages of the tide, and Lusty Glaze picks up the most swell and is popular with pros and beginners alike.

It's now time to drive way down to the most westerly tip of Britain for a spot of surfing in Land's End. Sennen Cove in Land's End is a very popular surfing beach, particularly in the summer. It has one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in Cornwall and also offers a local surfing club. The main advantage of Sennen is that it picks up even the smallest ripple in the Atlantic, and even if the surf isn't working elsewhere, Sennen is bound to catch some swell. Surfing in Land's End, you'll get to savour the spectacular scenery on the very western edge of England.

Now your surfing road trip is over, but you'll be left with amazing memories and some great stories to tell about the fantastic waves you caught in England.