Stormrider Guide to surfing Gower Peninsula

Wales, EUROPE

Gower surfing reefs, Phil Holden

Summary

+ Diversity of reefs and beaches	- Cold water and air
+ Wind flexibility	- Tight swell window
+ Many easy waves	- Many inconsistent spots
+ Scenic and culturally rich area	- Windy and crowded

Gower surfing takes place around a small peninsula projecting into the Bristol Channel which has over 20 bays and sheltered coves along its rugged coastline.

Gower was the first area in the UK to be officially recognised an “area of outstanding natural beauty”. From long, expansive strands to tiny inlets, this stretch of coast provides a wide variety of breaks, combining multiple wind options with decent swell exposure.

When to Go

Ireland blocks all W to N swells and the Gower must rely on SW-W swells only. This means autumn and winter are most likely to produce groundswells from storms tracking on lower latitudes. Summers are usually quite lame, relying on the year-round onshore SW-W winds to kick up some low period windswell. These winds are consistently strong, only backing off and turning W during midsummer. The Gower handles NW winds, the bane of the West Cornwall coast. Late autumn, early winter is best. With 10.5m tides at Mumbles, tide tables are almost as important as thick rubber.

Surf Spots

Broughton Bay features a long, gutless, longboard-friendly sand point. Needs a large SW swell to wrap in. Strong rip away from the line-up, so not suitable for beginners. Llangennith’s 3mi (5km) stretch of average yet consistent beachbreak, picks up all available swell and is popular with all abilities and types of wavecraft. Over head-height, the paddle-out is renowned for its difficulty. Three Peaks at the N end has more size and power, while Rhossili at the S end picks up less swell and has shelter from S quadrant winds. Remote cove at Fall Bay is home to a big swell, high tide wedge popular with bodyboarders. A hollow, low tide left reef separates it from Mewslade Bay, where the same conditions will bring scrappy, fast, dumpy, short beach peaks, but not many bother to make the long walk in. Swell magnet Pete’s Reef peak works well on small summer swells. Very crowded and shallow reef, rocky entry and exit, strong rip on incoming tide and long walk in. Sumpters is a long walling right reef with some barrel sections. Deeper and an easier paddle-out so it’s generally crowded with intermediates, despite the long walk in and lack of parking. Shallow left reefbreak at Boilers features a dredging take-off over barely-covered reef, running into a deeper gully. Rocky, rippy and sketchy leaving the water at high tide, so best at mid tide. Punchy Port-Eynon Point starts with a sucky take-off and first section before mellowing out into deeper water. In big wrapping swells Port Eynon beach can have small beginner-friendly waves. Good shorebreak when big swells wrap in to Horton Beach. Best at low, dumpy at high. Walk east to reach inconsistent Slade Bay, where right and left reefbreaks rely on solid swell and plenty of sand to fill in the gaps. Storm protected Oxwich Bay shapes hollow beachbreak, best at high. Needs massive winter swell to get going and is always crowded with mixed ability crew. Beautiful Three Cliffs Bay with sandbanks sculpted by a stream. Needs a big swell to get going. Very rippy and long walk in. Hunts Bay might have rights and lefts working in solid swell at mid to high tide. Rocks everywhere and it’s easily blown-out in any W wind. Not a beginners spot. Caswell Bay doesn’t handle much size before closing-out, is rarely clean, but is popular with tourists and surf schools. Langland Bay has something for everyone depending on the tide. At high tide there’s The Shorey, until Rotherslade lefts and The Reef start working as the tide drops. At lower tides, Middle of the Bay, the Sandbar and Shit Pipe are all very busy all the time. The mythical, fast, hollow right reef at Crab Island only breaks well a few times a year. Tough current makes the drops harder and getting caught inside is punishing. Only the best will get waves off the devout local crew.

Statistics

dominant swell

SW -W

swell size (ft)

1-2

4-5

5-6

consistency (%)

dominant wind

S -SW

S -W

average force

F3-F4

F4-F5

consistency (%)

water temp (C)

wetsuit

5/4

4/3

3/2

4/3

Travel Information

Weather
The Gower has a real oceanic climate, allowing the peninsula to avoid experiencing the temperature extremes recorded in other parts of the UK, but freezing temperatures are still a regular occurrence in winter. The same moderation applies in summer and it rarely gets over 20°C (68°F), even in the warmest months of July and August. It rains every other day or more during the peak precipitation months between October and January, when water temperatures can dip below 8°C (46°F) or stay above 10°C (50°F) and never break 18ºC (64ºF) in July.

Lodging and Food
B&B’s are the local flavour and there are many to choose from. Right behind the dunes of Llangennith, Hillend campsite is fine before it gets too cold. For maximum comfort try the Oxwich Bay Hotel ($100/n), the Worm’s Head Hotel in Rhossili ($60/n) or the Carlton Hotel in Mumbles ($120/n). Try Welsh rarebit or laverbread, a seaweed dish.

Nature and Culture
There are medieval castles and churches, or megalithic burial tombs set among the beautiful natural landscape. Mumbles is widely reputed for partying, centred on the Mumbles Mile, an endless procession of pubs.