Top 10 UK Surfing Campsites

The ideal campsite for any surfer is one in which you can scramble out of your campervan or tent and be in the water in a few strides. Not all of these spots provide quite such convenience, but all are above, or close to, some of the UK’s most popular surfing beaches. And at most you can check out the swell without even getting out of your sleeping bag.

Godrevy Park Campsite, Cornwall

Godrevy Park Club Campsite offers easy access to the excellent surfing beach of Gwithian, which is a great place for beginner surfers to learn. There are no fewer than three excellent surf schools overlooking the beach—the Gwithian Academy of Surfing, Global Boarders Surf School and the Shore Surf School all offer surf lessons to people of all ages and abilities.

The campsite is also within spitting distance of several other spots including Pothleven, and if the waves aren't pumping, there are plenty of quaint Cornish fishing villages nearby to explore too, including Coverack, Cadgwith and Mousehole.

As well as its proximity to Gwithian beach, the campsite has a playground for kids, laundry facilities and a modern toilet and shower block. There's drive over waste disposal for campervans, electrical hookups and free WiFi. Oh, and there are also beautiful views out over St. Ives Bay and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. What more could you want?

For more info and bookings, check out the relevant page on the Caravan Club website.

North York Moors Caravan Club Campsite, Yorkshire

God's Own County might not be the first place that springs to mind when if you're thinking of UK surfing spots. But to those in the know, Yorkshire has long been something of a well-kept secret. The North Sea creates regular swells, and especially in winter the waves here can be world-class.

This picturesque campsite, in the bounds of the North York Moors National Park, isn't actually next to the coast, but it's ideally located for accessing the many local surfing beaches, including Robin Hood's Bay, and Whitby, home to one of the best surf schools in the North East. The campsite has electrical hookups and drive over waste disposal for campervans, as well as free WiFi.

For more info and bookings, check out the relevant page on the Caravan Club website.

Sennen Cove Campsite, Cornwall

Okay, this site is a short drive/walk from both Sennen and Gwenver, the two linked beaches that have probably the most consistent surf in England, but since the site is perched on top of the Land’s End peninsula you still have sea views.

The site has showers, toilets and WiFi, and its dog friendly. There are hardstanding pitches with electrical hookups for large campervans, and grass pitches with hookups for smaller vans, plus tons of tent pitches. It’s pretty quiet here, but if you’ve been surfing all day you won’t want to be partying anyway, will you?

For more info and bookings check out the Sennen Cove page on the Camping & Caravanning Club website.

Ruda Park Campsite, Croyde Bay, Devon

So you do want to party as well as surf? In that case this is the place to head for. Some places in the UK don't allow large groups of young adults to book. This sort of anti-stag-and-hen-do policy, designed to keep party vibes to a minimum, is quite common in many campsites in the Lake District or campsites in Snowdonia. Thankfully, it doesn't apply in Ruda Park.

Within walking distance of Croyde Bay, which has the best surf in Devon, and Croyde village with its lively pub scene, the site has everything from regular camping pitches to static caravans and lodges, to hard standing pitches for campervans. It also boasts its own bar/entertainment centre and also has plenty of stuff to do if it’s flat, including a 230-foot water slide.

To book or find out further details check out the Park Dean Resorts website.

Perran Sands Campsite, Cornwall

The good news about Perran Sands is that it’s an all-singing, all-dancing caravan and camping site with everything from a bar and restaurant to pool and surf rental. The campsite even has its very own surf school.

The bad news is that it’s a bit of a schlep up and down the sand dunes to the beach. But what a beach! Perranporth is rightfully famous as one of the best surfing beaches in the UK. Miles of golden sand and great surf – it’s got to be worth the effort.

Like all the best surf campsites, this offers a wide range of pitches and there are plenty of activities for the kids—from the swimming pool with slides, to the climbing wall, to the den building sessions.

Check out the Haven website for further details and bookings.

Hillend Campsite, Llangennith, Gower Peninsula

Hillend Campsite has been at the centre of the Welsh surf scene for decades (the Welsh Surfing Federation Surf School is based here). There are always board bedecked campervans pulled up here, as well as plenty of pitches for family tents, two-person tents, four person tents or any other kind of tent you can think of.

The enormous Llangennith Beach, one of the best-known surfing beaches on the Gower Peninsula, is a minute away through the dunes. Just up the road is the famous après-surf venue the King’s Arms, plus the legendary PJ’s Surf Shop. Expect to find a horde of local and visiting surfers passing to and fro on any decent westerly swell.

For more details, check out the Hillend Camping website.

Newgale Campsite, Pembrokeshire

If the swell is big enough there’s a chance you won’t need to get out of your tent to get amongst it, since Newgale Campsite is so close to the surf it’s sometimes literally in it! That’s only at high tide, in winter though – in summer the waves tend to stay on the two-mile long beach, which is big enough to ensure it never gets too crowded.

Surf hire and surfing lessons are available right next to the beach, and in the evening you can sit outside and enjoy a cold beer at the Duke of Edinburgh as the sun goes down. Pembrokeshire is sometimes called 'Cornwall without the crowds' and this beautiful beach, home to some of the best waves in the area, gives you a good idea why.

For more details check out the Newgale Campsite website.

Penrhyn Campsite, Porth Ceiriad, North Wales

It has to be said that Porth Ceiriad doesn’t always get great waves (although when it is firing it’s well worth a visit) but the Penrhyn campsite is a great spot for anyone looking for a traditional-style camping getaway, with plenty of peace and quiet.

It’s a bit of a hike to the beach from the campsite, but it's a lovely beach when you get there. You're also not far from the much more consistent Hell’s Mouth — a huge bay with plenty of room for everyone from beginner to expert on a good swell.

For more details and bookings, check out the Penrhyn Camping website.

Hooks House Farm Campsite, Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire

Hooks House Farm sits right above the lovely seaside village of Robin Hood’s Bay, on the North Yorkshire coast. The campsite offers fantastic views across said bay so you can check the swell simply by sticking your head out of your tent door.

There are waves varying from playful beach breaks to gnarly reefs right up and down this stretch of coast. In winter, North Sea storms mean this regularly gets some of the best waves in the UK. If it’s flat you can go mountain biking on the nearby North York Moors National Park or wander around Whitby—which, thanks Bram Stoker setting part of Dracula here, is ‘Goth Central’ these days.

As well as pitches for tents and motorhomes, the campsite also offers self-catering accommodation in their cottage. For more information and booking, check out the Hooks House Farm web page.

Pease Bay Holiday Park, Berwickshire, Scotland

Pease Bay Holiday Park looks out on one of the best point breaks in this part of the country – so much so that it can get pretty busy on a good swell. It's in a great location, just a short drive to both Edinburgh and Berwick upon Tweed, so you get surfers coming from both sides of the border.

If it is crowded, however, there are plenty of other decent breaks hereabouts, especially if you head south to the quiet beaches of Northumberland. The campsite itself has static caravans as well as pitches for campervans and tents. There are plenty of facilities for flat days, and the option to do all manner of other water sports if the waves aren't firing.

For more info and bookings, check out the relevant page on the Verdant Leisure website.

Dunnet Bay Campsite, near Thurso, Scotland

This site looks out across the surf rolling in from the Pentland Firth, and the only downside here is that there’s only one tent pitch! But the site takes campervans and caravans and to be honest when you’re surfing this far north you’ll probably want the added warmth of four reasonably solid walls.

Nearby is the right-hand reef break at Thurso, one of the finest waves in Europe. If you're a seasoned surfer, keep an eye on the swell charts here during winter, because the wave can get absolutely massive.

For bookings, visit the Caravan Club website.

Sandwood Bay, Sutherland, Scotland

No, there isn’t actually a campsite here – in fact there’s nothing at all other than a beautiful bay backed by wild moorland, a sea stack, and, of course, waves (plus a ghost in the abandoned croft above the beach).

So to get here you have to walk with all your gear – a full four miles along a moorland track. Hence it will only appeal to the most hardcore of surfers/campers. But you may consider the effort to be worthwhile to have a mile of golden sands and crystal clear Atlantic waves all to yourself. Plus the ghost!

If you are looking for accommodation options in the area, there are several glamping sites and campsites listed on Campsites.co.uk — although admittedly, none of them are super close. This one's for the experienced surfers only!