As the country starts to feel the sun for prolonged periods, we know many thoughts turn toward beaches and the sun. Surfing and campervan travel have been interlinked since the original VW campervan, the first step in a chain that produced our own VW Transporter campervan – but what are the best places for you to take your converted campervan?
General Pointers
A surfing tour can often work better than picking a specific location. Keep an eye on the surf forecast and be ready to detour slightly if it will get you a better experience for the day.
We also recommend packing light – your board and your wetsuits will take up more space than you visualise when you’re picking out what else to carry!
Great Surfing Destinations in the UK
Cornwall has always been the #1 hot bed of UK surfing, and it’s also our top British recommendation just because of one of those general pointers above. If Fistral Beach isn’t getting great waves, Praa Sands probably will be – it’s a simple adjustment to make sure you’re in the right place to make the most of the surf.
In Wales, you’ll find great opportunities along the Gower Peninsula, or a little further north at Freshwater West. If you’re a little more daring, don’t forget to visit Porth Neigwl, home to ‘Hell’s Mouth’ – but that’s definitely not recommended for beginners.
A rare East Coast recommendation is Cayton Beach near Scarborough. It’s a little more unpredictable, but if you also like stunning scenery and brisk walks the Yorkshire Moors being close offers you plenty of options.
And for those of you who like the winds brisk more than the walks, the Isle of Lewis is a great Scottish surf location to enjoy.
Campervan Friendly Surfing Destinations Across Europe
Spain has a great reputation as a place to go surfing. You’ve probably already heard that San Sebastian is a great spot (and it is – but it also has plenty of good places to park your converted campervan), but Langre, in northern Spain, is a little less well known. What makes it so beloved of the surf van community as a whole is that you can park atop the cliffs overlooking the bay, so you get a truly fantastic experience.
Where Spain is good for something coastal, it’s a sure bet that Portugal will be, too, and if you want a real surf trip, going along the Algarve gives you plenty of opportunities to experience different beaches and enjoy the waves.
Versilia, in Italy, is beloved of European surfers but often overlooked by the British, but its position is one of the best to be sure you’ll get good surf on any given day. We also recommend Piombino as a great place to park up and get into the water.
Closer to home, Hossegor in France is famous among surf enthusiasts, and it’s a great place for beginners in summer – and challenging for experts in the winter months! You can also camp on the beach itself at Lacanau-Ocean, so if getting some great photos of van life is something you love it’s a brilliant place to stop.
